"And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy lamb of god
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
OK it's not a mountain at Newdigate but it's definitely a hill and 8 Mogador Wanderers plus three guests arrived yesterday on a picture perfect Summer's day with warm sunshine and a light breeze gladdening everyone's hearts. Our mood improved further when Hewitt won the toss and elected to bat first in a declaration game rather than limited overs. Guest Jack Riddy opened with Simon rivers and they put on a bristling 25 before Rivers followed 4, 4, 6 with a tame chip to a grateful midwicket. Jack was joined by brother Pete and saw his brother depart first ball LBW to one that would not have hit leg or off stump....brother Jack was rumoured to have the tiniest hint of a smile as his big brother trudged back to the pavilion. Oli Jago went in 4 and batted excellently from the outset in one of his best innings for the Mogs. Riddy chipped tamely to square leg and Hewitt joined Jago in a 65 run partnership made up mostly of boundaries. Oli was caught on the deep midwicket boundary for 31 and two overs later Hewitt had his off stump disturbed when well set for 45. Matt Brown went for 10, accompanied by some stern tutting from his girlfriend Catherine, watching in the pavilion, and we were in some trouble at 131 for 6. William Blake best sums up our 7th wicket partnership between Mog legend Jonathan Richards and Ali Brew
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have re-built the Mogs innings
In England's green and pleasant land.
81 runs were gloriously, deftly and impudently added with both batsmen straining valiantly to help the Mogs post a total of over 220 as requested by the skipper. Both perished in the last few overs but Parker hit an excellent 14 not out (his 88th not out innings for the Mogs) to help the Mogs reach 225 for 9 in 42 overs. Tea was taken and the Mogs were treated to a truly splendid tea, provided by Newdigate legend Trisha Keyl who had got to the Semi-Finals of the Yorkshire tea sponsored "Tea Lady of the Year" award and it was not hard to see why. Traditional favourites of cheese & pickle, tuna & sweet corn & ham & mustard were joined by Chicken Caesar Salad sandwiches, accompanied by cold pork sausages, sausage rolls and crisps, home-made scones with clotted cream and jam, cupcakes and home-made carrot cake. The crowning glory however was a choice of choc ice or ice lolly which was welcomed with open arms or should that be tonsils by the perspiring participants and Umpire Moulton.
Tummies filled and radiators cooled the Wanderers took to the pitch with Andy Tharp the quickest member of our attack. He opened down the hill and soon removed the Newdigate captain with a booming away swinger which nailed his big toe in front of middle. Jack Riddy then took a good catch at mid-on followed by his brother at square leg with Newdigate 45-3 after 10 overs. Hewitt & Bunn bowled without success and Jonathan Richards came on up the hill, by now without his Kazakhstan fez that he had worn with such success whilst batting. He was soon in the wickets courtesy of a good catch by Rivers at Long On and a bottom edge excellent held by Colonel Cuzza behind the stumps, helping Jonathan take 2-24 in his 5 over spell. Still Tharp continued down the hill and he took a 4th courtesy of a one handed (left handed) catch by Hewitt at slip, which Umpire Moulton informed the incredulous Mogs was 2 foot behind Hewitt when he caught it. With 20 overs to go Newdigate required 140 runs but the Mogs needed just 4 wickets, though this became 3 after Tharp took his 5th, trapping James Penfold LBW with a straight one that even Robin Hood would have been proud....Tim Bunn replaced Tharp who had bowled a magnificent spell of away swing bowling, 14-4-45-5, and was rewarded with a wicket of his own via a simple catch by Hewitt at midwicket, but Newdigate's youngsters smashed us around for 5 overs before a comedy run out dismissal broke their resistance. A wide Hewitt half volley was smeared to Deep Cover only for Tim Bunn to chase Usain Bolt like, retrieve, turn and throw the ball in, which Hewitt intercepted and arrowed back to Parker only to see it remove the leg stump with the batmen just short, having not grounded his bat in his crease. 2 balls later it was all over and much beer, cider & wine was taken with our supporters including local boy Humph Bate. Ali Brew accepted the skipper's invitation to join the Mogador Wanderers and Hewitt's good day was then made even better when his sons' name came out of the hat in the June 50 Club draw, with Peter Tharp taking second place.
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
Hewitt
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