The annual pilgrimage to Rottingdean began more like an episode of Wacky Races due to the poor excuse for a sporting event, the London to Brighton Bike Ride. Ben "Face-man" Fairclough's adventure began the night before when his new MCC- sponsored Audi TT decided it didn't fancy the journey, forcing him to use his pit car instead. Honeyfield chose the journey to gain some valuable orienteering experience for his travels later in the summer by circumnavigating most of the South of England in his 3 ¾ hour epic trip - due in no small part to his Captain's "clever short cut"!? All in all this meant that few Mogs were able to take up the Hollis's generous invitation of Pimms, Ploughman's and a swim before the game.
Needless to say the match began late and our Captain of the day, "Toys" Lewis was left with no choice but to bat first. This brought to the fold a new opening partner for Furns in the shape of Macca, playing his first Mogs game of the season.
This heady mix of differing shapes and styles didn't seem lost on the little master who in the first over called Macca for an all-run 4! Once the St.John's ambulance men had left the field having topped up Macca's oxygen, he was seen to be telling his opening partner in no uncertain terms that that wouldn't be happening again!
Macca further emphasised his point with a quick-fire 16 consisting solely of boundaries before being caught in the deep attempting another. This bought to the crease Jackson who caressed the ball to all parts of the ground in a Goweresq display of 32. Meanwhile at the other end Furns was nudging and tickling but once the umpire asked the opener to leave him alone, he began to build an innings that once again would prove to be the bedrock of the Mogs total.
At the fall of Jackson, Abbott strode to the crease but the slow pace and little bounce of the wicket didn't suit his game and he took some time in scoring a somewhat awkward 17. With time pressing on D.Martin wrestled back some of the initiative by scoring an experienced and classy 23 before departing. With the late start "Toys" was left with a difficult decision as to when to declare. After Honeyfield added a quick 9 n.o and Furns was left undefeated with a masterful 74 n.o, the choice was made with the Mogs having secured a respectful, if not daunting total of 197 for 4 declared off 40 overs.
After a pleasant but somewhat uninspiring tea the Mogs took the field, opening up with J.Lewis and "Ronnie" Briggs. Their very friendly Wicket Keeper and opener used his local knowledge to great effect and seemed little troubled by the pitch that had caused the Mogs difficulty earlier in the day. Taking particular liking to J.Lewis (5 overs for 42) he soon had the home side well ahead of time with some hearty strokes, although much to Lewis's chagrin was often somewhat fortunate in the process. Briggs (5 overs for 12) at the other end was steady but also failed to get the luck and break so needed.
The acting captain brought on Honeyfield who somehow managed to extract some extra pace and bounce from the docile wicket and this finally brought the breakthrough with a firmly struck shot from the other opener very well caught by D.Martin. At the other end "Toys" brought himself on and began a tidy spell that helped somewhat reign in the free-scoring home side and give the Mogs a sniff.
The luckless Honeyfield (9 overs 1 for 44) had the batsmen in some trouble but still they managed to score off top edges and Chinese cuts and despite "Face-man's" sledging of the young but gutsy No.3 - "You've been watching way too much telly son" as he attempted an extravagant cut off a ball that had passed him five minutes earlier, the breakthrough failed to come.
Matt did cleverly deceive and remove the free-scoring opener (73 off 63 balls) but as the score continued to rise steadily, so did tensions culminating in the captain living up to his name after a seemingly plum LBW was not given. Matt proceeded to laugh out loud for some time at the decision. The umpire took some umbrage at this and once Koffi Annan had brokered yet another peace deal, the game continued.
This altercation appeared to give the Mogs the spur they'd been looking for and as the Captain (8 overs 1 for 34) cooled off, "The Major" (6 overs 2 for 3 replaced him with some wily spin that brought about a fine stumping by "Face-man" and a superb catch by "Action" in the deep. Macca (4 overs for 15) came on from the top end and proceeded to tighten up the scoring with some timeless and unplayable in-swinging Yorkers, but again didn't get the break deserved.
The Mogs had got themselves back into the game but Rottingdean had amassed enough in the early stages that wickets were our only chance and these were not forthcoming. In the end the home side got there with more than 5 overs to spare and left our acting Captain of the day chastising himself for what in hindsight may have been a slightly generous declaration.
Once the collective loving arm of the Mogs was extended to our dispirited leader all was forgotten except when thoughts turned to the journey home! Overall it was a good game played in intense heat on an unusual bowl of a ground. In the bar afterwards unconfirmed and anonymous comments were made that perhaps this great fixture might be moved to any other date in the calendar except this one - I for one anonymously concur!
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