ONLY THE MOGS!
The ritual is known, the timings are calculated, yet it never ceases to amaze, the quantum of motorised transport that can be generated by the London to Brighton bicycle race, inevitably delaying the commencement play and more importantly the consumption of Sussex's finest ales at the traditional meeting venue of the Plough at Rottingdean.
Nevertheless, the sun was shining, and after being subject to in excess of an hour of Andrew Tharp's reminiscent CD 'The Best of The Eighties Electro Artists 36', this author was delighted to see both new and old Mogs come together for another South Coast feast of cricketing prowess.
Unfortunately, on arrival at the ground it became apparent that the Pavilion Manager had not followed the same degree of precision timing as the Mogs, with all parties being locked out of the pavilion and more importantly further liquid refreshment. It was noted that the Mathew Lewis' reserve Eskie was opened and it was with tears in his eyes that Mathew kindly donated his final beer (somewhat reluctantly with a grimace) to a somewhat Hawaian looking Keith Briggs.
Eventually, after having gotten lost - we still await the full explanation of how - the pavilion manager arrived and play commenced with the victorious tossing Mogs skipper, Alex, electing to bat on what was heading for Mogs' first day/night game, with proceedings not commencing until 3 O'clock.
The Briggs/Furner opening axis, launched it's blitzkrieg into the Rottingdean bowling, being lead rather oddly and undeniably by Mr Furner. Clearly the three Weetabix in the morning, followed by a quick rub down with goose grease, had enabled Peter to rattle up some thirty runs before being LBW to one that crept. Meanwhile, after complaining quite frankly like a girl about the four pints consumed before the game, Toby rather spluttered along with support from both Alex Halliday and new-comer Robo, before hitting his straps and unfortunately falling short of another Mogs 50 by three runs. Alex showed a brief glimpse of his class before unfortunately chasing a wide one dollying up a catch. Robo - welcome on board - showed cavalier mastery of his weapon, stroking several beautiful boundaries before being caught for 18. Enter Andrew The Egg Tharp, with the game somewhat in the balance.
There then followed an onslaught of flashing blades and power hitting, seeing Andrew collate a magnificent 74, including several classy straight drive sixes. He was briefly joined at the wicket by the skipper before being caught, and held a forty run partnership with Abbott, before Tharp was caught in an attacking fashion. Joseph Lewis briefly attended the wickets before Abbott and Lewis senior saw the Mogs home at the end of their forty allotted overs at 225 for 7.
Tea was a somewhat curtailed affair, as the moon was starting to rise, yet the variety and quantity was certainly up to par. Abbott at Peter Rice opened the Mogs bowling, the former being unlucky - as usual - as well as having to listen to a consistent stream of Furner's clucking away about his own personal bowling strike rate and a comparison of it to the dark destroyer's somewhat meagre wicket tally in the season. Frankly, Rice bowled beautifully and deserved the three wickets that he took and both he and Joseph Lewis, who bowled with great control and accuracy for his three, put the home side into a position where they could never mount a serious threat to the Mogs' total.
Both Mathew and Alex collected a further two wickets each, predominantly in a perpetual down-pour as the heavens started to open, in order to wrap up the home side for a total of 153.
From a fielding perspective, there was not too much to discuss apart from the skippers examination of some holes that seem to have appeared in his hands.
All in all, a day for the Tharp, and as the author travelled home with the Egg to the sound of a remixed Simple Minds - Don't you forget about me, it was apparent that he had enjoyed it.
A good win, a nice bunch, but more importantly a great time was had by all the Mogs. The author already looks forward to the traffic jam next year.
Report by Darrell Abbott
MWCC Stats