report by RL

On Thursday evening this correspondent received a call from the skipper begging for names and numbers to top up the Jesters team from 7 players to 11. The addition of debutants Steve and Lee Dobson, Alan Daniel and Jamie Hinchcliffe were recruited and we could look forward to a trip to Meanwood CC, the oldest Jesters fixture. 

Lunch was taken at the True Britton pub not far from the ground. The steak, chips and a pint for a fiver proved excellent value the only downside was the smell of the regulars.

On arrival at the ground, doubts were cast if we were playing on the pitch nicknamed the “widow maker” due to its victims in the past but Jester and Meanwood groundsman Ben Senior confirmed that we were. It certainly lived up to its reputation when some military medium bowling took off from a length hitting openers Greg Batty and Steve Dobson on the body and on the helmet on numerous occasions. They did see off the new ball well though before a direct hit run out broke the partnership. Dan and Grieg then took control smashing the ball to all parts and when the ball landed in the horse field there was a reluctance from Hinchy to collect it in case he got chased. The only person not to feel he needed a helmet was Lee Dobson who is either brainless or brainless, stories of an encounter with a stripper an old bloke with a gold card and a lap dancing club the previous evening confirmed this. Lee slapped a few at the end to get us up to a competitive 244.

Jill put on a great spread for tea including chilli and mini jacket potatoes to rival the spread we had at Idle CC earlier on in the season.

RL and Alan Daniel (pan head) took the newish ball, a partnership that last bowled together in 1998 for Woodhouse seconds. This time though roles were reversed and it was pan head who took all the wickets while RL hit a few on the body and helmet. Jester Ben Senior came in and complained he could not see the ball due to the number of cans he had drunk but it was suggested when pan head was in his delivery stride that it might be something to do with the herbal cigarettes he might have smoked, he burst out laughing and got bowled. Hinchy bowled a few over’s but struggled to shake off the Chesney Hawke lookalike tag and couldn’t make any penetration for a change. It was left to the veterans Waitey and Scotty to finish the innings off. Scotty took a wicket with his only ball of the game stumped by makeshift wicket keeper Grieg but there were doubts over the stumping not by the batsman or square leg umpire but by Jesters debutant Steve Dobson who said Grieg had taken the ball in front of the stumps so it was a no ball. There was talk of bringing the batsman back until Duncan (who umpired the entire match) fancied a pint of cider and confirmed the stumping was out. Taxi for Dobson!

After the match we drunk the can bar dry and got off home.

Catching competition update:- RL-8, DRB-2, Scottie-2, Hill tag team-2, Ives-1

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