FOREWARD

Who's got the bloody scorebook?

Richard Ford is captain of Brighton and Hove Crescent Cricket Club. "Who's got the bloody scorebook?" is a compilation of Richard's match reports sent out on a weekly basis essentially to members who have missed games during the weeks of the 88th. year of the club's history.

Richard and I made our 'Crescent' debuts in 1979. I well remember his first innings at East Grinstead where he was batting especially well to rescue us from our usual early collapse. I marched in promising to offer stout resistance and was stumped first ball about five yards out of my ground. In the following years with over 500 appearances between us we have shared journeys to grounds (though not always by the most direct route), pints before and after games, enjoying each other's triumphs and offering sympathy for failure. Mike Brearley's 'The Art of Captaincy* offers few solutions to keeping a team happy in which each individual considers himself (or herself) an all-rounder whilst endeavouring to win the game as well. 'The Skip' handles all this with his usual phlegmatic aplomb which you can only truly appreciate once you have done the job yourself.

"Who's got the bloody scorebook?" covers all the 'Crescent's' matches from the wettest coldest and most miserable May and June any of us can remember only for August and September to provide us with idyllic days for summer Sunday afternoons of chasing leather. It also provided us with numerous opportunities to lose, if only temporarily, the scorebook the statistical bible of our year. At the end of the season we still have it intact after a few narrow escapes. We also managed to bring it along most weeks and thankfully were not presented with keeping a record of the afternoon's activities on the back of an envelope as we did at Little Common one year when both teams left their books at home.

Whilst 1991 was probably our poorest season as far as results go for about 10 years, it did provide us with plenty of last over excitement and good friendly but competitive cricket, which is why WE all play the game anyway. 'The Crescent' is of course a special club to its players and members - we are a group of friends who are out to enjoy ourselves on a Summers afternoon. We hope our opponents derive pleasure in playing against us and that we do leave some tea for them despite the presence in our fold of a few professional eaters. Richard describes his part in the side as the club's best player of very bad spin bowling, his fellow players are used to this self-effacing modesty. The 'Skip' has our gratitude for another highly enjoyable season as we all ask him for "10 more years". Any chance of a bowl at Goring in April?

Simon Wood October 1991. Hove.

Goring (a) 28/4/91

The committee met on the way to the ground in Mr. Wood's car and decided that we'd win the toss and field while the sun was up and bat in the cold. We lost the toss but got our way. From that point onwards things started to deteriorate. On the extreme roadside edge of the square, the bone-dry wicket held few surprises for batsmen, and wickets had to be fought for if batsmen were not in the mood for surrender. Goring batted soundly if slowly. John Gatford opened his account with an LBW - no doubt taking advantage of the fact that Eric was not attending. Batsmen gradually realised that they could afford to go for their shots, as being April, if the ball does go in the air the Crescent are unlikely to catch it. And so it proved. It was a cold afternoon unless you were John Gillingham and attracted the ball like a magnet, despite continuous changes of position. If John had gone to the toilet the ball would've followed him. To be fair, for a change, all our bowlers bowled fairly well without a lot of luck or much support from cold hands. John, Colin and Peter all bowled very economically. Goring 182-6 at tea.

Goring's main strike bowler saw to it that the chase was not going to be easy. In fact, it fizzled out about thirty minutes after tea. Catches were held and the Crescent lost wickets at an alarming rate. Some stayed longer than others. At one extreme you had the skipper, testing out a new pair of club pads and finding himself rooted to the spot and LBW first ball. At the other end we had Nick Hollands getting his head down and enabling us to save the game, strongly aided by John Gatford (26*) and Simon Wood playing out the last ten overs or so for a thoroughly undeserved draw. Crescent 116-8 at the close, and Goring very cold and a little frustrated. We remain unbeaten in April since the war outside of Hove.

Sunners: Gillingham; Carter; Gray; Edmondson; Hollands(w); Gowers; Ford; Gatford; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood; Ayling.

Non-runners: Hudson; Howells; Wood N.; Cook; Brown; Ashdown; Rice; Grant.

Leyland-Daf man of the match:- John Gatford.

Worthing Chippendale (h) 12/5/91

On its farewell appearance at Horsdean, the last of the batch of Sri Lankan cricket balls went a long way to redeem its reputation amongst the bowling fraternity. It took all 19 wickets available, Chipps only appearing with ten men. Having a by-pass constructed along the pavilion boundary has not affected the nature of the Horsdean wicket. Until the tide came in and the dew started to rise around 6.30, few balls rose above ankle height and it was extremely slow. The council roller would appear to have suffered in local authority economies. When you win the toss on a sunny day of course, none of these things seem relevant, and naturally we batted. Without distinction. Of the early batsmen only Chris Gray showed the necessary application, and painfully extracted a score of 24. Nick Hollands ground his way to a significant 14 and then a last wicket partnership between John Gatford and Peter Hudson of 19 important runs raised our total to 115 by 4.45.

The one benefit of this disappointing performance was that it gave both sides ample time to do justice to another excellent tea. Full-up rather than fired-up, John Gatford broke through in the first over removing the potentially dangerous Dave White. With his tail up and bowling very thoughtfully John proceeded to win us the game with figures of 6-29 from 15 overs. Simon, Peter Hudson and Jon Gowers gave him solid support without taking wickets. Just as it seemed the game might slip away from us, Chris Gray took the vital wicket with a dreadful full toss and then two more with excellent deliveries. John took the last wicket of Jerry Coates, the only batsman on the day to conquer the conditions and make 50, with 10-men Chipps still 19 runs short of our total. We didn't drop a catch, but there again none were offered - apart from Hick taking two behind the stumps. The ground fielding was good however, and we had the extremely rare sight of two players well under 25 chasing the same ball in the field. A first for the Crescent I believe. Many thanks to Mike Cooper and Phil Hunt for playing their first games.

P.S. For anyone else due to go and watch Jo Mangle (Neighbours) in the Big Top, unfortunately it's cancelled.

At play: Gillingham; Carter; Gray; Cooper; Hunt; Hollands; Gowers; Ford; Gatford; Wood; Hudson.

Not at play: Edmondson; Ayling; Wheatly- Crowe; Howells; Cook; Ashdown; Rice; Brown; Wood,N; Grant.

STOP PRESS: Alex White married recently New arrivals: a young boy for David & Marion.

Fittleworth (a) 5/5/91

For John Giilingham this was the perfect game. Opened the batting; wasn't out; had tea and went home. John was in the minority of one, even with his tongue in his cheek. Within five minutes of starting the game the rain started. John was mopping his glasses and Rick calling for an extra sweater! Off we came for half an hour to play cards, pool or read the papers. Back out when the rain briefly relented. After looking settled and a few hearty biffs, Rick missed a straight one. John had got the hook going by now, taking advantage of the short boundaries. Never used to hook in May. Chris played a shot as awful as the weather and Mark came in. All the while the weather slowly getting worse. Spirits rose as the tea-lady arrived and started to cover the pool table with edibles. At 91-2, both batsmen looking comfortable, the Fittleworth skipper decided that enough was enough. The square was getting carved up and the rain showing no signs of easing. A damp and disappointing afternoon, for all apart from John who made a pleasant 41 not out in a borrowed jock strap no less. It was nice to see Eric for the first time this season, albeit behind a windscreen and a pair of wipers. He asked me to mention that funds are low at the moment and subscriptions haven't exactly been flooding in. Mister Hudson has a pencil sharpened ready for all donations. Similarly, Peter is the man to contact with your availability -particularly for the bank holiday weekend at the end of this month. Looking forward to seeing one and all.

Wet: Giilingham; Carter; Gray; Edmondson; Hollands; Ayling; Ford; Wheatly-Crowe; Gatford; Wood; Hudson.

Dry.- Gowers; Howells; Wood,N; Cook; Brown; Ashdown; Rice; Grant.

Goring (h) 19/5/91

A second viewing of the new landscape of Horsdean did little to change the initial reaction. The by-pass will be an eyesore. Sunday was a cold grey day and we pitted our wits against another ten men from the Worthing area. Have W. Sussex cricket authorities changed the laws? Our spin attack of Wood and Rice warmed up by trying not to be conspicuous at the Goldstone ground all morning, cheering Brighton on very quietly. We were grateful for their well-being as both slipped automatically into good line and length, easily containing the batsmen on an easy-paced Horsdean wicket. Batting was significantly easier than last week, and all six bowlers used good line and length to restrict the batsmen. By tea Goring had reached 144-3, from fifty overs, with Kevin on his seasonal debut returning figures of 15.7-25-2. We fielded well without exception, and I was happy with our performance.

John Gillingham and Rick Carter set out sensibly on the chase. Whether it was the sight of the skipper padded up at three we shall never know, but both batsmen showed an extreme reluctance to get out. The first wicket fell at 92, with 14 overs remaining and the Crescent in a winning position. Rick made a solid fifty and John was eventually out at 61. A "mini-collapse" of three wickets inside two overs caused a few jitters, and Chris and Mark were fortunate to survive a little cameo of how not to run between the wickets. Suddenly, two hearty blows from the blade of Mark and the game was all over and what was all the fuss about anyway? We may have won an over or so earlier if it had been warm enough for Eric to signal wides, but cricket is a great game of "if only". And when our grandchildren ask us where we were when Gazsa was taken to hospital we won't remember - but I do remember that Kevin bowled 15 overs for 25 the next day. Great to see Kevin and Barney making their seasonal returns.

In: Gillingham; Carter; Ford; Hudson; Gray; Edmondson; Gatford; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood; Rice; Brown.

Out: Hollands; Ayling; Gowers; Howelis; Wood,N; Cook; Ashdown;Grant.

Findon (a) 26/5/91

When you have a side struggling at 8-4 and 35-6 fairly early in the afternoon, the result at first sight looks fairly predictable. But at the time, as we endeavoured to get Findon back into the game and prolong the afternoon, it occurred to me that this is the sort of game we could easily lose. And so it proved, though the most pessimistic of Crescent followers would be surprised by the margin of 82 runs. Kevin and Peter W-Crowe opened the bowling to great effect, and bowled far too well. A harsh man with hindsight would accuse them of losing us the game! Kevin 11-8-6-1 and Peter 14.3-5-24-5. Their skipper rescued their innings with some impressive batting, and turned the game on its head. A total of 152 all out was a fine recovery. Mike Tossell bowled his first spell of the season fresh from New York and both this week's debutants, Peter Rickett and Steve East, performed with great enthusiasm in the field.

The target looked fairly obtainable from the tea-table. Forty minutes later at 33-5 it looked a bit tricky from the middle. Without bowling particularly well Findon got rid of us for 70 with three or four overs to spare. Only Gillingham, Hudson and Gowers got to double figures and to be blunt it was a fairly pathetic batting performance, in complete contrast to our performance in the field. This was one of those games where the scorebook only tells half the story, and a game which we lost rather than Findon won. Eric added the name of famous racehorse trainer Josh Gifford to his long list of victims over the years, and it was nice to see a man so famous and so rich take the decision like a humble mortal. He swore it was never out. Eric just chuckled and wandered off southeastwards.

Present: Gillingham; Carter; Hudson; East; Rickett; Ford; Gowers; Wood; Wheatly-Crowe; Tossell; Rice.

Truants: Gray; Edmondson; Gatford; Brown; Hollands; Ayling; Howells; Wood, N; Cook; Ashdown; Grant.

Old Whittonians (h) 27/5/91

BHCC entertain, regally.

The asterisk beside Peter's name indicates not only that he skippered this game but also that he had the lawn mower out as well. Due to council oversight, Peter had to cut a wicket to use before the game. With nearly 400 runs scored for the loss of 13 wickets he is to be congratulated. Along with Elizabeth Gowers who organised the catering arrangements, Peter is due a round of thanks for his efforts towards making a fun day out for everybody where the cricket is rather the excuse for the social occasion than the reason for it. Peter won the toss and we batted, with a fair amount of caution, being an all day game. Rick scored 47 before he missed a straight ball and the resting skipper found the key to getting into double figures. Mi our games will now start before lunch. Rather more belligerent contributions lower down the order from Colin, Jon Gowers and Peter saw the Crescent reach 193-8 and declare.

In the field, and minus a recognised custodian, I kept wicket. If I'd known that I would be asked to stand up to John Gatford half the afternoon I may have used my powers of delegation in this respect. Old Whitts got off to a flyer, and riding their luck had ninety on the board before we could take a wicket. We battled hard to restrict our opponents, fielding keenly despite large food intake. Peter, Simon and David all bowled particularly well, but with no luck at all. Nothing seemed to go to hand, although the ball seemed to be in the air continuously. Rarely have I seen somebody get 93 against us without ever seeming to middle the ball. Hard as we tried we could not pull the game around, although we forced it into the last over. An exciting game and a thoroughly enjoyable day seemed to be had by one and all.

Not mowing the lawn: Wood; Carter; Ford; Gray; Howells; Ayling; J. Gowers; Wheatly-Crowe*; Ashdown; Gatford; Rice.

Elsewhere: Giilingham; Hudson; Tossell; Edmondson; Brown; Hollands; Wood, N.; Cook;, Grant.

P.S. Congratulations to Sue & Colin - a baby girl.

Kirdford (a) 2/6/91

Crescent go mad at Kirdford

Seagulls soaring inland to Wembley brought snow to the Pennines and a chill wind to rural Kirdford. A rampant Crescent side, smarting from two consecutive defeats proved far too strong for a keen but disappointing village side. As I arrived at the ground, two or three of our early batsmen were inspecting the wicket with long faces and disapproving body language. I had intended juggling the batting order about, but this performance changed my mind and on electing to bat the top of the order remained the same. Only the first four got in. The wicket, while hardly a batsman's dream, always looked worse than it played. The bounce had variation, but this had the effect of making Rick (81) and Chris (64*) concentrate a bit harder and play each ball on its merits. This they did admirably. Rick, and later Mark, caused a few problems to parked and moving vehicles in the passing road. At 4.50 as Mark was out, we declared at 198-3.

If Kirdford's bowling and fielding had been adequate, their batting I'm afraid was inept. Taking nothing away from Colin (3-10) or Kevin (3-9), who bowled accurately, the batting side never got going. Jon Gowers came on to try and lengthen the game ( Sunday licensing laws being what they are) and took wickets with his first two deliveries. He had to come off. Mr. Hudson, on watching the opposition preparing in the nets, started even predicting how incoming batsmen would depart. With a fair amount of success. Even the introduction of Ford and Hollands could not delay the inevitable very long. In fact from where I was standing Nick's wicket appeared most strange as their skipper seemed to give himself out caught behind and stamped dejectedly off as bowler and fielders discussed the possibility of an appeal. The skipper's wicket was a more conventional stumping, easily missed if you'd blinked at the time. A bit of dust and a space where the batsman used to stand.

Swashbuckling: Gillingham; Carter; Gray; Edmondson; Hudson; Hollands; Ford; Gowers; Gatford; Ayling; Rice.

Wembley, etc: Wood; Ashdown; Wheatly-Crowe; Brown; Wood,K; Howells; Tossell; Cook; Grant.

University of Sussex Associates (h) 9/6/91

In a nutshell:1. Blooming cold! ( raw SW wind) & overcast all day2. They started like an express train (89 when 1st wkt went down after

12 overs)3. Pegged them back (to 186 for 9 dec.)4. Crescent knocked them off for the loss of only 2 wkts!

However, faced with a blank page I feel that I should elucidate further for those sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the games within a game to enliven this dull, damp and dreary start to June ("the wettest, cloudiest start to June for 50 years" source - the met office).Needless to say it was a belter of a pitch - groundsman Wheat & Grow had prepared the striped, buff wicket. Unfortunately the last time he did this the opposition did exactly the same and took after the Crescent opening attack as if there were no tomorrow.

Number 2 above does not really do justice to the mayhem being inflicted. If it was not for Master Gregory Ayling running deliberately behind the bowlers on numerous occasions then the damage could have been worse. However, typical resilience in the bowling and fielding (like England) kept their score within reach.

Having tactically swopped changing rooms due to a missing window the T.T.T.T. (tea-time, team talk) was quite optimistic; quick outfield (cut last week), desire to keep warm etc... saw the openers depart to the middle with the rest of the team huddled in the lee of the pavilion drawing lots as to who was going to be umpire.

If the weather was cold and bleak, the cricket was exactly the opposite. Messrs. Wood and Gillingham set about the task with relish. Ciller's scampering, Wood scuttling it was a joy to watch. A couple of wickets fell, but of no consequence. Colin Ayling enlivened proceedings with a rapid 49 (hitting the winning 6) and like the England captain Simon Wood carried his bat for a cultured 79 N.O.Needless to say the 'Wood glow' was in evidence afterwards. Very pleasant as this added some warmth to a cold w/e.

Those freezing: Wood; Gillingham; Gray; Ayling; Gowers; Tossell; Ashdown; Gatford; Howells; Hollands; Wheatly-Crowe.

report by Peter Wheatly-Crowe

Newchapel and Horne (a) 15/6/91

A dry game in a wet land.

After two weeks of wind, showers and temperatures akin to November, a reluctant sun peeped from behind banks of black clouds. Unfortunately, with Newchapel and Home's square under several feet of water, most of the Crescent side were home in their armchairs in time for the 6.30 news. The only Saturday fixture of the season began on time in gloomy conditions and between then and the third and final stoppage of the day at 4.45 some interesting cricket had taken place. Nick Hollands looked solid before one of the few deliveries he received outside the off stump took the faintest of edges which only he and the wicket-keeper knew anything about. Thereafter Gillingham and Edmondson added 109 with a mixture of aggressive cuts and flowing drives before John gradually assuming the healthy ruddiness of a cornflake advert was given out caught behind for 41 after a flurry of bat, pads, turf and water. Umpire Gowers in wet weather attire had no doubts. Thereafter Wheatly-Crowe skipper for the day in the absence of Richard (always check your fixture card before committing yourself to social engagements) saw Mark to a well deserved and well made 100*. Despite a plethora of singles in the nervous 80's and 90's the magical three figures were achieved with no alarms, save for one very tight run-out call. Immediately Peter chipped a return catch to the bowler after a breezy 18. Peter Hudson's sprint to the centre was defeated by the downpour which gave him a DNB rather than a 0*, with the final score on 166-3. John and Mark's batting was all the more notable for overcoming the handicap of water on the glasses, the shelter of vast sun-hats, de-rigeur for such a flaming June, proving inadequate.

A Mr. Kippling type tea was taken early, his cakes soon to disappear from view in the threshing machine of Hudson and Whistence-Smith who actually moved from the comfort of his deck-chair to the tea room. The game was reluctantly abandoned at 5.30, kit was packed and the team headed damply home. No sign of dear old Eric, an indication of the season so far? A dry game in a wet land. Has anyone mentioned the "Greenhouse effect" this season?

So we all look forward to next week's fixture and the start of our eastern tour. The highlight of the game for me was not Mark's hundred nor Peter Wheatly-Crowe's new haircut but John Gillingham's streak between changing rooms in search of a shower that worked. A little ironic I felt in view of the prevailing weather conditions.

Wet; Hollands; Gillingham; Edmondson; Wheatly-Crowe; Hudson; Ayling; Gowers; Ashdown; Gatford; Wood; Whistence-Smith.

Dry: Ford; Howells; Grant; Rice; Wood,N; Carter; Gray; Cook; Pratt; Tossell; Brown.

report by Simon Wood.

Willingdon (a) 22/6/91 Ashburnham (a) 29/6/91

Matches cancelled due to rain

Little Common (a) 7/7/91

After the lengthy lay-off due to a wet June, the return to summer weather and pastimes was much welcomed by one and all. I never even heard anyone complain about the heat, before I lost the toss and subjected us to an afternoon in it. One could hardly compare our performance in the field to that of gambolling lambs or playful pups, but we were fairly efficient, missing little and bowling tightly on a dead wicket. All six bowlers took at least one wicket, mostly from memory. One was forced to feel sorry for Peter Hudson, who spent most of the time horizontal behind the stumps, trying to stop balls that never left the ground. Mainly due to the eccentric father and son team of Feakins, Little Common had made 150-8 by tea.

On such a slow and low wicket, chasing was never going to be easy. With the air of a man knowing June had been wasted, Rick Carter set about the chase with admirable patience and determination. Aspiring Boris Beckers in the tennis courts had to keep a wary eye for missiles from his bat. Unfortunately, none of his early partners could keep him company, until Peter Hudson threatened to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Rick finally fell to a disputed boundary catch attempting another assault on the tennis courts. What followed the departures of Rick and Peter can best be described as farce. Never needing more than five an over, we nevertheless ran between the wickets as if the rate was twice that. All of a sudden we were nine wickets down with five overs left and Mike Tossell strolling out to batten down the hatches. The result was never in doubt, Mike and stonewall Gatford, yet to be dismissed this season, saw out the draw. Nice to be back.

Reappearing; Gillingham; Carter; Hollands; Cook; Gowers; Hudson; Ford; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood; Gatford; Tossell.

Missing; Gray; Edmondson; Ayling; Rice; Howells; Ashdown; Brown; Wood,N; Grant.

p.s Sarah Cook selected to play for England in Holland thisweek.

Parham Park (a) 14/7/91

The annual Crescent outing to Parham Park

The crowds starting to gather on the hill, in the wind, under the tree from noon onwards. Large cars with big boots and portable fridge-freezers. A startling range of leisure furniture, and indeed leisure-wear. Including a father in a teeshirt designed by his own son - I thought Kevin had just spilt raspberry mousse over himself. On such Crescent occasions the cricket is liable to take second place but this year it was quite exciting, with Parham failing by 2 runs to win off the last ball. We lost the toss and batted first, on a wicket slow and of little bounce. We ground and carved our way to 157-6 by tea,* of which there were two - eat your heart out Peter Hudson. Sound contributions of varying grace were made by Carter, Gillingham, Ay ling, Ford and Hollands; batting I hasten to add. Tea details we can do without.

John Gatford made an early breakthrough in a rare moment away from rescuing children stuck in trees, removing the dangerous Huffer for seven. Unfortunately Mr. Huffer has children now, and his son made runs instead. Parham attacked throughout and were always in with a chance of winning. We took four wickets quite quickly and looked favourites ourselves for a time, but couldn't take wickets regularly enough in the last twenty overs. Parham came to the last ball needing 4 to win, as indeed they had last year. This year they didn't win, but they played their part in an entertaining game. Many thanks to John Cowers for stepping down from the twelve that arrived, and to Eric for umpiring in sticky conditions. I estimate that forty club members, family and friends had a smashing day out. Hope to see you at Warnham.

Theres (1+) Gillingham; (3+) Carter; (3+) Howells; (3+) Ayling? Ford; (3+) Hollands; (1+) Ashdown; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood; (4+) Gatford; (2+) Pice; (2+) Eric.

Not there: Gray; Edmondson*; Hudson; Gowers*; Wood, N; Brown; Tossell; Cook; Grant.

Sometimes there

Warnham (a) 21/7/91 10 get sweaty at Warnham

At 4.35pm with the Warnham score at 220-4 and the storm clouds gathering overhead and clouds of flies gathering overhead and underhead it seemed that something quite remarkable was about to happen. The skipper had gone very quiet which usually means he is about to bowl. As the only wickets we had taken all afternoon had resulted from full pitches or very long long hops Richard probably believed there were a few cheap wickets to be had. However in the final four bails of the Warnham innings bowled by Kevin Eice - 4, stumping off a near wide, 1, LBW off a reverse sweep the Warnham captain decided that enough was enough thereby saving the '10* from further torture. The Skipper however was left to consider what might have been as the Crescent batsmen were left with a nasty 15 minutes to survive before tea. The Crescent 10 men had stuck to their task with valour despite a scoring rate of nearly six an over and whilst another fielder would have been handy it might only have resulted in the ball being found and fetched back faster. We were also assisted greatly by the teenage Warnham's No. 1 batsman doing most of his own fielding saving a number of 2s as very soon our regular slip fielders were at long off and deep square leg. Many thanks to Eddie Whistence-Smith and Peter Rickett for turning out at the last minute and for bowling with more control than most. Why is it that we can have 15 regular members available one week and just scrape together 10 players the following?

The Crescent however are made of stern stuff and are usually at their best in times of complete adversity. So Carter and 'tea watchman' Wood were despatched to the centre in 'hot' pursuit of the required 226. Rick played for tea by hitting the Warnham No. 1 batsman and now No. 1 bowler all around the ground which whilst not exactly shutting him up did provoke a bad back and bruised thumb and... Rick also hit the other bowler the canny Ruben Tidy into the nearby school, so by chocolate cake time we were only left with 200 to make. The tea watchman had made a noble contribution of 2* by this time. After tea things continued in a similar vein until with 19 of the last 20 overs to go Rick ran himself out with a yes, no, yes, wait, yes call. The total by this time had reached the dreaded 111 and Rick complete with new bat headed for the pavilion for a hard hit and well made 72. Your correspondent soon followed for 33 and despite a few lusty blows from Ford and Ayling only Mark Edmondson with some long clean hitting kept us in the hunt. The loss of 3 wickets in 4 balls however limited our options and with the rate at well over 10 an over Mark and Eddie saw us to a draw with Mark unbeaten on 43.

The skipper having used his get out of jail card for the season might perhaps take a different course of action at Stone Cross - rain perhaps? Richard's calm captaincy under rather difficult circumstances and Rick and Mark's batting were the highlights of the day. The skipper's devotion to duty however was pushed to the limit when he was cornered by old Percy the Warnham scorer for over half an hour in the bar after the match.

So we all look forward to tour and also the prospect of 11 fit men of the Crescent doing battle with the Old Varndenians. Rumour has it that John Grant is making his seasonal debut... watch this space.

Warnham 225-6 dec. Crescent 188-8. Match drawn.

Hot and weary: Carter; Wood; Edmondson; Ford; Ayling; Hudson; Eickett; Ashdown; Rice; Whistence-Smith.

Cooler: Gatford; Grant; Gillingham; Gowers; Malby; Wood?N; Brown; Howells; Wheatly-Crowe; Hollands; Gray; Tossell; and many others unavailable.

report by Simon Wood

CRESCENT TOUR 1991

Day 1: Westbury-on-Severn

For the summer of '91, Wednesday 24th July was the end of the begining of the wet summer. Sadly, it failed to coincide with the begining of the Indian summer. Steady rain, black clouds, and some bad mapreading contrived to make a prompt start unlikely.

The silver lining proved to be Westbury's hospitality, in their brand new clubhouse and bar. Both sides were keen to play some cricket, but Dickie Bird would surely have called it off before lunch. However the bridge school was interrupted by a gap in the clouds and a thirty over game was optimistically started at four o'clock. Westbury began with an early assault on the pavilion roof (the opener's brother was a tiler), and a close shave for Eleanor Gray, who became the Crescent's youngest tourist to date. With our varied attack finding steady drizzle and a wet ball a little too much, the home side reached 164-2 with Simon the only successful bowler.

Tea was superb. Thank God we fielded first. After one or two false starts due to even more rain, we batted on the only strip not under water. It's fair to say Westbury didn't employ their first choice attack, but by the time the weather had the final word Richard and Chris had compiled an unbroken partnership of sixty.

We were grateful to our opponents for persevering beyond the call of duty. Hopefully the greenhouse effect will be making itself felt in 1992 - but don't forget this was Crescent's first game on tour lost to the weather inseven years.

Very wet, but not at work: Ford; Gray; Carter; Edmondson; Wheatly-Crowe; Hudson; Rickett; Gillingham; Howells; Rice; Wood.

Even wetter, but not playing: Gray, D; Gray, E.

report by David Howells

CRESCENT TOUR 1991

Day two; Aston Ingham

Will we ever dismiss that bugger Dudfield snr.?

For many players, the tranquillity and rural peace of Aston Ingham is the highlight of summer. Wild garlic, wild flowers and some wild strokeplay all seem so pleasant with an evening at The Kilcot in prospect.

The home side, yet to beat the Crescent, were in determined mood. After a slow and steady start on a drying wicket, they plundered the Crescent's all spin attack towards the end of the innings. Tim Dudfield carried his bat for 86, fortunately his son didn't trouble the scorers, and Aston Ingham made 161-5 - a fair target.

This was not a classic Crescent response. Five batsmen made double figures, no-one made twenty-five, and most people contrived to self-destruct to some accurate but unpenetrating bowling. We were bowled out for 90 - Aston Ingham were justly pleased with their allround superiority.

This year Peter Hudson elected to take on Old Rosie during the post-match celebrations. Those still awake to watch the video highlights of the match, will no doubt recall the results. Any volunteers for 1992?

Playing: Hollands; Gillingham; Edmondson; Carter; Howells; Hudson; Cowers; Wheatly-Crowe; Gray; Rice; Rickett.

Sometimes watching: Doyle; Wood, Ford.

report by David Howells

CRESCENT TOUR 1991

Day three: Corse and Staunton

The last day of tour had a familiar ring, golf at Bells, prawn sandwiches and pool, then a dash across Gloucestershire, hopeful as ever of recalling the way. The welcome at Corse was the usual cheery salute, more surprising was the Skipper's second day of rest, not to be a tradition one hopes.

Hudson, claiming to have lost the toss led an eager Crescent into the field, seeking better things from the weather and the team after Thursday's loss. On an unpromising wicket Gray cast aside the stress of parenting on tour and bowled with some vigour, testing batsmen and the gloved Hollands. With LeWood major skipping through his overs, the Crescent established control at 60-4, only to generously return it to the hosts with a final 166-8, following flourishes from Gresty and Duddfield and son.

Fortified only by tea and biscuits, Carter and Gowers moved to the middle and played an uneventful over. For the second, Gowers faced Malone and sighting only the first ball, stepped inside the line and pulled effortlessly to midwicket for six. Surely the 'Old Rosie" shot of the tour. There followed a fine stand of 97 when J.G. departed for 56. Though Carter achieved 54, Edmondson and Gillingham could not add substantially. With bowling and fielding tight Hudson and Wheatly-Crowe impishly ran ones and twos.

With 10 required from 8 balls and 5 valiant wickets to fail, a tour victory looked as probable as a tour curry, when Hudson finally failed to make the line. With 5 required from 3 balls and Wheatly-Crowe on strike with grin in place all seemed well. Alas the next ball bowled quickly by Parry produced a dot in the book and a claim by the batsman that he was not ready. The law was applied and Wheatly-Crowe could only find a fielder with the next ball. An honourable draw was struck.

Naturally a moments controversy gave way to bread, cheese and good humour. Significantly there was no tour curry this time.

Down on the farm: Carter; Gowers; Edmondson; Gillingham; Hudson; Hollands; Wheatly-Crowe; Gray; Wood; Rice; Rickett.

Back at the ranch: Ford; Howells.

Old Varndemans (h) 28/7/91

After a gap of nearly two months the Crescent returned to what Is left of Horsdean this week, in unusual sweltering heat. A time away made one forget how difficult it is to make runs there. Slow and low for years, but one always forgets. We won the toss and, you've guessed it, batted first. First mistake. It was very hard work indeed, against a competent and lively O.V.s attack. O.V.s had come to win and were not going to open the game up and give us anything. They bowled us out for 74, with only experienced campaigners Gowers (23) and Gillingham (16) adapting to the conditions enough to reach double figures. Jon Gowers in particular, in a rich vein of form from tour, where he made a marvellous half-century, showed the necessary application and patience. Our score may have been higher but for Mike Tossell withdrawing three no-balls already in the book. Apparently they still play the back foot rule in New York. Even the re-emergence of an evergreen John Grant could not see us through to tea, as Wood played sensibly for the interval.

Bowling and fielding after one of Elisabeth's and Maisie's teas is never easy, let alone with only 74 to bowl at. Mark and Simon made early inroads to reduce O.V.s to 28-4, but a typically dour innings by a behelmeted John Moore, in circumstances made for him, slowly turned the game back towards our opponents. Surviving a couple of close run-out calls and little sign of reciprocal LBW decisions (we'd given three of our own the finger), we did not really have the rub of the green as it were. We lost nothing in defeat, by five wickets, having made O.V.s fight for every run, fielding and bowling tightly. Jon Gowers return to form with the bat and the belated seasonal debut of John Grant were well worth waiting for, even if the result was disappointing. Horsdean again this weekend.

Sweltering: Hollands; Gillingham; Gray; Edmondson; Gowers; Ford; East; Ayling; Wood; Tossell; Grant.

In Shade: Carter; Hudson; Gatford; Wheatly-Crowe; Rice; Brown; Howells; Cook; Ashdown; Wood,N.

Uckfield Anderida (h) 4/8/91

- 15 sit at homel

What a perfect day for cricket Sunday was especially after all the weeks of bleak cold days and black skies. The sun shone as it had done on only odd days this year, the sky was blue and there was a little breeze., what more could a Crescent player require apart from a team to play against. Even the outfield at Horsdean had been cut. Last week the only chance of a four was if the ball got lost in the thick 'rough' off the square. The Crescent had 14 or even 15 men eager to play, some very eager if only to avoid less attractive social functions. Despite all this our 'friends' {?!) from Uckfield decided that late Saturday night would be a good time to inform us of their problems in raising a side. The noble yeomen of the Crescent were therefore left to a day of D.I.Y. or a game on the links. John Gatford is the man to avoid when playing for money so my sources tell me and he alone came away from the day a little richer. If Uckfield had given us a couple of days notice we would certainly have found an alternative fixture, how ironic to lose out on one of the seasons best days in the soggy year of '91.

Some of us look forward to Stone Cross next week, your view will depend on whether you have batted or bowled at the ground before. After 0-80 in 11 overs last year I have mixed feelings, the few wickets we take at Stone Cross seem to result from run-outs.

Please let Peter know of your availability for the August Bank holiday weekend as soon as possible. Your club needs YOU especially at Lindfield on Monday. Already we are looking a little thin.

report by Simon Wood

Stone Cross (a) 11/8/91

Crescent visit Stone Cross, not by the direct route.

The new Pevensy bypass, several years in construction, witnessed a fairly typical series of Crescent u-turns and semaphore messages as we assembled sporadically at Stone Cross. The weather looked dodgy, so on winning the toss the skipper opted to bat and open; Rick still being on a tour of north Eastbourne. Those who'd lunched at Firle were quietly lowered down the order, and he who'd skinned the skipper at golf after last week's cancellation had little chance of wielding willow. Ford and Wheatly-Crowe opened entertainingly, being very adept at playing and missing the correct deliveries. Both enjoyed lives behind the wicket as the score rattled along quite merrily. Sixteen year-olds who can bowl that quickly have a few hard lessons to learn. Peter was out after an hour, trying to score in front of the wicket, and Crescent suffered a mini-collapse. Big guns fired briefly, but it was left to Colin Ay ling and Sarah Cook, with some enterprising straight hitting (a hitherto unused tactic), lifting us to 193-7 by tea. Tea was so good Kevin bought two of the plates at each. He said they were a bargain but Joseph had probably broken them by the time they got home.

Stone Cross never really got going. John Gatford bowled quite sharply and took two early wickets. Kevin opened at t'other end and mesmerised them, taking the vital wicket. Fingers Ayling dropped a dolly and ran a man out in the blink of an eye, and the chase petered out very quietly. Even Simon bowling in his cap failed to find a spark of interest, and the game was concluded disappointingly in steady drizzle with Stone Cross only six wickets down. Anti-climactic after some of the games we've had there. Still it's good to be back on the "winning draw" trail again.

Eventual runnersi Ford; Wheatly-Crowe; Edmondson; Martin; Carter; Cook; Ayling; Hudson; Wood; Gatford; Rice.

Out when we rang: Hollands; Gillingham; Gray; Gowers; Tosseli; Grant; Brown; Ashdown; Wood, N.

Sarah scored 102 v. Middlesex ladies.

Adelaide (h) 18/8/91

Crescent rediscover winning ways.

The Horsdean bowi was almost full to capacity last Sunday, to witness the Crescent steamroller unfortunate victims from Adelaide. How the crowd sang. Under a relentless sun we lost the toss and were inserted, on a Horsdean wicket showing its seasons first sign of life. Experienced Horsdean specialist John Gillingham was an early victim of the wickets uncustomary pace, caught at slip. Rick Carter and Mark Edmondson both settled in and obviously fancied scores; the ball frequently making a dash to the cover boundary guarded by long grass. Both perished in the late thirties however, and it was left to the stylish John Gatford (29) and the more pugnacious Peter Hudson (45), firing to leg from the hip, as it were, to take the Crescent to a respectable 162-7 by tea. We had hoped for more, but it was enough to bowl at. Knowing that Adelaide the previous week had chased 185 without losing a wicket gave us nagging doubts.

Half an hour later at 16-4, Adelaide were struggling. Fine fast bowling from Sarah Cook (3-18) and the nagging accuracy of Peter Wheatly-Crowe (1-6) had ripped the heart from our opponents. The lower order were shared evenly between Simon Wood (3-29) and Colin Ayling (3-28), as we cruised to victory with ten overs to spare. The tail order resistance was of the aggressive type, as Adelaide sportingly refused to give up the chase. As the last man holed out at long-off hats were flung into the air. The skipper had held a catch.

A Brian Johnston brain teaser to end this week: which player got a hat-trick for England but never bowled for his county?

First clue (about 10 mins.) - post-warSecond clue (about 15 mins.) - the county was Essex

Answer from a safe distance, Geoff Hurst.

Victorious: Gillingham; Carter; Edmondson; Gatford; Hudson; Hollands; Cook; Ayiing; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood; Ford.

Resting: Rice; Gray; Cowers; Tossell; Grant; Brown; Howells; Ashdown; Wood,N.

Ninfield (a) 25/8/91

Crescent find Ninfield by 14.15.

Traditionally a weekend of late team-selections and crisis. Crescent arrived with eleven at a new rural fixture in time for a prompt 2.30 commencement. Congratulations to P.H. and commiserations to those who missed a splendid afternoons entertainment. Due to misplacing Steve East and the dodgy eating habits of John Grant, we were grateful to Bob Gowers and Owen McKenna (Dome and Uni. Associates) stepping in at the last minute. Thin in bowling, we needed, and got, good performances from John Gatford (bowling very tightly for an hour) and Simon Wood (four wickets in a long economic spell). It was quite a small ground, but the long grass made it much bigger from a run-scoring point of view, and harder work for hay-fever sufferers. Some unsportingly unsophisticated hitting towards the end of their innings, pushed Ninfield's score up to 200-8 by tea.

Alan Malby on his seasonal debut opened the innings with Rick Carter in Caribbean mood. The sweetest of drives flowed from his flashing blade, and with Rick selecting the right ball to hit at the other end the score rattled to 50. Despite being eaten by wasps, Rick continued convincingly to 44 before giving a sharp return catch to their skipper. Now at the other end debutant Owen McKenna started to play with some authority. An elegant 57 to his name before falling LBW had put us in with a slight chance of victory. Lusty blows from Hollands and Hudson followed before Jon Gowers hit the ball many a mile high over the pavilion with the shot of the day. But running out of partners in fading light, against a bowler he'd yet to lay a bat on, the skipper declined to chase 21 from the last over and played for the red ink. A thoroughly entertaining match enjoyed by both sides, and played in the right spirit.

Having fun: Malby; Carter; McKenna; Hollands; Gowers, J; Hudson; Ford; Wood; Gowers, B; Gatford; Ashdown.

Missing out: Giilingham; Gray; Edmondson; Ayling; Grant; Tossell; Wheatiy-Crowe; Rice; Brown; Howells; Cook; Wood, N.

Mayfield (a) 1/9/91

Crescent snatch draw from jaws of victory.

The bruises I picked up last Monday hurt, whereas the one I've received from yesterday has a comforting warm glow to it. That may be the locally brewed anaesthetic still working, but I prefer to think of it being relative to the game we had. In mid-winter when we sit through two hours of ice-dancing waiting for a glimpse of cricket from down-under, this was the kind of game to warm the cockles. Lunching at Black boys is all very well if you win the toss. We did and we didn't. In hot humidity John Gatford steamed in. It was the sort of day which prompted me to ask what his target weight is, such was the volume of sweat he was producing. Eric was moved to give him an LBW, and he knowingly stopped appealing and soon afterwards retired to a sheltered part of the ground. Simon and Jon Gowers took over the attack and the field spread respectfully. Just over an hour later Mayfield were all out. Simon (4-38) and Jon (5-41) induced our opponents to commit hara-kiri with a tempting mixture of flight and turn. 135 all out.

Regular Crescent watchers know that the concept of an easy target doesn't exist. Gillingham and Carter started steadily, then perished. The mainstay of our reply was built around Mark (39) with everybody else chipping in rather than 'staying put'. Jeremy Gowers carted their skipper to midwicket, much to the chagrin of our top six who had all tried to do it and failed. Never did we need more than four an over and we seemed to be coasting to victory, despite losing wickets regularly. When you've a centurion at No. 11 it doesn't really matter. The weather unfortunately took a hand as clouds formed and it got quite dark very quickly. Six from the last two overs proved beyond us against pace in the dark, and Simon has still not batted at Mayfield. We retired to the Carpenters Arms.

Tingled spines; Giilingham; Carter; Edmondson; East; Ford; Hollands; Gowers, Jem; Gatford; Ayling; Gowers, Jon; Wood.

Elsewhere: Cook; Hudson; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood, N; Tossell; Gray; Rice; Howells; Ashdown; Brown; Grant.

SAM AND EMMY DIAMOND WEDDING 19/9/91.

University of Sussex Associates (a) 8/9/91

Crescent give lessons at the academy.

The weather continues to be set fine as we go well into September and we find a wicket of remarkable dryness and exaggerated bounce. Wood, promoted to open on what was misjudged to be a shirtfront (where does this term originate?) played the first few overs with his fingers and bat-handle. Possibly disorientated by lunching with the skipper and Morris dancers, Simon didn't last long. Rick and Mark quickly and rightly decided that this was a wicket for chancing one's arm. This set the tone for the entire afternoon, until the last half-hour. The Crescent rattled along at a good rate. Rick (24), Mark (21), and Peter Hudson (17) all made useful runs, but the innings was founded on a long stand between Steve East (35, with two enormous sixes) and Nick Hollands who carried his bat for 44. Tea was forgetabie.

Set a target of 177 to win the Associates followed our example and threw the bat at the ball whenever feasible. Rob Eastwood threatened to win the game easily until holing out to me at long-off off Simon, amongst much cursing and sniggering, for the umpteenth time in his career. The aptly-named Yeoman produced a strange review of shots that were certainly not from any book I've seen, but nonetheless very effective. At 135-5 the opposition were strong favourites, looking at just over four an over. Colin Ayling came back to strike twice in an over and Simon Wood threw down the wickets from very deep fine leg to effectively put an end to the game. For reasons not apparent at the time and certainly not explained later in the Coach and Horses, Associates stopped chasing and we were bored to tears by Dave Whatmore kicking away a few overs from the increasingly red-faced John Gatford. A frustrating end to what could have been a very close game. Their wicket-keeper, the aptly-named Spiller, never got to the wicket and they finished on 145-8. Our last away-day for 1991.

Coughing dust: Wood; Carter; Edmondson; East; Hollands; Hudson; Gowers; Ford; Ashdown; Ayling; Gatford.

Notes from mum: Gillingham; Cook; Wheatly-Crowe; Wood, N; Tossell; Gray; Rice; Howelis; Brown; Grant.

Lewes St. Michael (h) 15/9/91

Crescent robbed by groin strain tragedy.

A morning of scrubbing floors and cleaning windows was duly rewarded when it stopped raining at 10.43 am Sunday morning. Apart from batsmen and bowlers footmarks the consistency of cold porridge, the pitch and outfield were in fine condition. Not so the pavilion which had been abused again in an act of mindless vandalism. However, the owner of the new cricket shoe in the locker will be pleased to hear that none of said vandals were one-legged. A various assortment of equipment and confectionary has disappeared nonetheless, and our insurers can expect a letter John.

We lost the toss and got inserted by a merry band from Lewes who'd arrived with thirteen and started with ten, and never did provide the promised umpire. They'd wanted a forty over game but we weren't having any of this modern one-day circus. We batted fitfully until tea, and it was only thanks to a hard-hitting 74 by Steve East that we got anywhere near a respectable total. Next highest scorers being Jon Gowers and Simon Ashdown, both with 13. On a pitch aptly described by our scorer Emma as soggy, a total of 137-9 looked defendable.

Lewes St. Michael threw bat to ball from the start, which was obviously the right tactic for the conditions. This provided some good contests with first Kevin and later Simon, bowling to deep-set fields to batsmen locked into attack mode. Both took catches from the other's bowling. Wickets fell regularly and the game was always evenly poised. There was nothing in the pitch for John Gatford, but Colin had just started to find his line and length, troubling the batsmen, when he went In the groin. From 94-7, with two good batsmen suddenly playing sensibly and taking singles, Lewes St. Michael edged their way to a solid win by 3 wickets. The ale flowed in the Long Man but fortunately no singing.

Muddy-booted: Ford; Gowers; Edmondson; East; Hollands; Hudson; Ay ling; Ashdown; Wood; Gatford; Rice.

Car-washing: Gillingham; Carter; Gray; Wheatiy-Crowe; Brown; Wood, N; Howells; Cook; Tossell; Grant.

Watching: Gregory (looks fit).

THIS THURSDAY SAM AND EMMY CELBRATE THEIR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY

Rodmell (h) 22/9/91

Crescent hit by hurricane Rodmell (not another tragedy).

Towards the butt of another season and the Crescent were laid fairly low this week by injury and illness. Our best wishes go out to those concerned, and to Peter Wheatly-Crowe who left the field at the end looking unlikely for the New Zealand tour with a painful appendage. Electing to bat in mild breezy conditions Peter Hudson began in the style of a man used to warmer climes. Unfortunately this Caribbean cameo was not to last, and was later to be surpassed quite dramatically by an opponent. After cruising to 40-1, the middle order disappeared la Paul Daniels to leave us 45-5, and slightly bemused. Two men from Vale Avenue then turned the game on its head by adding about 110 for the sixth wicket with some admirably sensible batting. For two men who live so close together and go back a long way, their calling between the wickets was dreadful, and always looked the likeliest source of their downfall. Fortunately for them, the opposition got the flavour as it were, and every time a run-out seemed unavoidable they gleefully threw the ball towards the wrong end. By tea we'd mustered 169-6, with John Gatford 49* and Peter in the pavilion with a fine seventy to his name.

I don't know what was in the fruit cake because I didn't have any, but something had obviously stirred Rodmell and one of their opening batsmen hit Simon's first four balls for wild fours. Perhaps they remembered his 7-54 last year, and if so a sensible tactic it was. 0-33 from 3 overs bore no comparison. Despite regular changes of bowling and widespread fields this gentleman raced to the quickest fifty I can remember for some time. By the time one of his miscues actually went to hand, Rodmell were only forty runs short of our total with plenty of time and wickets in hand. He could have gone at any time, but didn't, and hard as we tried to pull it back the game was gone, lost by six wickets.. Snr. Ford va a hacer un viaje a Espana. Hasta manana.

Coconuts: Hudson; Howells; East; Ford; Hollands; Wheatly-Crowe; Gatford; Gowers, Jem; Gowers, J.P; Wood; Whistence-Smith.

Shrewd bowlers: Gillingham; Carter; Cook; Tossell; Gray; Edmondson; Ayling; Rice; Ashdown; Brown; Wood, N; Grant.

Findon (h) 29/9/91

Crescent vs. the fillies of Findon

Veuillez accepter mes excuses pour le retard de ce report!

I've no excuses apart from negligence. Unfortunately this is the same excuse that I'm using when admitting to the failure to recognise the strength of Findon's opener's forearms.

Once again the Crescent manfully batted first, having been inserted by the opposition on a typical drying pudding of a Horsdean wicket. Suffice to say numbers 1-6 got amongst the runs, but perished when they started to look promising. The notable exceptions being messrs. Edmondson and Gowers (46 and 39 n.o. respectively).

We closed our innings at 165-9 - not bad! I hear you say, but let me add that they bowled 56 overs at us (I doubt even Lindfield have bowled that many - even in an all-day game - especially this year!).

The bowling award went to Mr. Towers (tallest on the field!) who bowled the following: leggies, offies, googlies, wrong'uns, bosies and the kitchen sink depending on which number you were batting. He finished with 6-70 and a big smile on his face.

However, after a quick cuppa, we took the field, light of foot, with a spring to our step, determined to make the best of our last game of the season, (or was it that we didn't have any carrot cake/bacon and salad sandwiches to weigh us down?).

Let me now describe the scenario, "Crescent keen as mustard in the field, eager for wickets", one problem though, the openers with Desperate Dan forearms smote us all round the ground. David Howells bowled well and intelligently for 4-70 but their batsmen, with a 'weather eye1, got well and truly stuck in. The winning runs were struck in the 32nd. over for the loss of 6 wickets. It was raining heavily by then - a sumptuous tea after the game reminded us of halcyon days - but not enough to ease the sadness of yet another season passed.

In: Wood; Carter; East; Edmondson; Howells; Wheatly-Crowe; Rice; Gatford; Ashdown.

Out: Hudson; Ayling; Grant; Cook; Ford; Gillingham; Whistence-Smith.

report by Peter Wheatly-Crowe