CRICKET
Sat 1st XI, Lost by seven wickets, Hampton Hill
Sat 2nd XI, Won by five wickets, Slough III
Sun 1st XI, Lost by six wickets, Windsor
Sun 2nd XI, Won by 4 wickets, Dunstable III

CRICKET
Sat 1st XI, Reading II, away, 12.30pm start
Sat 2nd XI, Bracknell, home, 12.30pm start
Sun 1st XI, Farnham Royal, away, 1.30pm start
Sun 2nd XI, Prestcold, home, 2pm start

Despite dropping seven chances in the field, the Saturday 2's won a crucial match in their fight to avoid relegation in exciting finish away to Slough. Chalfont won the toss and asked their hosts to bat first on a wet track. However, Mark Shepard (51), Slough's captain, made light work of the bowling and Slough looked set for an above par score at 82 without loss. Tom Richardson (1-16) began to tie things down in an excellent 7-over spell and deservedly picked up Shepard's wicket as Slough's scoring rate started to slow. The introduction of the 'spin' twins Javaid Ali (3-58) and Simon Seabrook (1-24) further tightened things as Slough's middle order struggled during a spell of 24 overs when only 68 runs were scored. Slough's innings finally closed on 176 for 8.

Just a quick note to say that in my absence Martin (COME ON!!!!!!!!) Cartledge will be organising the team to play Rhythm II at home tomorrow. It will be the usual 6.45pm latest meet for a 7pm start. The start will have to be prompt at 7pm as the nights are getting quite short now.

This is a big game considering the league table, so support will be invaluable.

Finally, we've booked a date for our end of season bash and awards presentation. It will be taking place on the evening of Saturday 25th September at the Village Hall in CSP. Can you please put this in your diaries now before you forget.

**** HOCKEY TREASURER - IMPORTANT ****

As you may be aware there are some roles vacant at the moment, and unfortunately this includes the Hockey Section Treasurer. This is a crucial role and we really need a member to come forward to take on the role - It is not a great deal of work, but obviously some understanding of figures etc. would be of use.
PLEASE please do have a think about this and speak to me if you can help with this OR any other role

Warren Scott (07957 357 429 - warren@chalfontsports.org.uk)
Hockey Chairman

Eight man Chalfont (you read that right Wide-Awakers), crippled by the loss of Nagle, Andersen, Baker, Brown, Yoxall, Woods, Thomas and the candle stick maker, at late notice, used the tried and tested method of bribery to get two more players. More on this later.

Dunstable is bandit country, inhabited by players in the 3XI who would walk into our 1XI. And who are 14. With Dunstable winning the toss and unsurprisingly electing to bat, their opening pair made no serious impact upon our opening pair, but then again, neither did they upon the stumps. It was only the inclusion of the hungover Noot that a straight ball did for the junior opener, and another bowling change saw Webb spin like a demon, and, when not being clattered for 4s and 6s, take two wickets, including that of the 12 year old on 42 with a full toss. Collins also claimed an LBW decision after bowling some pies, the bowler unable to hit the ball after half a dozen swipes. Dunstable declared on 196-4 after 50 overs, a score that Chalfont would have little chance of getting in usual circumstances. But more on this later.

Tea followed. Melon, banana, apple. And that was just the fruit machine. The bar was not yet open, much to the chagrin of the Upton.

The batting order looked unusual, having 1. Collins, 2. Hales, 3. Hales, 4. Collins. Some thought people were going to bat twice. Not so. After some bribery, Neal Collins and Gary Hales turned up for an away game and opened the batting. With Collins batting like a test match, Hales took almost a whole delivery to get his eye in before smashing it to the boundary repeatedly. With 11 overs gone, Chalfont were on 105-0, Hales scoring 88, including 3 massive sixes, nearly killing two bowlers with straight drives and being dropped 3 times, before Hales chased a wide ball and was (eventually) stumped by the 'keeper. Alex Hales joined his godfather at the crease, scored 21 from seven deliveries and was then adjudged run out by the home umpire when well in. Neal Collins soon followed on 43, as did Nick Collins (a constable in Dunstable) for very few. 165-4. Chalfont were in command as Webb strode to the wicket and launched a personal crusade to get to the bar as quickly as possible, scoring four fours from his first over. More fours followed until the scores were level at 196. However, the re-introduction of the 14-year old opener was too much for Nolder (196-5), and with Webb stranded at the other end, Noot played all round a ball down leg and was bowled (196-6). Steve Clarke, whose last 3 scores have all been ducks, was up next and somehow survived the last two balls of the over. With no batting left, Webb charged up the wicket and put everything into one last shot, connected well without being able to see the ball and launched it for four. Chalfont had done the impossible and beaten Dunstable. Cue much cheering and a dive and roll into the crease by the skipper, some beer and general merriment.

We don't look forward to playing Dunstable next year when they will probably make us play their 1XI as revenge!
Thanks to those who were co-erced into playing and giving Chalfont 2XI the greatest victory since Winchester beat Harrow by twelve sore bottoms to one!

Vintage Hockey Report

Wokingham Veterans 2 Amersham and Chalfont Veterans 5

What a final flourish to the summer as the veterans travelled to Wokingham with seven players, borrowed three and celebrated Alan Crossman's birthday with a goal feast which even included an open play goal from the man himself stealthily sneaking forward from left half.

Wokingham having equalised twice the match was in the balance with chances going astray at both ends before Martin Lamborn, a hive of intelligent industry at centre forward, added to his opening goal. Then came the goal of the evening, a Trevor Wood special. After his initial shot, imagine a windmill on overtime, had been blocked by a brave defender, Wood ferociously volleyed the rebound into the roof of the net most fortuitously missing John Ingram-Marriot in the Wokingham goal.

Tony Eaude scored Amersham's second goal, drifting unmolested into the circle and shooting accurately into the far corner. Birthday" boy" bought beer and despite the odds we won the head count in the bar.

Team Nick Woolf, Nick Dutton, Alan Crossman, Tony Eaude, Peter Colwill, Martin Lamborn and Trevor Wood