Rainford Shines in the Rain.

I’ve got to say that writing match reports are much easier and a much more enjoyable task if we have won the match in question. It also makes me forget about the obligatory early week struggle to get a side and that struggle fades into the distance…until Monday arrives and we do it all again.
This week we had the joy of an away fixture at Hatherleigh and the allure of easily the best tea on the circuit, so imagine Dave’s consternation when the early forecast indicating that we would be lucky to get any sort of game let alone a full 40 over match in. Truth be told the early conditions on Sunday weren’t the best and credit to both teams for sticking it out. We were also fortunate to arrive in Hatherleigh as a full side. With all 4 VPCC cars stuck in a convoy behind a rather sluggish mobile home, we approached a lovely straight road with nothing coming towards us, Les with Leigh in the passenger seat were 1st car back behind the mobile home, followed by me, Tom and Dave in my Mariva. With Les not showing any desire to pass the mobile home I pulled out to overtake both vehicles, only for Les to choose the exact moment I was drawing level with his BMW to pull out forcing me to slam on the brakes and allow safe passage for everyone involved. The good (or slightly worrying) news is that Les was totally oblivious to the whole situation and didn’t realise anything was afoot until we arrived at the ground and Tom asked if he has it in for us!
So with all members accounted for captain Branch strode out for the toss, called right and stuck them in. Well played skip.
With the weather slightly overcast with definite moisture in the air Dave chose that exact moment to breakout a perfectly reasonable looking sleeveless pullover (admittedly not an official VPCC one but as Dave is still rocking a retro playing shirt I didn’t expect anything less) for some reason, which I still can’t fathom even now, I latched on to this new experimental look from the skipper and soundly ridiculed him. Much to my joy I was soon joined by the majority of the team in raucous laughed led by Wolfie, which was made even funnier when Dave ripped off the sweater and trudged to long on and flung it over the boundary rope. Sorry Dave I really don’t know what came over me, perhaps I just don’t like change.
So, laughter abated, Dave took the new ball from the top end and Tom opened with the captain from the other end. Both started very well and were bowling a tight line, Hatherleigh had limped along to 8 off their first 5 overs before Tom made the breakthrough. A ball that Hatherleigh batsman Cameron Rowlands expected to get up more than it did cannoned into middle stump and sent the bails flying. After 5 overs apiece and no further wickets Dave called a halt to both his and Toms spell. Both were very economical and had relinquished 25 runs between them. On to replace Dave, and making his 1st appearance of the summer, was Neil Merrick and replacing Tom was Harry. Conditions at this stage were admittedly not the best. That chubby comedian from Bolton would’ve described it as “that fine rain that gets you soaked right through” well this chubby scientist from Bideford would describe it as “that fine rain that blows the seam on a perfectly good cricket ball and makes fielding 10 times harder than it already is for 11 chronically unfit blokes from North Devon”
So with a ball that was becoming slightly less spherical with every passing moment Smiler got a good a grip as possible and took a wicket with his 4th ball. Hatherleighs number 3, Lee Rose was looking to drive over cover but only managed to hit it straight to Mezza who plucked it out of the sky just above his head. Harry, like Smiler, also struck in his 1st over when opener Tim Harper’s resistance was broken when Wolfie took a regulation catch at gully. Both new bowlers took off where Tom and Dave had left off and weren’t allowing the runs to flow as freely as Hatherleigh would’ve wanted. H stuck again in his 3rd over when a beauty clipped to top of Declan Grimshaws off-stump for a classic off-spin dismissal. Hatherleigh’s experience Nick Rodgers was looking dangerous and was latching on to the bad balls, putting them away with little to no trouble. Harry had at this point really found his groove and took his 3rd wicket of the day when Harry Arden feathered a catch to me behind the stumps. 2 balls later new batsman Jay Porter was following him back to the hutch for 0 when he too snicked it to me behind the stumps.…wait what’s this? He’s still stood their and the umpire is unmoved. “I was nowhere near it” was Porters response. Oh the ball must have just deviated in mid air whilst making the distinctive sound of leather on willow. Happens all the time. Not ones to let a thing like that dwell on our minds Tom and Mez didn’t need much opportunity to vocalise their thoughts on the situation at any and every chance. So after bowling 2 maidens (the last of which was a wicket maiden) in a row H was given a spell by the ruthless captain Branch with Smaler coming on in Harry’s place. Come on H 3 wickets in 5 overs just isn’t good enough for the skipper and I think you should really think about your performances here on in. Smiler completed his 8 over spell with no further wickets but he went for a poultry 20 runs, great return to the side. Dave then decided to give debutant Paul Hayes a chance to show what he can do with a sodden misshapen cricket ball, his 1st over was promising only going for 3 runs, unfortunately the ball really wasn’t helping Paul and his 2nd over went for 9 with only 4 coming off the bat. It really wasn’t a fair chance for him to bowl with whatever that red thing that started the match as a ball had become and Dave removes him after just 2 overs. Smaler at the other end has been there and done it all before so the “ball” we were playing with wasn’t affecting him and he was bowling his usual devastatingly slow left armers. With Paul out of the attack Tom returned to finish his spell, tight as a duck arse, his 1st 2 overs back produced 1 run and 1 wicket when the stoic Rodgers gave H the chance of a catch at extra cover which he made no mistake off. With Smaler removes from the attack after 7 overs Harry returned to finish off his spell, the ball at this stage was proving difficult for him to control and some fairly filthy deliveries followed. Wides, no balls for 4’s but also his obligatory wicket, bowling Alan Jones to claim his 4th wicket of the day. Once Tom had finished his 8 overs the captain came on to complete the innings. His 1st over back started very badly, coming off a short run up (?!) bowled a leg side wide followed by an off side wide that went for 4. After a bit of shouting and me pointing out he was a seam bowler not a spin bowler Dave went back to his usual run up and went for 1 of his regulation deliveries. Shall I say it? Go in then…I bloody told you so Dave!! Despite both Daves and Harry’s best efforts no more Hatherleigh wickets fell and the innings drew to a close on 164 for 8. Along with the aforementioned not out decision for the caught behind, I am led to believe that Dave was denied a fairly conclusive run out when he scored a direct hit. The decision could be questioned even more when the batsman in question started to walk off only to be called back when a not out verdict was given. We did get a run out when Tom with another direct hit run out Martin Quick for 10 a got 2 yards short.
It was a decent effort in some tricky conditions from the park boys today. That said there were some basics we got wrong and we need to tighten up on these silly mistakes going forward.
The legend that is the Hatherleigh tea did not disappoint. Quite simply superb, I think we all stuffed our faces with baked goods, sandwiches, pizzas and copious amounts of homemade cakes. Sluggish is the best way to describe us post tea.
On to our reply and captain Branch’s ruthless streak reared it’s head again when opening stalwart Lee Merrick was axed in favour of Harry Rainford as partner for Leigh Wade. Harry is a technicality very good batsman, only his temperature let’s him down and he openly admits to “moments of madness” Today thought Harry batted very intelligently and supported Wadie excellently and the runs were flowing freely all around the ground. Wadie was looking bang in form and was playing some truly superb shots. Before anyone had chance to draw breath we were 100 for no loss off 14 overs. That isn’t a typo, our first 100 opening stand since…well I don’t know when. Just as he was on for back to back 50’s Leigh missed a straight one and was bowled for 48. Next man in was Wolfie. His 2 innings so far this season 111 and 0. Which Wolfie would we get today? The signs were looking good and when he latched on to a full length ball from Grimshaw a certain 6 was on the cards. Martin Quick at deep mid on had other ideas and reached as high as he could and held on to the catch well. Now the view from the clubhouse and to a man within the VPCC squad was that Quick was clearly stood behind the rope when taking the catch. A fact that I am still convinced off now. No question was asked to the validity of the catch and begrudgingly Wolfie departed for 2. I joined H in the middle with us still needing 53 for victory. H informed me there were plenty of 1’s and 2’s everywhere and the lad was dead right, we set about reaching our target but with us on 144, Harry finally fell for a well played 39 when he chipped a delivery back to bowler Jones, who made the catch look a lot harder than in truth it was. Next in at 5 was Mezza, with a point to proved he will feel more than a little aggrieved when fell to Cameron Rowlands caught and bowled. The decision was highly questionable with Mezza claiming a bump all. In truth from my view at the non strikers end was, it was a fair dismissal. Mezza’s bat hit the floor at the same time he made contact with the ball. I would’ve felt the same as Mez if I was on the receiving end of the decision but out was the verdict. With only 5 needed JT joined me to pick off the remaining runs required and with it a comfortable 6 wicket victory.
In truth at tea this game I felt was in the balance, the opening pair of Leigh and H set us up fabulously for victory and their contribution to the win should not go unnoticed, even after both had lost their wicket there was never any doubt of victory.
Little footnote we are currently 4th on 12.5 points, Barnstaple are just above with 12.6 and Hatherleigh are 2nd with 12.75. If we hadn’t conceded against Witheridge even if we didn’t pick up a single point in that game we would currently be on 15.
So on to next week where we host Kelseymen. Let’s keep it going boys.

Player watch:
Leigh Wade: looks like a man possessed at the top of the order. He is now getting the runs he always threatens too but he has cut out that get out shot. If this form continues then we stand a very good chance for the rest of the season.

Harry Rainford:
Bowled, in parts, as good as he ever has. His 1st spell was excellent, his 2nd spell wasn’t up to those highs. 4 wickets to his name and (for me) clearly denied a 5fer. Opening the batting he looked solid and assured and vindicated Dave’s decision to install him up the order.

Joe Wolfie: took a nice catch at gully, but it was another failure with the bat for Wolfie, incorrectly in the eyes of the VPCC faithful. Ate his body weight in fruit at tea.

Will Anderson: wasn’t ideal conditions to be a keeper in but managed to take 2, sorry 1 catch (not bitter) 32 not out with the bat and was happy to tap a single for the winning run.

Lee Merrick: took a good catch off his brothers bowling but he was out of luck with the blade. On another day he would’ve been not out and seen us to victory. His luck must change soon surely.

James Taylor: quiet day for JT, used his foot to good effect in the field and had the rather thankless task of taking to the crease with single figures required for victory.

David Branch: like with a few others, bowled very well in his 1st spell and then less so in his 2nd. Made some tough but good decisions today, ones which probably gave us victory.

Tom Anderson: pick if the bowling for me, seems to have found an extra yard of pace and is hugely consistent with his line and length as reflected in his figures.

Paul Hayes: tough conditions in which to make his debut, some promising signs in his 1st over which slightly came off the rails in his 2nd. Good to have another player involved in VPCC.

Neil Merrick: bowled very well considering this was probably the first time he’s picked up a ball since last season. Like Tom he bowled a consistent line and length and only went for 20 off his 8 overs.

Dave Smale: didn’t pick up his usual wicket today but not through lack of trying. Should’ve had at least 1 but an easy catch was put down.