Saturday 20th May 1st Xl v Rothwell at home

Rain Does Not Stop Play!

The coin has two sides and it should be a 50/50 chance of calling correctly so at some stage WE WILL WIN THE TOSS.

OK, so we'll bat first and at 24 for 3 in the 10th over it looked like a bad toss to loose. But Reg was still there on a steady 8 and the incoming Fat Boy would surely mean that the combined weight would put any scrums definitely in our favour.

By the time that Ruley was out for 41 the rotundness brothers had taken the score on to 83 with still 22 overs remaining. Senior Shack was then able to go out and ensure that Reg didn't suddenly have a rush of blood and start hitting the ball and the pair of them were able to accumulate a further 67 runs before Skippy was out for a magnificent 68 - at last he had got past the nervous 40's and even more satisfying was that senior Shack was at the crease with him to pass over the £10.

It is worth noting that during the time in which Senior Shack had been 'holding' the £10 he had actually made £3 interest on it - sad fact of the day.

A fairly uneventful innings was eventually concluded with the score at 187 for 8 in a little short of 3 hours. The gathering gloom would surely force an early end to the game, but once again we were to discover yet another old and little known local rule (that's a small 'r' not Fat Boy!)

The Rothwell team had obviously decided that they liked the look of the short Tong boundaries and set about the chase with gusto. Although the score was moving along at over 4 runs an over Smiler and Elton took a wicket apiece to peg the opposition back. Unfortunately the next pair took the score on to 165 before a further wicket was to fall and the gloom by now was totally gathered both overhead and on the pitch.

And then the rain came, but we should have realised that it doesn't count if the game is being played at Tong! Much to the amazement of the spectators, the umpires would not come off! One highly respected Bradford League player was astounded when he arrived to find that the game was still in progress despite the fact that every other game in the West Yorkshire area had either been abandoned or was concluded before the heavens opened.

Despite heroic attempts on the part of bowlers and fielders, the wet ball was definitely in the favour of the batting side who ran out winners by 4 wickets.

This last session was noteworthy for 'Elton' Bryan's second spell of 5-1-19-3 and the return of Junior Shack to the bowling attack with figures of 5-2-9-1.

And finally, Gordon the Gofer/Hammy starred again with a magnificent catch, the result of which summed up the opposition when the batsman disputed it!

Eventually, the gloom that had descended over Tong was lifted with the help of many beers, flaming Drambouies and skottles of bol special, and Elton successfully completed his initiation into the club before sacheting off (check the word with Mick and Janet!) to continue his studies into student life!

Hic, where's the doctor?