The Saturday 1st XI played an eventful 40 overs aside friendly match at Marlow Park. We won the toss and chose to bat on a bright, sunny afternoon. To those familiar with the normal hard, bouncy tracks at Marlow Park, the wicket was surprisingly slow, and scoring was not especially easy. We struggled to 167 all out in 39.4 overs, Andy Parsons top scoring with a well made 64, and Zamir Khan making the other notable contribution with 38. The tea interval was enlivened by the St. Leger, with Anil Puri especially interested in the outcome. Well, he had put on a bet of GBP2000! Marlow Park began its reply confidently and, helped by our butter fingered fielders (no change there, then?), were cruising to victory, 126-1 in 25 overs. However, Matthew Stevenson held onto a steepler and suddenly wickets started to tumble. Zamir Khan (3-49) and Shahid Din (4-22) did the initial damage, and then Saqib Ahmed (3-22), our outstanding bowler on the day, came back for a second spell to clean up the tail, as Marlow lost nine wickets for 32 runs to finish 158 all out in 34 overs. Prior to the last wicket falling, Anil Puri had run himself out and dropped three catches, but cometh the hour, cometh the man, and he dived low to his left to take a superb match winning catch. And his horse? Oh yes, that won, so on balance he had a good day!

A rather under strength Sunday 1st XI travelled to Chipperfield to play a 40 over aside friendly match. Chipperfield batted first and made 241-4, with Asif Raza probably the pick of our bowlers. Six an over was a big ask, even on a good batting track and a fast outfield, and we were always behind the clock. However, a superb 91 not out from skipper Rahul Punj, who carried his bat, well supported by Matthew Stevenson (40) and James Mallinder (44), kept us in with an outside chance of a surprise victory. However, it was not to be, and we closed on 193-6, defeat by 48 runs.

On a sunny and bright morrow, the Sunday 2XI didst take on the might that is Harrow. And lo, for an angel from the east appeared and told the skipper "Whitey shall bat first."

And so it came to pass, after the Gods favoured Chalfont above all others and who didst win the toss and elect to bat, that one day after retirement, MARTIN WHITE strode to the crease in the colours of battle: The red and white of the most holy and divine Brentford FC.

Verily was he supported by PAT NAGLE in the colours of Ireland at the other end, but THE NAGLE was felled for just 2 runs, whilst the blade of THE WHITE didst continue to pour scorn upon the toils of Harrow, as he made his progress to 43. Then, lo! disaster as the mighty Goliath that is DAVE ANDERSEN, in claret and blue, was smote in just one ball, his blade flashing defiance. Soon the fates conspired also most evily against KRISS COLLINS, who was bowled by a ball the descended from the very heavens. Now our warriors are weary, as THE MAN-WHO-IS-RETIRED skipped foolishly towards the danger of the pie tossers and disaster was upon him instanly as he was stumped, and made the long journey to the halls of jug-ducking.

As it is written so it shall be, and soon the keen eye of squire ALEX HALES, wearing the colours not of his beloved Arsenal but of deadly rival Tottenham, didst put the enemy to the sword, swinging left and right to make 47 before thy foe could believe, until he too was stumped taking the charge to the enemy!

The scene was set, and the might of the man mortals call NEAL COLLINS was unleashed. Slowly working himself into a rage, his club scythed relentlessy to cut down the foe, and was rewarded with 104 before he was caught, cut down in his very prime. And there was sadness upon the balconies of power. Nobles PAGE (0), WOODS (5) and AMOR (21), tolied with THE COLLINS, and lo, for when victuals were taken, Chalfont had amassed a mighty 238 all out.

The return was not pretty, THE PAGE, stung by his ineffectiveness with the bat, dist take apart the openers (8-1-28-2) and the hand of THE HALES also conspired against the Harrow (7-1-38-3), but it was the MIGHTY ANDERSEN who didst destroy the opposition most fitfully, taking four wickets with thy dobbing ball, for just 11 runs. Also, yeah I say verily, didst THE NOOT bowl well (2-1-1-1) as didst THE NAGLE (3-0-8-0) and THE COLLINS (1-1-0-0), and the Harrow were vanquished for just 99.

And so dist the season of the SUNDAY 2XI, most favoured of all teams, come to an end. And let it be recorded that the results that they toiled for were beyond that of normal men, and didst WIN 11, DRAW 6 and lose only thrice.

PRE-TOURNAMENT PARTY

On Saturday 27th September the club is running a party the night before our mixed hockey tournament. Entry is £3 on the door, but you can purchase tickets beforehand from many of the usual sellers around the club. The price will over a buffet and disco.

Batting:
Mohammed Abraz, 139, Sat 2XI v. Farnham Common (06/09)
Safi Ahmed, 124, Sat 1XI v. Aldershot (02/08)
Safi Ahmed, 108, Sat 1XI v. Fleet (05/07)
Zamir Khan, 105*, Sun 1XI v. Marlow Park (20/07)
Simon Gooch, 105, Sat 2XI v. Marlow Park (30/08)
Neal Collins, 104, Sun 2XI v. Harrow (14/09)

MIXED TOURNAMENT

The annual mixed Amersham & Chalfont Tournament will be held on Sunday 28th September 2003 at the Club. The hockey will be played on our grass pitches and will be 7-a-side. If you would like to either play, umpire or generally help out, can you send me an email (annie.brothwell@lgim.co.uk). Otherwise feel free to turn up on the day

Author: Annie Brothwell

LAST WEEKENDS RESULTS

Mens 1st lost 1-2 against Bracknell (Wooler)
Mens 2nd/3rd drew 1-1 against West Hampstead (Emery)
Mens 4th lost against West Hampstead
Mens Vintage won 4-2 against Gerrards Cross (Richman, Fermor(2))
Ladies 1st won 2-0 against Ashford (Shaw, Coates)
Ladies 2nd win 2-1 against Gerrards Cross (Towers, Patterson)
Ladies 3rd draw 0-0 against Wycombe Rye
Ladies 4th draw 2-2 against West Herts (Cremin, Bugg)

GUM SHIELDS

A guy called David Claridge will be in the club house between 11am and 5pm this Saturday (20th) offering a custom made mouthguard service. You will be able to order a mouthguard from David who on the day will take an impression of your teeth (much like a dentist does) and will go away and make you a mouthguard that perfectly fit your teeth and gums.

Recent studies show that this type of mouthguard offers the best protection for players as compared to the stock or 'boil and bite' mouthguards on offer in sports shops.