Limpley made an unspectacular start to the 2004 season with defeat to Canal Tavern. To a man they looked rusty after the long winter break and succumbed easily to a mediocre Canal Tavern side.

Richards S, acting skipper lost the toss and the Tav elected to bat first. Twist opened the bowling with his usual youthful vitality. At the other end was Tyrie M, who on these pages before has been likened to a demonic, leaping June Whitfild, roared in with two spells of accuracy and no hint whatsoever of any of the 70s sitcom actors or actresses that may have crept into his game. Not even Charles Hawtrey.

Canal Tavern made steady progress achieving the required boundary an over. Bush and Owen made impressive comeback appearances however wickets were hard to come by on a damp and spongy pitch. The opposition reached a total of 202 for 4.

After a splendid tea Twisty and Smith strode out to bat. Smith hit an almighty six but was soon caught out off the bowling of Coffin for 11, Canal Tavern had got their man with the painful memories of his record breaking 160+ in the return fixture last year still fresh in their minds.

Richards S followed Smith back to the pavillion shortly after. In came debutant Crouchy another off the production line that is Twisty's mates. Crouchy and Twisty soon developed a partnership that would give Limpley a chance of reaching the Tav score. A couple more cheap wickets however dented Limpley's chances and it was then left to Bush who made a typical quickfire 37.

Alas Bush was run out with Limpley still well short of the required total and despite some rearguard resistance from Unders the only semblance of comfort Limpley could draw on was the sight of the Tav wicket keeper being driven hastily to hospital with a badly cut forehead.

Simon Richards