2008 Review
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President's Lunch
Click to enlarge picture of
President's XI
The annual cricket match between
Cowbridge 1st XI and the President’s XI took place on Sunday 8th
June. The event is surely the highlight of the Club’s social calendar as
again, the function was sold out. As in previous years, we were blessed
with fine weather and an excellent game of cricket culminating in yet
another victory for the President’s men – they remain undefeated!
The day began with a pre match Hog Roast
lunch, enjoyed by over 100 Vice Presidents and their guests, accompanied
by a great quantity of wine before the players took to the field.
The President’s XI won the toss and
elected to field on, what appeared to be a good batting wicket. Jonathan
Hughes and the ever reliable Jonty Webb opened the batting but got off to
a relatively slow start due to the accurate bowling of Tom Dilnot-Smith
and Mike Harrison. Hughes was the first to perish with the score on just
17 which brought Ben Wright to the wicket. Wright entertained the crowd
with an array of extravagant shots (none that would be found in the MCC
coaching manual!) before being dismissed for 16. Matt Smart and Webb then
began to rebuild the innings with an excellent partnership of 59 before
Smart was dismissed by the wily off spinner, Michael Lloyd.
Following Smart’s departure, wickets
fell at regular intervals with no real partnerships of note being created.
None of the President’s middle order were able to stay with Jonty Webb who
battled hard to make an important 64 before being dismissed in the 41st
over with the score on 163. A brief onslaught in the final overs from Ian
Dewhurst and Jon Wilks produced a further 23 runs leaving the President’s
XI on 186 for 9 from their 45 overs.
In reply, Cowbridge 1st XI
got off to a poor start losing Mike Lloyd and Stuart Morton within the
first 7 overs before Elliot Swallow joined Jack Harris at the wicket. Both
looked comfortable at the crease against leg spinner James Thomas and the
evergreen Jon Wilks, before Swallow was dismissed in the 15th
over with the score on 51. Ryan Taylor joined Harris and despite the
accurate bowling from Ben Wright and Alex Jones, the pair added a further
45 runs before Harris was dismissed for 47 in the 27th over.
With a further 91 runs required from 18
overs, the game was in the balance and things began to look promising for
Cowbridge as Mike Harrison (15) and Andy Daniels (23) increased the tempo.
However, veteran Pete Hardwick got the better of both of them and with 30
runs still required from the final 7 overs, Cowbridge were unable to
sustain the pressure, losing their final 3 wickets for just 12 runs
finishing on 169 in the 44th over.
The President, along with the many vice
presidents who stayed to the end of the game were most vocal in their
support which was no doubt a contributing factor to the result!
The game was once again played in an
excellent spirit and thank you to all those who took part, particularly to
those who travelled considerable distances to represent the President’s
XI.
Many thanks also to those who attended
the lunch and gave their support. In addition, thanks to those who
assisted in different capacities to make the day such a great success
particularly Gaynor Smart and her catering assistants along with the wine
sellers.
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