www.northholmwood.com

And so the day started with another Simpsonesq sky and a big gold and green bus parked outside Inholms lane. Photos were taken and off we chugged to Old Woking in a vintage bus with a maximum speed of 50 mph, something we never managed to achieve there or back!
People stared as we drove by, the occasional wave and a big smile from all.
Upon arrival we were surprised to find that we were late for the start as we assumed a 2pm where as our hosts gleefully stuffed papers in our face exclaiming a 1.30 start.
We apologised.
Old Woking enforced the no-toss rule and we were to bat first on a green top of a wicket.
Robin and Rob opened against tight bowling helped by irregular bounce and some swing. The bowlers were on top. Robin fell first exposing himself to the left hander who removed the leg stump with glee. The chairman strode to the wicket full of purpose hoping to stamp his style of batting on the game. A few lusty blows got the scoreboard going before Rob holed out to gully. Guesty arrived, his family poised to clap each run (which unfortunately meant just 2 claps) before he was clean bowled by an inswinging yorker. Daryl joined the Chairman and allowed him to take control of events early on so he could play himself in. The Chairman was in full flow now murdering all types of bowling before an indecisive moment caused his downfall for a quick fire 95. Nobby joined the party and after almost holing out first ball, tucked in to the bowling nearly as whole heartedly as Dazza who by now was flowing. The 2 put on 60 runs in a matter of 5 or 6 overs to take the total to 235, Daryl unbeaten on 86 whilst Nobby was run out off what turned out to be the last ball for 29.
Tea, the best yet this season - superb!
Stuffed we started our assault on the OW,s batting line up. Captain Cheesy from one end pumped up and Dazza chugging in from the other. The Captain cleaned out the opener for a duck and the scent of blood was in the air. Unfortunately Dave Welton just failed to hang on to a leg side catch and the tone was set. Soon after the Chairman and Nobby were flat footed in the slips as a genuine edge flew between us. Ching went the echo around the ground. Nobby managed to get hands to the next chance that went down before he took a catch of Daryl for the second wicket. Ching another bottom edge failed to stick in the keepers gloves and our hearts began to sink. Robin dropped a tricky one at short leg and Morgs another acrobatic one at short straight mid off. Mmmmm Ching!!
Nobby's turn again to catch one and then Dazza dropped one ,ching, at square leg. By now reading this you'll be thinking how many chances did we miss?? Well when the fines (ching's) were added up after the match £11 plus was taken !!! A few more wickets did fall but in the end all we got was the BFH, as Jim Bowen would say 'Sorry lads but all you've won is your BFH, your Bus Fare Home', oh and 16 points….
So after 48 overs of hard toil we started our journey home, a slab of beer and a few bottles on board, stopping for another beer in Horsley and a strawpedo each.
A great day, spoiled only by not winning, was ended with a curry.
Lastly, congratulations to Netherne with whom we will do battle again next year in division 2.
(Thanks to Rob Tyers for organising our day trip and to the driver Peter, oops I mean Nick)