Last Game ends in Away Victory at Thurston

MATCH SPONSOR THE FARMERS CLUB ........... WITH THANKS TO MAX MELLOR


H&CHCC 129 All Out

Hodge 33, M Atkinson 25, Hannan 18.

Thurston 65 All Out

Hodge 4 - 15, N Rutter 3 - 19, J Armstrong 2 - 17,


The season came to an end with the final fixture away to Thurston and with Fourth place all but gauranteed a victory would cement that place and bring to it a very satisfactory season in deed for all players, supporters, and their families in a long hard but enjoyable season.

The final toss of the season was won by Thurston and Captain Andy Bendall decided to put H&CHCC in first with a view perhaps of the last time H&CHCC visited when they were skittled all out for 16 so some added pressure to gain some revenge and put that demon to bed.

David Hodge returned after missing a few weeks away with work commiments as Roberts also back just missing one game all season [only one player played all league games find out at the end of season dinner at the Farmers Club on the second of October] opened the innings and Roberts when off very quickly hitting a four then a six next ball but and there is always a but he was caught the next ball and out for 12 in the second over and the total was 15 for 1.

Hannan joined Hodge and settled the innings down with a bit of calmness as they got in and found the bowling realitivley comfortable and moved the score on still at a quick rate over five an over looking in no danger until the famous H&CHCC collapse began when Thurston bowler A Malcolm came into the fray.

In Malcolm's second over he took the prize wicket of Hodge who had batted exactley one hour for thirty three runs leaving the total on sixty eight and achieving a fifty three run partnership however one run later Hannan was also bowled by Malcolm in the same over for eighteen runs.

Richards and Bryant both fresh to the crease found it difficult as Thurston tails were right up and more so as Richards was also bowled by Malcolm for six and 70 for 3 not looking as good in 18 overs bowled.

Mark Atkinson joined Captain Bryant the last two recognised batsmen who were hanging on as the bowling on a decent pitch which was giving some variable bounce great difficulties and the tide was turning to Thurston more so when Bryant clubbed a shot to long on at great pace for the timid fielder ran in two steps and took a teriffic catch just on the nd of his toes much to his plus his team mates disbelief and 82 for 5 in 21st over.

Jack Armstrong joined Atkinson after the drinks break and with so many overs to go but a bit of a long tail the guys left had to eke out as many runs as they could in the overs availiable to try and post a defendable score.

Jack Armstrong though did not last to long as unfortuanetly got a nick off his pads onto his stumps and out for 4 with the score on 89 for 6 big trouble for H&CHCC after such a decent start to the innings.

Lucky for H&CHCC Mark Atkinson was still there showing his great experience keeping the strike to protect the rookie batsmen who Captain Bryant played today who do not normally always play due to a decent quality of the squad however they are very important part of the club but does not make them a bit nervous in a pressure cooked atmosphere in the middle when things are not going your way you just have to stick in there and nudge the score upward and onward.

Judith Atkinson regular scorer who through illness and un availiable some times did keep times in and out so although Dan Thorp scored one run he stayed in for quarter of an hour in a partnership of 11 a top effort also backed up by Mike Durrell who occupied the middle for a tad longer again with Atkinson marshalling the strike as best he could also trying to keep his wicket intact.

Mike Durell who got 7 finally got caught as he became a bit over confident as a top edge ended his innings but the total had climed to 123 for 8 with 6 overs still to go Atkinson was working his magic and his plan nicely as Dave Armstrong came into bat the target was two runs making 125 and securing another batting point if the game was to slip away from H&CHCC.

Mark Atkinson third boundary secured that target and at 128 he went the way of Captain Bryant a super diving catch at mid wicket to end his vallant innings scoring 25 but in a low scoring total very valuable although he was pleased how he got them with a long tail wagging he used up the overs got some batting points with only two overs to go when Nick Rutter last man was bowled out by Thurston skipper Bendall the final total was 129 all out.

H&CHCC had to make early in roads at the top order of Thurston to have a chance of winning the game with Jack Armstrong with David Hodge opening the bowling they both found the spot to keep Thurston who wanted to get off to a quick start down to a few singles and looking all but confident at the crease.

Thurston Skipper Andy Bendall was first to go when Hodge bowled a full ball yorker style to hit middle stump the skipper was gone for 8 soon to follow was Francis who chopped a widesh ball onto his stumps giving Hodge his second wicket.

Hodge was bowling a bit in differently as his half tracker was clubbed to Captain Bryant exacting some revenge with taking a very sharp low down catch leaving Thurston 30 for three and looking decidedly shaky as H&CHCC had made in roads to the middle order.

Jack Armstrong who was bowling equally as well plus having two catches dropped off his bowling finally got the opener Cook for 17 bowling his leg stump cutting in at an angle across him to end possibly the resistance as Thurston looked a bit forlorn.

Andy Dye blocked everything to see out the opening pair of Hodge and J Armstrong but Hodge took his fouth wicket and Jack Armstrong took his second finishing on 10 - 6 - 17 - 2 including two wicket maidens he should be pleased with his performance today and in the season as a whole.

Dave Armstrong came into the attack plus a surprise from Captain Bryant as Nick Rutter came into the attack with his spin and the combo of the two kept the runs down but after blocking everything Dye started to take some runs supported by D Ellis who was trying to keep in and like Atkinson in the first innings Dye tried to keep the strike but as the overs were running out Dye had to take a few risks which became one to many as Dave Armstrong got Dye trying to hit him over his head only to find a jubillant Bryant take the catch as Dye was out for 21 the game was almost over.

Rutter caused problems and a Rutter bowled caught Roberts twice entered the score book although Roberts did put the ball down early which for a few seconds caused some concern but the umpire gave A L Malcolm out.

At the start of the season Nick Rutter took a five wicket haul and although not quite there today he got Harris to charge down the wicket and miss the ball for Mark Atkinson to stump him out for his first ever stumping and end the match as Thurston were all out for 65.

The win should cement H&CHCC 4th place in the league table and if results go their way 3rd might not be out of the equation but 4th it probably will be and very creditable position indeed.

2nd of October is the important date for the end of season dinner where all the season's averages and prizes for the season are awarded and hopefully news on the new exciting website just around the corner so please get your orders and tickets in to Captain William Bryant as soon as possible as these nights do take quite a bit of organising.

A Final THANK YOU goes out to probably everyone so take a pat on the head as everyone because the club does not exist without so much going on behind the scence quite often we are all oblivious to what some people do for the love of the game and I can not thank everyone by name but if your involved with the club you will all know who you are.

With a new website coming on board this Webmaster is going but still likely to do match reports hopefully next season if the sands of time do not catch up with him first so thank you captain's past and present plus all the members who have contributed to the "blog / website" and hope the new man will get your support.............................. but all will be revealed in time or maybe that end of season dinner so book those tickets now!!!!

Webmaster