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Coquet v Civil Service

"Don't run your partner out. There is much carelessness and ignorance about running between the wickets, yet the rules are simple and should be learned and obeyed" - From Cricket on the Green by RS Young, published 1947.

On a miserable night at Wallsend (the weather was fine and the breeze warm but we were at Wallsend) Coquet won the toss and inserted the men from the ministry. This seemed like a good decision as the opening partnership of Ward and Horrocks lasted 2 overs before Ward, doing a pretty decent impersonation of Father Ted's Mrs Doyle "Go on, Go on, Go on!" ran Andy Horrocks out for 5 by a good 18 yards.

Worse followed as steady the steady left armer got John Fergs 1st ball with a beauty which cut away from the batsman and uprooted off stump. John's facial expression of sheer disgust was joyous. Duncan(12) and Ed Lord (2) soon followed into the pavilion (?!) but fortunately the steadying influence of the Ginger Jock Mr Miller was beginning to restore a sense of calm to a floundering innings. He and Hansie DeJaguar added a few before the Original Civil Service South African perished for 5. Meanwhile Miller continued to squirrel away runs into his nest and when joined by Mr Laing (21) took the score to just short of 3 figures. Mullers (5*) weighed in with a nice 4 to mid-wicket before the innings closed on 103 (ish). Mr Miller run out for 30.

The opposition started brightly and we looked to be struggling to contain the big hitting opener. However a match winning 4 overs of no wicket for just 16 runs from Barry Halford meant Coquet needed to up the rate and wickets then began to tumble. Joe Fox (1-22) gave Barry good support before Ian Laing (3-19) and Hansie (3-10) took advantage of some interesting batting to restrict Coquet to 70. Mention should be made of Mr Fergusons whole hearted efforts at deep square as he fashioned 2 of the three run outs with a sprint in and straight throw to the right end, though the running between wickets did assist somewhat. A fine team performance. The midweek X1 now turn their attention to the cup (semi-finalists last year) and a trip to Beamish (A decision on whether we need to dress in the style of 1913 has yet to be made)


"Thank God there is a place in cricket for comic incompetence"- Cricket on The Green by RS Young 1947