St. Mary's, Mungo and Midge

Park opted to bowl on a glorious (and hence suspiciously) sunny day down at Footscray, with Skipper Gannon returning to the fray after special dispensation from Farnborough Hospital's department of malingering gits. With Paul Moss and Craig Partridge opening the bowling, the rosary beads were out in the Oppo's quarters, as Mossy sent down over after over with un-erring accuracy, and Craigy Boy (in the words of the St. Marys umpire) 'allied some accuracy this year, to his blinding pace' and according to his Captain 'not before bl**dy time, bl**dy students'). It wasn't long before Paul Moss had bowled Wood, and set St. Marys back on 3 for 1. Craig had by now decided that he ought to take a wicket this season and promptly found Griffiths edge, with keeper Dave Brupbacher dusting off the effects of a trip to Orlando with a smart catch behind the stumps. St. Marys 16 for 2. Mossy added to an already impressive season's tally when he trapped no.4 LBW and had no.5 caught behind by Bru again, to put the oppo well on the back foot on 33 for 4. the opener Stammer once again proved resilient to the attack and set about a St. Marys revival with McKeer, adding 22 priceless runs. However with John Ling and Dave Partridge now into the bowling attack there was no hiding place, with Lingo bwling McKeer after a wobbly start. St. Marys 65 for 6. Dave made his impact on the game a couple of overs later when he took the prized wicket of Stammer, clean bowling him for a valuable 19. St. Marys 78 for 6. Lingo was by now bowling up a storm, getting more accurate and quicker with every delivery, and soon had Gorrard popping the ball up to Gannon at square leg, testing his broken finger with the gentlest of dollys. St. Marys 84 for 7. Terry Shannon joined into the bowling attack and could only watch as Lingo trapped Winter LBW at the other end to cap a magnificent spell of bowling. Terry was determined to get in on the act, and soon clean bowled St. Marys skipper, after a pinning him down for a couple of overs. Number eleven for St. Marys was an enterprising lady who promptly struck El Tel back past him for two solid runs. A clearly incensed Shannon then dispatched Elaine a couple of balls later with a bruising delivery that bowled Wavostraughtoff her pads. St. Marys bowled out for an even 100 ten minutes short of time.

After a pleasant tea break, Christian O'Mahoney and Dave Fletcher opened the Park batting, but there was soon to be trouble instore. Christian departed for 0, in the first over, edging into his stumps, as he had yesterday, and the offending bat (a quality Gray Nicholls Longbow that your correspondant would have gladly taken off his hands) was promptly trashed off screen. Park 0 for 1. Fletch was soon to follow, bowled by Bonniface for 1, to leave Park 2 for 2, and resident Merchant of Doom Hearnie, warming up with a soliluqy of despair. With Kenny Robotham and Skipper Gannon at the crease a re-building job was in order, and these two quietly got about it. As the batsmens confidence grew, the runs started to come, first Kenny pulling over mid wicket, then Gannon following suite. With some good single chasing, and the odd near miss, a fifty partnership was put together, before Kenny got a bottom edge to Wonostrocht and the keeper, standing up, held brilliantly. Kenny departing for a patient and mature (not words normally associated with Ken !!) 16 and just what the captain ordered. Park 53 for 3. The flashing blade of Alan Russell joined the skip at the crease, and what could have been a quiet couple of overs, was dashed as Al pulled Carey for successive fours, relieving the growing tension. With Gannon chipping in with the odd blow over midwicket, things were looking good again for the Park until Russell holed out to square leg for a fine 12 runs. Park 78 for 4. Dave Brupbacher came out at no.6 to join Gannon, and was soon off the mark, with a square cut for two. The ones and two's were forthcoming from this pair, and as they were homing in on the victory target, the St. Marys opening bowlers entered the fray once again. Bru was to fall to a ball that kept quite low from the lively Winter, and departed for a useful 8, bringing Craig partridge to the crease in the un-enviable position of 4 runs required for victory. After a couple of nervous overs, Gannon drove to the mid wicket boundary and the win was sealed, with Craig walking off with 1 not out and Gan unbeaten on 57.

A very enjoyable match played in excellent spirit, as always with the St. Marys boys (and girls), led in great fashion by Skipper Paul Bonniface. Good bowling from all the Park bowlers set up what should have been a straight forward target for the batsmen, but we should have learnt from yesterday that no score is easy to get. A solid all-round team performance today, in particular from Paul Moss and John Ling on the bowling front and Gannon on the batting side, and these three players share todays MOM. Well done to all for an enjoyable and friendly game.