Paint the whole world with a Rainbow

The Park players turned up to a quagmire of a pitch at Goddington in typical end of season weather. Prospects for a full days play were not good but Skipper Fowdy won the toss and decided to have a bat.

In keeping with the end of term atmosphere, the Skipper sent young Craig Partidge in to open with old hand Dave Fletcher to keep an eye on him. Unfortunately Fletch didnt stick around too long as he was bowled out for a duck, to leave Park on 10 for 1. Tim Gannon was in at no.3 and sensibly decided to let Craig do all the work as he batted in his usual manner, only the soggy outfield denying the youngster several boundaries through the covers. Gannon looked to have played himself in but then got out looking for a big shot. LBW for 6, and Park on 36 for 2 with most of the runs coming from the Partridge bat. Skip Fowdy was in at no.4 to join Craig who had survived a couple of chances in his jaunty knock. Craigs luck was to eventually run out though when he was caught out for a sparkling 36, to leave Park on 50 for 3. No.5 saw Paul Thompson returning to the fray after, no doubt, a beer tasting holiday. Paul and the skip were moving the score along nicely, with the skip particularly looking in good nick. Just as he was into his stride Thomo aimed a mighty blow into the outfield and was unlucky to be caught for 11. This left Park on 79 for 4, and Hornchurch Lad, Dave Brupacher strode out to the middle. With Darran getting the big shots off, and Bru picking up the runs square of the wicket, things were once again progressing well. With an eye on the closing weather, Bru attempted to pick up the pace but edged behind to the keeper to fall for 14 and leave Park on 96 for 5. Chairman Alan Whaley was up at no.6 to join the skipper, but once again, after a confident looking start was soon out caught for 2. At 123 for 7, Alan Russell came out to join Darran who once again was bossing the show with another typical Captains knock. Unfortunately the weather was to strike and a sudden shower had the home umpire scurrying for cover, whilst the bemused players followed behind. With 15 mins left, the Park players were keen to get out again as soon as possible to throw the bat, but the umpire once again took matters into his own hands by calling tea and getting tucked in. Thus the Park innings finished on 125 for 6, after 37 overs, with a frustrated Skip on 41 not out and Alan Russell on 2 not out.

Bill and Dave Partridge opened the bowling for Park, against a strong looking opening batting line up, with a double rainbow framing a now brilliantly sunlit Goddington Park. Straight away the Park batting total didnt look big enough as the St. Marys openers looked in little danger. Both Bill and Dave performed brilliantly, with the run ups a right mess and the pitch a soggy pudding. However no breakthrough was forthcoming, and as long as Mary's no.2 bat was in, it would be a matter of time before the target was reached. A double bowling change saw Alan Russell and Terry Shannon into the attack and almost straightaway Alan had the number one bat out LBW (after trying to call a wide off a ball hitting the batsmens pads!). Alan was to repeat the trick a few balls later to trap the no.3 and all of a sudden St. Marys were 53 for 2. However, the no.2 bat was still scoring at will and looked to be taing the game away from Park until Terry did the trick, inticing the batsman down the wicket and Bru stumping him well out of his crease. The score hadn't advanced when Al Russell and Bru repeated the stumping at the other end to leave Marys wobbling on 68 for 4. With only 5 further runs added, Terry had the no.6 caught out, Bru completing a fine day behind the stumps in terrible conditions, with a smart catch. The Park players closed in, sensing a victory, but the next pair recovered well and added a further 20 runs. Alan Russell then clean bowled the no.7 to leave Marys on 93 for 6. Moments later Alan had the no.8 out caught by Dave Fletcher, to complete a memorable Michelle Five-For haul. With St. Marys on 95 for 7, there were 3 overs left for Park to take three wickets or the oppo to score 30+ runs. Despite trying to tempt the batsmen into going for it, bowling himself, Thommo and Al Whaley for a handful of overs, the skipper couldnt force the win and St. Marys avoided further collapses and batted out the draw on 104 for 7.

Despite having the worst of the conditions, the Park players stuck to the task well and were very close to forcing a win in unlikely circumstances.

Several good performances today, Darran's knock of 41 not out, and an exemploray display behind the stumps in awful conditions from Bru. But with a superb 5 wicket haul, the award can only go to one place and thats back to Beckenham with Alan Russell.