Denver Seconds make winning start in Norfolk Cricket League
It was May 1 and, in keeping with tradition, both captains danced round the maypole before tossing the coin in this Norfolk Cricket League Level 4NW meeting.
Then they took control of an enjoyable game, making sure that everyone played a part.
It was also brass monkey season, in which all cricketers are obliged to keep hands in pockets at every opportunity.
Thornham are a family club in which the scorer will make up the numbers if the team are short.
In case the other players should seen unfamiliar, she might recognise her brother, daughter, two stepsons or ex-partner who are already out there.
In the face of steady opening bowling, Thornham struggled to accelerate.
Then Ian Seed and Liam Woodcock came together.
In the clubhouse, there was much debate about which end Woodcock should try to bat, so the wind should not blow his hair across his eyes.
However, he showed no great signs of watching the ball at either end. He just smote it.
Meanwhile Seed kept him company with many a classical flourish.
Denver stuck to their task. One curiosity was that several of their bowlers had a little skip at the same stage of their run up.
Was it infectious? Was there a small bump in the pitch?
Thornham reached 162 with Woodcock 38, Seed 27 not out, Nat Linsell 24, Richard Skeen 15 and Bobby Richardson 13 not out all making contributions.
Alex Hamilton started the reply like a man who just remembered he left the oven on.
In fact one team member did have to leave to go to a party but it wasn’t him.
With Gary Dodds he took 25 off the first over. After six overs they were on 61.
Things calmed down a bit after this but Ryan Folker with 32, Sam Eales 22 and Ben Watts 12 not out saw Denver comfortably høme.
The brass monkeys were still swinging about in the trees but the players were preparing for the match next day.
With a new three-yeår sponsorship from Lawtronic and with 50 young people in for training, Denver are hoping for great things. So too are Thornham.
Scores
Denver 2nd XI 163-3 (24.3ov: Alex Hamilton 42, Gary Dodds 40, Sam Eales 22, Ryan Folker no 32; Duncan Rix 2-41) beat Thornham 2nds 162-7 (45ov: Liam Woodcock 38, Ian Seed no 27; Joseph Porter 2-23, Hamish Straffon-Lawrence 2-28) by 7 wkts.
