Result: Hursley Park won by 49 runs

Match Report:

Chris Tarrant defeated after three balls to a flying full length catch and young buck opposition (almost to a man possessing birth certificates ending in 1980 something) for whom physical conditioning is a way of life and not a day dream; along with terrific hospitality thanks to Fiona and Geoff Squire; a Hampshire school the happy recipient of a Taverners’ bus; and a victory target well beyond the batting ability of the Taverners..….so just another Tavs annual outing to Hursley!

It was a delight to see a couple more recruits to the Taverners’ ranks – Mike Wedderburn, Sky Sports cricket and sports news anchor, bemoaned that his 10 overs the previous day (yes a club regular) would dull his performance. While he wasn’t as fleet of foot as his Harlequins rugby union winger days, he was straight in the bowling groove back on home Hampshire soil. Mike was educated and grew up down the road in Portsmouth and played for Hampshire second eleven. Also on debut was former Hampshire captain Will Kendall who drove through the night from his French family holiday to return one wicket, loads of runs and some very agile work in the covers . Both excelled – it was the rest who fell short, especially this skipper – golden duck.

Three other first class players made first class contributions. Min “the Spin” Patel off two paces delivered several overs of flight and guile and a lightening quicker ball - which would definitely have been too quick for the Hampshire speed cameras which spent this Sunday afternoon laying idle while a 20 mile traffic jam gummed up the M25 and M3 making many of the Taverners’ journeys just a bit gruelling. One Paul Aldred cover drive was worth the admission fee and Adie Aymes (who began and ended his club cricket career at Hursley) pocketed an improbable slip catch, slog swept his way to a top score of 42 and managed to pass comment on all his old Hursley team mates. His words of encouragement included – “hit it a bit harder son and that might have been a six in a Chinese tea cup”.

Andy Green took a crucial wicket and Charlie Dale a crucial catch behind the stumps – without which Hursley would have piled on even more runs. As it was, it was never in doubt that their 180 off 30 overs was beyond Taverners’ means.

But something else was also never in doubt of course and that was the extraordinary generosity of Geoff and Fiona Squire. They create and mastermind the day in such a relaxed and joyous way from lunch on their estate to hospitality at the ground, to the presentation of a minibus to Southsea’s Mary Rose School and the opening of a new clubhouse by Rachael Heyhoe Flint.

Next year either Hursley will be handicapped (by a couple of over 40s at least) or Mr Oakley will be putting out a three line whip to all our Test stars.

Andy Steggall
Manager and captain