Nearly There
By Ian Clark
WEEK 16
August 23rd 2008
3rd TEAM v WOOD GREEN (A)
1st TEAM v LYMINGTON 2nds (H)
"You'll need a bigger, or a lower mirror in the away changing room. And one in the umpires' room." He smiled and shook hands "We can't believe the transformation" and with that he got in his car and headed for Locks Heath.
The ground committee's recommendation had to go to the full committee and we would not know the outcome until October but it seemed we had passed. The flower boxes, and the double sight screens and the umpires' room and above all, Bob's excellent wicket, had got us accreditation.
I have mixed feelings about accreditation. In recent years good sides, including Colin, Otis, Phil and Dave Agha's Eastleigh have been rejected because of supposed shortfalls with their grounds. And yet poor wickets and poor grounds are accepted in the Southern League.
Lymington seconds are at The Hollow today. They are in danger of relegation. Lymington's team of the early '80s is accepted as just about the best to ever play in the Southern League. Andrew Jones, who played test cricket for the Kiwis, and Jeremy Hardy, the sort of county cricket nearly man, who recuperates in league cricket, were the stand-outs; but Trestrail and Tapper were in that side and they're here today. Both are in their 50's. There is a clear contrast between our young guns and the opposition.
The game is a mismatch. Squidge scores 87 and Pete scores 110; Sam Freemantle hits 64 in 40 balls including consecutive reverse swept boundaries off Tapper. Lymington's bowling figures include 2-75, 1-86 and 1-68. The Firsts finish on 313-5 off 48 overs. Lymington's batting is dispirited and in less than 30 overs they are 99 all out. Maximum points; if the other results go our way we will be promoted.
Tosders and I are trying to find Wood Green. The thirds are playing in the New Forest. The congratulations and comfort of a month ago were premature; the defeat by Portchester was overwhelming and the resurgence of those below us means we need another win and there are only two weeks left. Tosders started well but he's had rotten form recently. He's a big man who hits his drives over extra cover, picks up leg stump half volleys over square leg and if he hits it straight, he hits it for 6. And those are his three shots really; no finesse just an uncomplicated clubber of a ball. But Tosders has lost form and has resorted to playing himself in and fannying about and seems constrained.
I try to steer clear of the cricket and there are protracted silences; we both know that much more cricket like this and Tosders will give up.
Wood Green's ground is enclosed by rusting metal posts. The wooden-slatted pavilion is on the fringes of a copse and players have to cross a field of cows to enter the playing cage. It's been another damp week and the wicket is slow and low. It's late August masquerading as early May.
Danny O and Andy Evans open and do well. Andy played for the firsts last year but has spent this summer convalescing from glandular fever. Halfway through the innings we are 72-1 but we fritter it all away and finish on 126, Tosders patting the ball to silly mid-off for only 3. A month ago we were safe, now we have to bowl out the powerful Wood Green batting for a below par score. And it doesn't happen. We bowl well but lose by 4 wickets. Cows have to be shooed from the outfield and the late summer evening light is dappled by the trees around the ground and by 8 we're all miserable. Our mid-season parade seems a long, long time ago and Tosders, Greg and I sit hunched and gloomy in the cramped changing room.
One week to go, if the firsts win they will be promoted and be champions, the seconds and fourths are mid-table and we have to win our last game or we will be relegated.
