|
Bures & District Cricket Club Yorkshire Tour 2004 (Report by The Skipper)
The
third Bures & District Cricket Club Yorkshire tour took place over the weekend
11th, 12th & 13th June 2004. Apart
from the inconvenience of two hold-ups on the A1, the advance party of
Patrick, Roger, Chris and the Skipper arrived at the Crescent Hotel
Ilkley in good time for a couple of pints of Black Sheep prior to dining
on fish and chips and then back to re-hydrate after the extended car
journey. The prospect of success at
Harewood House on Saturday was strengthened by Patrick choosing to
captain the Bures side for this fixture.
An enthusiastic McKenna introduced a new style of pre-match
captaincy hitherto unseen. Nothing
less than 110% effort would be sufficient and the reminder that there
was no ‘I’ in the word team. Saturday
breakfast was taken just before the 10.00 am deadline and we awaited the
arrival of the Norton mobile conveying a brace and half of Nortons and
James Lee. The team was slowly assembling and we departed to Pool for lunch.
With eight cricketers intact there were more to arrive but arrive
they did in their own particular style. An aged Espace emerged from the horizon and our ex Land Rover
consultant disembarked jubilantly.
Apparently the “Tin Can” had just passed an MOT without a
hiccup and will continue to be a formidable Cropper chariot for another
12 months (I never knew rust had such mechanical integrity - Ed.).
So we had nine players. Skipper
McKenna was anxiously directing the remainder of his team to our
lunchtime venue and we rose to attention to greet the arrival of Paul
McKenna (Kidder), Keith McKenna and the First Lady.
After formal introductions most of the team stayed on the terrace
and lunched on hot roast beef sandwiches with thick cut chips and beef
gravy whilst the McKenna
entourage retreated to the comfort of the dining room. Upon our arrival
at Harewood House the Kites turned out to greet us.
Unfortunately, the skipper, still a little wet behind the ears,
forgot to use a double-sided coin and we were duly inserted in a 40-over
format. James
Lee and Chris Ayres made a positive start supported by Tom at No. 3.
James played some classy strokes but perished to a yorker,
attempting to drive. Chris
Ayres began to look very good but was dismissed by a very useful catch
at wide mid on. Mark Norton
whacked some lusty blows and found the boundary quickly. Chambers produced a poor two and Lee Norton demonstrated his
ability to remain at the crease long after all the others had departed. Entertaining
journeys to the crease were produced by Kidder McKenna and Nigel Norton
both of whom allowed nerves to give them statuesque rigidity which made
troubling the scorers difficult. Last but not least, Roger Chunnoo
strode to the crease with the confidence of Montgomery
mindful of Skipper McKenna’s instructions and having the
intuition of a seasoned tourist. True to form,
Rog produced an absolutely
faultless golden duck, perfectly executed. The innings closed at 72 all out after 32 overs. After
a tea of sandwiches and cakes, Bures returned to the field and their
opening attack was skipper McKenna and Chambers C.
The first 10 overs produced a wicket and about 16 runs and it was
felt time for a change. Now or never and unfortunately there were very
few runs with which to speculate. Mark’s first over of 14 was only
surpassed by Tom at 16 and the game took a different complexion.
Five wickets fell by the time St. Georges reached their allotted
total and we retired to the Travellers’ Inn to enjoy more Black Sheep
and those wonderful dale views. Despite our less-than competent performance we were warmly
welcomed and invited to return in 2005. Are we a nice bunch of chaps or do St. Georges
just enjoy winning? In
view of our finish slightly earlier than scheduled, plans were made for
dinner. Messrs. Norton M and L and James returned to their rooms to
catch a glance of television in the hope that the Celebrity Get Me Out of
Here mud bath would be repeated. The McKenna entourage, Nigel, Roger,
Tom, Chris and the Skipper dined
on steak and lamb and explored the Crescent cellar in the process. Very
tasty indeed! The First Lady and Mr Keith McKenna retired and the entire
squad assembled for more beer and an inspection of the night life of
Ilkley. Nearly everyone
returned for a nightcap in the plushly refurbished bar of the Crescent
Hotel and bar staff were kept on their toes until 2.30 a.m. A full
English breakfast was an essential start to the floowing day followed by an
excursion to Ilkley Moore for a morning’s constitution.
Lunch was taken at the Cow & Calf and then on to the
Olicanian Striders for our second
and final contest. The Skipper suggested that the home side might wish
to bat and bat they b…….... well did.
After 20 overs 145 was on the board.
Tom stopped the rot with four useful wickets and Lee Norton
collected two. Patrick and the
Skipper both enjoyed a brace and the Olicanian innings closed at 224 for
9. The
Striders chose an all-spin attack and James Lee batted aggressively and
competently producing 28 before perishing to another yorker.
Patrick produced a lusty 31, Chambers C. a supporting 25;
various extras and misfields allowed the visitors to amass 104.
This report would not be complete without a mention of the
innings of Keith McKenna (aged 68).
Keith had been coerced into playing by Patrick and struck two
fours and a single to complete his innings on 9 not out.
A great day for the McKenna boys to be on the field with their
father and of course the delight of the First Lady was there for all to
see. We
returned to the pavilion for refreshments and the prospect of seeing
Beckham’s Boys in action. Bures
did not produce a remarkable performance.
We were very warmly welcomed and the Olicanian Striders continue
to show an admirable approach to friendly cricket which was a great
pleasure for the Bures team. So the
Tin Can hit the road and the Norton wagon departed. And then there were four. After a tiring weekend the deep leather sofas of the Crescent
Hotel provided a brief respite to our aching joints, soothed by further
glasses of Black Sheep and lager. The hotel restaurant was closed Sunday
evening so the local Turkish Diner alfresco was the only option to
satisfy our hunger. It is not the winning that counts it’s the taking part and a very good time was had by all. Special thanks to Keith McKenna, Kidder McKenna, Nigel Norton and Roger Chunnoo without whom this great weekend would not have been possible. Perhaps even greater thanks should be extended to Chris Chambers for organising the whole weekend and agreeing to organise a 2005 tour next season! Sometimes, you can't keep a good man down!
Contact us - here |
