Whats the Story, Horton Glory

With High Halstow unable to fulfill the fixture, the Park Lads travelled to Bickley to renew an old fixture, except that is for number one fan and travelling supporter Bob Harbert who decided to visit Rochester anyway.

Park fielded first in a 40 overs match and opened with Dartfords answer to the Gallagher brothers, Dave 'Mad Forrit' and Craig 'Avin it' Partridge. Big Bro Dave was certainly rollin' with it as he had Bickleys no.2 caught out while still clearly suffering from the cigarettes and alcohol. A stunning tumbling catch by Ewin at mid off setting high standards for the Park fielders to follow. Sibling rivalry was evened out shortly after with Craig ripping out the no.3 bats middle stump the next over to leave Bickley looking back in anger at 6 for 3. Skip Fowdy decided to pull his openers off (oo-eer!!) after 9 overs and bring Johnny Norton and Tim Gannon into the fray. With the Bickley batsmen making a bit of a recovery Gannon struck tempting the big hitting no.4 to send the ball up in the sky not reckoning on Simon Ewin running and diving in to take the ball inches off the floor once again ! The trick was repeated the next over with the ball skied this time to mid off where Skip Fowdy was settled comfortably to take the catch, til he realised that he was in fact 2 yards short of the ball, and stuck a despairing hand back over his head and with back creaking under the strain took a stunner one handed ! Bickley now looking like they were going to slide away at 49 for 5. The East End Pirate Norton was not to be outdone and he had Bickleys no.6 out, edging behind to Dave Bru to leave the oppo at 52 for 6. Bickley staged a bit of a recovery and added 60 for the next wicket, and the skipper brought himself and Dave Fletcher on to break the partnership. Fletch was the man for the job and had the dangerous no.7 out caught behind by Bru just when he looked like breaking loose, and had bickley at 115 for 6. With 7 overs left, opening scallywags Dave & Craig Partridge returned and just when Bickley's remaining opener was looking like he was going to live forever, Craigy Boy took his off stump out of the ground to have the oppo at 149 for 7. Dave The Rave was soon to follow, clean bowling no.8, leaving Craig to bring it on down comprehensively bowling the no.10. Bickley finishing on 151 for 9 in their alloted 40 overs.

After a hearty tea and examination of the half-time football results, Big Dave Hearn and Alan 'Al' Horton strode out to perform the opening honours for the Park. Unusually, Dave was out early doors caught for 1. Chairman Al Whaley went out at no.3 and looked pretty comfortable until edging one down the leg side when everyone looked surprised to see the Bickley keeper to take the ball cleanly one handed! Wonk departing for a duck and Park wobbling at 30 for 2. The Park nerves were allayed to see David 'Dave' Fletcher join Al in the middle and the pair set about restoring order to the Park innings, with Al nudging away through the off and Dave offsetting resolute defence with occasional randon acts of violence. Fletch responding to a nasty bouncer from the Bickley opener by square driving the next delivery effortlessly to the boundary. After looking (once again) totally in command of the proceedings Al Horton popped one back up to the bowler to depart for a once again invaluable 30. Shortly after coming down the pitch to despatch the change spinner for four, Dave was out caught for a nifty 21, to leave Park on 68 for 4. Dave 'Hornchurch Lad' Brupacher was up at no.5 and was once again looking comfortable until chasing a wide one from Bickleys innocuos looking off spinner and popped a catch up to the infield. At 76 for 5, Park were looking a long way from home. With Simon 'Doc' Ewin and Skip Fowdy at the crease though, the faithful Park support (by this time numbering Bob, having returned from his day trip to Rochester) were calm and expectant. Anxious to avoid another spectacular collapse, this pair batted carefully until the Skip was caught and bowled for an out of character 15 minute duck, to leave Park on 85 for 7. With the Ewin forward defensive in full effect to ward off tight Bickley bowling the run rate was beginning to rise, but Craig 'Just 17' Partridge came out to spice up the action. After some bizarre Park running between the wickets, and with a breezy 10 runs to his name, Craig departed, run out, going for a second run that a Kamikazee pilot would have had second thoughts about! Park struggling badly now at 108 for 7 with less than 10 overs left. Deciding to take the Park cause in his own hands Simon tried to blast Park out of trouble only to be caught out for a hard earned 22. At 108 for 8 with 2 new batsmen at the crease, John Norton and Tim Gannon, the prides of the East End and Stockport respectively and 45 required off less than 4 overs it was time to don the Hari Kari bandanna's! With Bickley's kiwi quickie bowling aggresively in the deepening gloom this proved to be a hopeless task. After being struck by a nasty rising delivery. Johnny Norton was bowled for 1, leaving Park on 112 for 9. Dave 'Siyanora' Partridge joining Gannon at the crease for 3 overs of madness against some hostile bowling, with Bickley not afraid to let the bouncers rip. The run rate proved too much though and Park finished on 130 for 9 from their 40 overs, with Gannon and Partridge on 8 and 9 not out respectively.

After a great start where Park were firmly in the driving seat, Bickley clawed their way back into the match. Still with less than 4 an over required, Park expected to win this game after hard work in the field. Once again lack of experience at the limited overs game cost Park dear as they were unable to force the pace in the middle of the innings. Still the lads ended the game in good spirits with a rousing rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for young Craigy Boy Partridge who turns 18 tomorrow. The 'Boy' monicker will now be dropped for future reports, but the lads will expect Craig to start buying his own drinks from now on in return !

A hard decision this as there were several good performances today without anything truly spectacular. Craig taking 3 wickets, and Al Horton's impeccable, and these days almost expected opening knock of 30. But for an imperious performance in the field, inspiring the rest of the team with two amazing catches and numerous diving stops in the covers (not to mention the 22 runs also) the award goes to Simon Ewin. I will carefully gloss over the appalling running between the wickets at this point!