Fireworks and Fun at Brockley

Brockley Six a Side Tournament 15th September 2007


Well fun, fun and fireworks in an event filled tournament that saw the lot good and bad.

It was probably a good thing that certain members of the squad were not there as without doubt there were some huge flash points, which would have been good to have as the light was very poor and you can guess who was batting in that but before that lets turn the clock back to the 11 o’clock start.

With the weather better than predicted a lovely blue sky sunny and warm with a beautiful pitch and outfield all was set for a good day’s cricket.

The six a side rules were there was seven players and Hartest were given the name of Hartest Hornets against three other teams all from Brockley teams who were mixed up into groups with names given to them such as Buffalo's, Broncos and another they were quite confusing.

HCCC were first up and Doctor Hodge [D.R. Hodge] won the toss and decided to field first against the Broncos.

The Rules were 3 runs for a wide but not re bowled until the last two overs where there was still three runs and another ball bowled. If the batting team got over 100 runs an extra bonus point to the four you would get by winning the game.

Likewise if a team was bowled out an extra point goes to that team too. Also you could not open with the same players and everyone has to bowl two overs except the openers who could only bowl one! Yes it was a way to spread the whole game to all players.

P Richards opened the bowling in Game one which with a bad back did well all day to get through and M Atkinson also opened the bowling with Richards going for 0 for 11 and Atkinson 0 for 8 pressure was put on the batting side and when J Rose came on and took 2 wickets for 7 and Hodge getting 3 for five runs supported well by Hannan and Walton after ten over the chase was on to get 80 to win.

Hodge and B Atkinson opened the batting and got off to a brisk start which you had to in this short version of the game and only five fielders.

B Atkinson was the first to go with 12 and followed by Richards and when M Atkinson join Hodge with 4 overs to go needing 34 it was going to be a very tight finish and when Hodge went out for a great 37 leaving 30 to get in three overs but M Atkinson showed a side where the G Boycott name went to Botham and with some good shots a notable six to the long boundary of Fisher got the game to 8 off the last over with Rose taking a single to make it 7 off five but M Atkinson on strike hitting a good cover drive for four took the pressure off and with three balls left hit a scrambled single to win the game with two balls to spare and get the 4 points leaving J Rose 10 not out and M Atkinson 16 not out.

Game two was B Atkinson’s game with J Rose out early for 6 B Atkinson joined Hannan and severe damage was done to the bowling attack and there were plenty of sixes, fours, and a notable reverse strike by Hannan for a one bounce four. Hannan went for 38 but B Atkinson was still there to see the side past 100 for the extra batting point with Hodge playing a back up role to the partnership and after the 10 overs which Hodge was bowled out on the last ball the Hartest Hornets got to 117 with B Atkinson 59 not out.

Wickets fell quickly M Atkinson went for two sixes but then next ball bowled him for 1 for 25 and with G Walton getting an LBW first ball where the first piece of trouble started between the out going batsman and the Brockley umpire with Hannan explaining which way he had to go and not to question the umpire.

Hodge first ball wicket gave him a hat trick from the previous games two wickets in two balls and the Brockley team were all out for 49 giving HCCC another bonus point and two wins out of two.

With Hodge losing the toss for game three and with the game three team also winning there two games it was winner take all. However things took a turn for the worst as P Reed the organizer wanted the final as it would be to take place last instead of the way the Rota went and even though the dead rubber game was only eight overs the light was always going to be an issue.

The problem occurred with two young umpires from Brockley of course and as I think there bias to there own team was rather more than obvious with wides, no balls, and a missed stumping to there best player which was emphasized when before the next ball he asked for a hat as the sun was very low in the sky to which he then went to the other side of the pitch. Hannan was just short of catching Joe Reed who was the first team player who scored 50 in an 84 score in the 7th over but 40 coming off the last two overs the Brockley first team got to 111 and with a rate of 11 an over in poor light and first team players it was a big ask.

M Atkinson was out early trying to reproduce his performance of earlier in the day and Hodge joined Richards to try and see there way to putting up some resistance but when Hodge went and Richards finally going with some big hits the writing was on the wall and B Atkinson was producing his earlier form showed a glimmer of hope but with no wides being given and from the dim light and reaction of the bowler there were none to be seen and it was clearly scandalous and embarrassing for the on lookers of Brockley but the flash point came when B Atkinson struck a ball into the mid on area took a single and with bat on ground the ball hit the stumps from a direct throw and rebounded off into the outfield where B Atkinson took off for another run only to be shouted at by the umpire your out!!! Clearly not knowing the rules thinking as the stumps were broken and he lifted his bat up after they had been hit because of going for another run gave him out without any of the team appealing!!!

Needless to say young B Atkinson was not happy and a Jez moment ensued with bat arriving into the boundary while walking off and with B Atkinson crossing over the boundary line the umpire shouted “go off and cry to your mum you W****r !!! “ full voice well the tone of the whole day was ruined by this and just under lined the cheating or bias on the umpire which was obviously beyond his small pea size brain.

With Hodge keeping calm and saying its only a game to calm down the team which was true as the Brockley victory was a shallow one indeed to which was a fun day.

The game which was virtually in darkness had a light spot when in the dark J Rose and N Hannan were at the same end in a mix up and without doubt Jez Rose bat was in the crease but Jez was 11 yards behind it as he threw it in and demolished his stumps.

With G Walton showing his bat for the single he got HCCC showed that the spirit of fair play was with them and needing 32 off the last ball Walton I think was bowled [it was very dark indeed] ended the HCCC innings. It was meant to be six a side it ended up as seven and in the final seven v eight.

P Reed tried to placate the situation and had hoped things were smoothed over but it wasn’t. B Atkinson was voted as the best squad player for the team and got a bottle of wine.

P Reed was upset that he got one of the teams too strong with too many first team players in it and changing the time admitting it was to dark and a huge advantage which was a fairly obvious.

Still most of the day was very enjoyable indeed and all the players in all the games came up with something to take away with them.

Well done to the team and the dignity it showed in very strenuous position it got put in. The umpire involved was new to the Brockley team and was mentioned that they found out a lot about him and he was going into the first team next season and they say a lot for themselves and he would be suited to them, I think that says it all.

End of Season 2007 Champions and Promotion brilliant!