Played

Doug Winter, Ian Mayes, Adrian Lightly, Julian Davies, Paul Rushforth, *Will Brandt, Ben Mitchell, +Chris Territt, Jason Leitch, Bod Evans, Ben Sage (AWOL)

Officials

Umpire: Bryn Dye

Report

And so it came to pass. Eleven (er, ten! - Ed.) fine Gentlemen of Relish braved the Sunday service on the Central Line, the A23 from Brighton and GNER (well done Paul!) to play our first competitive match against opposition who weren't either (a) drunk, (b) getting married in the morning or (c) both. The weather held up and under a slightly overcast sky at the Met Police Ground in deepest Chigwell, we put the Wenlock Arms XI into bat on what looked like a decent, if slightly sloping pitch.

Opening the bowling, Jason charged in with some menace, sending one or two deliveries whistling past the ears of their opening batsmen and Will kept it very tidy running up the hill at the other end. However, their openers were soon into their stride and after some decent strokes and four dropped catches (some early-season rustiness, chaps?) they were soon up to 50.

In fact, it was 93 before the first wicket fell, the hairier of the two bowled off his pads. Things picked up after that and we started to improve, Julian especially clinging onto some fine catches. Will and Ben M. picked up a couple of quick wickets each before they sent in their number 7, a mighty Pakistani slogger who proceeded to despatch us to all parts of the ground (and beyond).

A brisk 73 later, Adrian got one to rear up off a length and hit him firmly in the swingers causing him to fall over, groan loudly and retire hurt. Their total was mounting quickly though, and 40-odd extras didn't help our cause. Despite a direct hit run-out from deep mid-off, a splendid leg-stump yorker from Will and even a wicket for keeper Chris (sent on to bowl at the death), they finished with 291 all out off 35 overs, a mighty total for us to think about over tea.

Returning to the fray after some cake, Will was soon amongst the runs as he set about their early bowlers with aplomb, quickly reaching the twenties with some nice straight drives while Adrian blocked at the other end. Wenlock then brought on the slogger from before - quick and straight, he gave little away and eventually did for Will who departed for 26.

Both Julian and Jasonn came in and worked a few around but their bowling was tidy enough and we found it hard to break through the attacking field. They held on to their chances and batsmen came and went rather too quickly for any kind of partnership to build up. Mentions here for Bod for his golden duck (after ignoring our advice about "missing a straight one"), Ian for his longest innings to date and Doug for being not out at the end of the innings, which ended with GRACC 75 all out after 23 overs.

Many thanks to everyone for their sterling efforts and to Bryn and their scorer for their contributions to the spirit of the game and the jugs of beer :)

Result

Wenlock Arms XI: 291 all out (35.0 overs)

GRACC: 75 all out (23.0 overs)

Wenlock Arms XI won by 216 runs

Man of the Match: Will Brandt (opened well, but let down by the rest of the batsmen)

Champagne Moment: Julian catching someone out with his left moob

Comedy Moment: Jason slipping in the delivery stride and falling flat on his face, to much mirth