Sunday 9th June saw a number of sporting highlights - Nadal at the French, Vettel in Montreal etc...unfortunately Dave Tharp and Richard Turner at Reigate weren't two of them, but more of that later in the report.
As what seems standard for a game against Reigate Priory, the Mogs were fully present, flag hoisted, players changed, strategy discussed and the bar open and busy before the opposition made an appearance. This years Cavaliers side contained a mixture of youth and seniority including the town's very own MP. The coin finally went up and we were thrust in on a flat worn track that had seen 1,000 runs already over the past few weeks. It started so well for the hapless duo of D Tharp and R Turner going at 6 or 7 an over setting a solid base ready for the return of James Toombs fresh from his red inker at Leigh. Joining him at the crease after a Brut of a ball to dismiss Turner, Ben Fairclough joined Toombs for a solid 100 run partnership, continuing with the run rate. The next hour of cricket was as close to a masterclass in middle order batting as you would see, beautifully set to the back drop of Tim Buns brai complete with half a lamb and all the trimmings. It was this smell that must have interrupted Ben's innings and he finally fell for a super 58 to a squatty welsh Cavalier.
The Mogs continued to press on and runs were continuing to amass with a couple of cameo's from J Burton and J Honeyfield to support Toombs who was looking as solid as ever. The coals were slowly cooling on said brai and thoughts were turning to tea and a sporty declaration which duly came and another standing ovation for Toombs who left the field bat raised for the second week on 86 n.o. How sporty a dec would later be talked about in the post match interviews.
After consuming a vibrant and kaleidoscopic tea, Mr Ahmed at the Golden Curry would have been proud of, the Mogs took to the field pumped on E133, E126, E278 additives and the wind behind in their sails. As ever Jo took the new ball and with Charlie Lee at the Blue Anchor end started to ask questions of the Cavalier batting which at the last minute was changed following the News at Six mobile van arrived to interview Crispin Blunt on the recent Cash for Questions scandal. If only the reporter stuck around he might have had bonus material effortlessly offered up by some of the Mogs fielding.
For Jo and Charlie to only come away with a wicket to share didn't quite do them justice but with only 1 ball shared between the teams and a batting paradise we were always looking to make our own luck. In the main, the team supported the tireless bowlers scale the highest square in Surrey to release their searching and probing deliveries with the exception of two players, one wrapped up so tightly in wool due to the plummeting temperature and another who literally failed to grasp the concept of catching.
To suggest that these errors in the field cost us the game would probably be slightly hard on the superb 142 n.o. from young Luke Haughton who struck the ball to all parts during their entire innings of 46.3 overs. Supported by some keen running the Cavaliers pressed at the right times and protected their wickets to record a deserved 6 wicket win.
11 weary Mogs returned to find the boiler hadn't been switched on so skipper Tharp had to attend the post match press conference only with the pungent waft of Brut emanating from the dressing room to explain his actions. Did he declare too early? Should Toombs be annoyed not to get a chance for his 100? Should he have done more to hide some of his fielders? Was Turner too much of risky selection? These and other questions were batted away as the scrum of bodies warming themselves in the bar afterwards all agreed that having a competitive game and a result is much more preferable to a bore draw.
D Tharp
MWCC Stats