Match Report - Bures vs. Chappel & Wakes Colne 16/08/03

Bures 92 all out

Chappel 95 for 5

Chappel won by 5 wickets

An ultimately comfortable victory under the water tower for our closest local rival (Boo! Hiss!), thanks mainly to a poor Bures batting performance.

Mr. Slow, fresh from his brush with Hurricane Breezer and still mentally in a far-away time zone, lost the toss and was inserted on a tilting, hard and bumpy track which had seen neither lawn mower, roller, water nor any suggestion of the colour green for many a week. Opting for his customary blend of youth and experience as an opening partnership, Graham Sills and Alan Cropper looked in little trouble until both were unexpectedly dismissed cheaply. James Lee, having briefly threatened with a vicious pull shot, skied tamely to mid off. Chris Ayers, with a mighty swish across the line, clean bowled. Junior Slow, forward but clean bowled playing inside the line. Darren Bugbee, showing little sign of the form which had brought him runs in recent weeks, a duck. Mr. Slow, in a flap with his pads and with his thoughts still on an ice-cold Pina Colada, top edged a pull AGAIN. It was left to Christopher Chambers and young Lee Norton to restore some respectability to the score, the latter showing great concentration and application which belied his tender years. Chambers capitulated to a good catch at deep square and with the demise of Rog "The Dodge" Chunnoo it was left to the duck machine McKenna to support his senior partner at the crease. Innings closed with Bures at 92 ish (following a comprehensive assessment of some dubious accounting on the part of the scorers) with Lee Norton not out on 35, an excellent effort.

After tea, Chambers and McKenna made it clear that Bures were not going to go down without a fight. Regular inroads were made into the young Chappel batting line up, which was reduced to 42 for 5. But a bright innings from young Gavin Emson turned the tide as he hit the change bowlers to all parts and the total was quickly reached; Emson 56 not out!

Bures does not take such defeats lightly and a sizable contingent made the journey down the hill towards the Colne to the Chappel Swan. This "free house" welcomed us with a full array of exclusively Greene King beers all presented with a price tag to make the eyes water. Undaunted by the incursion of multiple pescadorial offerings, Bures lowered the tone of the establishment and hit the booze. Mr. Slow, relishing the thought of his first pint of English beer for some three weeks, weighed in to the latest GK offering, something with four numbers after it. Assessing and savouring the deep ruby palette, the ample bitterness, the hint of English aroma hop on the nose and the almost imperceptible allure imparted by the Burtonised liquor, he eruditely pronounced it as "crap". Rather like the Bures batting I suppose, but at least sometimes we SOMETIMES play well!

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