Match Report

The day the Season nearly started.

Twenty two well fed folks left Chez “Denis” at ten thirty on Friday evening into cold, dark and drizzly Bicester. It was an improvement on the conditions at arrival some hours earlier. Amongst them were players hoping to take the field 36 hours later. None of them were expecting to play.

At 12.30 on Saturday, the wise and experienced heads, (you can choose who was wise and who was experienced*) of messrs Simpson and Wordsworth conferred and agreed that given a fair wind and a smattering of sunshine conditions were good enough to play. Much thanks to the Barton troop who had put the covering sheet in position just in time to keep back the worst of Friday’s deluge at bay. 

Saturday afternoon’s brisk breeze and bright sunshine gave hope to all, Tim House dashed to Waitrose to buy provisions for tea, bags were collected from attics (cricket bags, not tea bags) and moths beaten away from gloves and pads. Mr Simspon went so far as to suggest that the wicket would now be as firm and solid as the A 43.

At Noon on Sunday the unexpected and persistent drizzle had undone all the good work of Saturday’s brightness. Softer than blancmange there was no chance of play and the game was abandoned.

Undaunted, a selection of players did attempt to have a net, having been chain ganged into pushing the sightscreens around the ground as a warm up.  Even then the drizzle won as bedraggled players headed for the sanctuary of the pavilion, a cup of tea and Tim House’s chicken and cheese sandwiches. Loyal supporter, David Moorman was disappointed to have no game to watch, but pleased with his tea. Scorer, Chris Greer, had missed his message and was ready with pencil and pen while Nick Moorman circumnavigated on various mowers taking out his vengeance on the outfield grass.

The Min await next week.. Hoping that the weather relents and allows the sodden ground a chance to dry.

Tim Riley