Castle victory for itinerants
Last updated 13:27, Thursday, 26 June 2008
THE West Tyne based Crown Old Contemptibles Cricket Club bowled along to its inaugural match this season against the re-emerging Bamburgh Cricket Club.
Can there be a more dramatic backdrop in the country than the soaring red stone castle perched atop the perilously sheer whin sill?
Probably not, but you try sighting one of Taylor’s or Rennick’s skiers to square as they drop out off the clear blue sky to be lost against the dark backdrop of this ancient citadel.
Wood flailed, Weeks pirouetted and Hayward snatched at fresh air as most of Bamburgh’s top order pulled anything short to leg.
Cleaver kept his head and bowled a mean opening spell into the sea breeze, yet it was Simpson’s bowling that first cut into the opposition as W.R. Watson plucked a ripe one out of the air: “Just like scrumping apples, chaps,” he modestly opined.
Bamburgh’s own Watson, together with Rennick, threatened to take the game away from Crown Old Contemptibles as they put on over 60 runs for the fourth wicket until R.A. Watson’s fizzing spin swept through the middle order.
Dad chipped in with a wicket, too, as did Paminter, leaving Hayward to bamboozle the young tail-enders with his lack of pace (and spin).
The target for Crown Old Contemptibles was 156, and the stylish Paminter soon began to hum along, though partners could rarely keep up.
Chastened by the criticism for bowling beamers at young kids, Mexter seemed a little subdued with the bat, whilst Weeks seemed on the verge of rolling back the years before ending up another victim of the Bamburgh Taylor clan.
Wood, too, made a start, but the young fan club seemed, quite literally, to turn his head as he mistimed a shot and was caught.
C. Watson must have spotted the ice cream van as he seemed reluctant to hang around and clubbed a rapid 23, when Paminter decided to make a real game of it and retired not out to leave captain Howard the glory of steering Crown Old Contemptibles to victory.
Possibly disorientated by one of his rare outings as a bowler, the only mark the skipper made with the bat was his “two legs” guard at the crease, and so it was left to the real bowlers to stumble their way to the target with a couple of overs to spare, but not another batsman.
Great game, great day!
BAMBURGH: (M. Rennick 44; R.A. Watson 3-38, N. Hayward 2-1) total 156.
CROWN OLD CONTEMPTIBLES: (M. Paminter 54 not out; D. Taylor 3-17) total 159-8.
