Detail: 08-07-2011 - Alderney Tour 2 matches


Result:
Alderney Tour

After the cricketing and social successes of the 2010 trip and 4 excitable "tour virgins" in the ranks, the levels of anticipation and fervour at Southampton Airport of Friday evening were sky high!!!...there was news of new drinking games from Clarkey and new songs from Skips??

Mama and Papa Ellen hosted another fantastic BBQ on the Friday evening (Ben Appleton quote - "how do you make the marinade Mrs Ellen, I would love the recipe"!!!), which culminated in an early fines session orchestrated very eloquently by Tom Ellen. The latter part of the evening saw the lads reacquainted with "Cider/Wine" and Clarkey introduce the greatest drinking game in recent times.....Peanut Racing and then followed up with some high quality singing down at Harbour Lights!!!!

**A little known Fact: did you know that a peanut, when dropped into a pint of beer or "cider wine" will always sink to the bottom....however it will always resurface under its own steam ??..you just don't know how fast and when! I think you all get the gist of the game!!!!!

On Saturday morning, after Tom placated the owner of Harbour lights it was time to get on with the cricket..

Game 1

A 40 over game started at 2pm in the glorious sun drenched setting on top of the hill looking over the Channel.

Blues bowled first in the knowledge that Alderney had a reasonable batting line up but with one star player (whose season average to that point was 100+!!). Rookey came charging down the hill and Tommy Ellen battled up the hill, into the breeze, and both claimed early wickets. In strode Ryan (Alderney star batsman and captain) and suddenly the Blues catching ability deserted them and dropped him 3 times as he went on to score 63. Eventually (and thankfully) Ellen held on at mid wicket from another Clarkey "short of a length" delivery to dismiss the danger man. Amazingly that was it for dropping catches for the entire weekend. With Clarkey bowling with the wind behind, finishing with figures of 4 for 40 and slip/keeper cordon redeeming themselves with holding 3 from 5 in the end, Alderney crept up to only 157 all out and the Blues fancied a win.

Special mention to Jeremy Way for keeping the runs down while bowling into the wind, and Sam Selleck who didn't!!!!

Ben Appleton (52 - I think) opened and took control of the situation. Tom Ellen (48) batting no. 3 joined in on the action and was helped along by Skips (24) and the Blues sauntered to 140 for 2 with 7 overs remaining. Then the Blues tried there hardest to lose the game!!!...with Mitch Corcoran's Golden Duck, suddenly the Blues batsmen went into Rabbit in headlight mode and it required a couple of scampered singles by Jeremy Way (why does he run between the wickets with his bat held in a victory salute??) and Martin Corcoran to seal victory with 3 wickets (just) intact!!!

Skips verdict: Excellent bowling, improving catching ....but the wrong type of fireworks at the end of the batting!!!

Post-match celebrations on the Pavilion balcony with the Alderney lads involved comical fines session hosted by Rookey and Ryan and extremely competitive Peanut racing!!!! The evening culminated in what can only very loosely be described as a "DISCO" at the Albert pub??

Game 2

This time a 30 over fixture starting at 11am!!!

The Blues batted "badly" and only thanks to Martin Corcoran (25 ish) in the middle order and then Mitch Corcoran (25 ish) and Ben Appleton (18 not out) near the end, the Blues crawled to 145 all out.

Skips was not going down without a fight (after all he had 7 match unbeaten streak to preserve) and nor was the spearhead of the bowling attack Rookey and the two combined to dismiss their key wicket very cheaply and opening the door for a famous victorious defence of a small total. All the bowlers contributed positively and atking wickets, but with 9 catches (4 in slip/keeper cordon) being held, the fielders and the overall team work of this touring squad were the winners!!!!

The Alderney team, with their top order in pieces, stuttered to 110 All out and so the blues won by a margin of 35 runs

Skips verdict: Poor batting but with a strong tail, quality bowling and magical catching!!!

Tour Summary

Huge thanks to Tom Ellen for organising such a great trip (again) and for all the lads for contributing to make sure the Blues CC remain unbeaten in 4 games on Alderney and making sure that from both a cricketing and as importantly the social perspective ..THE SEQUAL WAS AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL!!!!!

[updated 30 07 2011]