STROLLERS - CARNAGE, CAMBRIDGE AND CAKES
The regular reader of this column will welcome the return of cricket correspondent, Ethel Dunn. Now fully recovered from extensive varicose vein surgery, Ethel has re-positioned her deckchair to its rightful place on the square leg boundary (wise reporters venture no further - ask Link's Robin Nowacki) and reports on the unstoppable force that is the 1995 Strollers Cricket squad.
As previously reported, Strollers cruised through April and early May without the slightest whiff of a defeat, and showed no signed of relaxing their stranglehold on the Kellogs Weetos Sunday League when entertaining Sunderland Supporters Club at the now somewhat ramshackle Raynes Park Oval. Strollers amassed 213 for 5 (Phil Connell 80 not out, Andy Ward 68 and Calbert McLean 28 not out), a total palpably beyond the opposition who despite a brave attempt to hang on for a draw were finally dismissed for 103.
The next visitors were DTI's Atlanteans, a bogey team for many years, captained by their star batsman/bowler/fielder who rumour has it was once a Yorkshire colt. A Strollers total of 201 (Rick Bond 48, Paul Lees 42, Andy Ward 27 and Strollers' debutante Carole Cumino 26) was ably defended by the always potent Strollers bowling attack and a 29 run victory ensued (Shaun Gallagher 3 for 22 and Paul Lupton 2 for 39). West Ruislip and Ealing were duly dispatched; Strollers 172 (Nick Clark 68 not out and Tim Attree 39), WRECC 131 (Paul Lees 4 for 26 and John McGirr 3 for 11).
The long haul to Cambridge's Frank Lee Centre provided another painless victory; Strollers total of 226 (John McGirr 56, Andy Ward 45 and Phil Connell 44 not out) was far too many for a young Cambridge side who were scuttled out for 88 (Paul Lupton 4 for 25 and Charles Sampson 4 for 13).
In between these two Sunday afternoon strolls was the ultimate dog-fight, and one of the most remarkable games even the most seasoned of Stroller watchers have observed. London Nigerians had declined the first encounter scheduled for early June, but on an unseasonably dank and sullen July afternoon battle commenced in continuous drizzle and was finally completed, in near darkness, some 6 hours later at 8.30pm. Having dismissed the opposition for 124 the Strollers camp were quietly confident until, while still digesting their cherry bakewells, they caught sight of the opposition bowlers marking out their run-ups. On a bright Summer's day their length would have been disconcerting, but in the prevailing gloom it was sufficient to send the top six in the order scurrying to the sanctury of the sole functioning Raynes Park WC. To the hummed strains of "Men of Harlech" the Strollers batsmen made their way to the cricketing equivalent of Rorke's Drift and most of them failed the test. At a perilous 89 for 7 it looked a lost cause, but as Paul "Ginger Flash" Lupton has been ceaselessly telling any poor sole unfortunate enough to be listening, "they breed 'em tough up North". Armed with his little white helmet (sorry to have to mention that Paul) the Blackpool barnacle dug in while Calbert McLean (33 not out) bravely hustled and hoiked to the increasing fury of the opposition, two of whom ended up fighting each other. In the 34th over a famous victory was gained and our brave boys all lived to fight another day. Can you wait for the next report - I know I can't.
Ethel Dunn