Having won the toss, Hannell put "The Hole" into bat and immediately made an impression with LSCC restricting the batting team to 18 runs off the first 10 overs with the loss of three wickets. The opening bowling of the Kendall-Norris partnership making the most of an uneven surface and Underdown taking a neat catch off the opener, showing the reason why he is still number one behind the stumps.

A geed-up LSCC, sensing a low target and an early tea kept up the pressure, buoyed on by some fine examples of slow-medium bowling and encouraged by the exploits of the youngest Richards brother (Peter), taking a particularly fine diving catch in the covers to heap the pressure on the visitors.

The weather played its part in the proceedings with a brief downpour taking the players from the field for an early tea, and a chance for Wookey to regain their composure from a pressured opening period. After tea (prepared by Alex Roxborough-Smith, lemon cake supplied by the elderly C.R. Stoddard), a change of bowling and the introduction of Wookey's number 5, changed the face of the innings and edged it towards respectability. Bowen (on a shortened run-up after picking up a nasty metatarsal injury during midweek darts, that still might see him forced to pull out of Hannell's preliminary squad for this summer's Priston 8-a-side finals) bore the brunt of the number 5’s anger, conceding 37 runs from 7 overs bowled. Eventually dismissed by the wiley bowling of Hannell for 56, the number 5's impact had been felt. LSCC were still confident of victory as the lower order were skittled out cheaply with Bush making a welcome return to form from long term injury, taking 2 wickets for 6 runs. The visitors were eventually dismissed for 96, with Brock taking the final wicket from a maiden over.

Still the weather exerted it's influence with a rain enforced break and the use of the Duckworth-Lewis method, setting an achievable target for the home side of 96 from 30 overs. A confident opening partnership of Richards A and Smith T took the home side to 28 without loss from the first ten overs with some fine fours off the back foot of the eldest Richards brother. He was eventually dismissed for a top score of 20 runs after digging one from the "pot-hole" with the ball spilling up to the cover fielder.

The former crowd favourite, Bush, looked confident at the crease but was controversially given out after what looked like a bump-ball, caught and bowled by the large "agricultural" bowler. Still, the air of confidence remained in the LSCC dressing room as the deposed captain Kendal, strode confidently to the crease. Kendal, dismissed for a solitary zero and forced to pack the kit, saw the home side reduced to 44 for three still within sight of the low target.

Smith T made a welcome return to the LSCC fold after a 9 year absence with a solid 16 but was dismissed, bowled, and with the home side struggling at 46 for 4. Two more cheap wickets followed with Bowen and the inspirational captain Hannell, both out cheaply for 4 runs each. Brief stability returned to the lower middle order with the introduction of Underdown and Wilson. A stand of 18 runs followed with Wilson scoring 9 with the aid of some cheeky left-handers, but still some way short of the winning total. After the brief interlude of the Underdown-Wilson partnership, the ineffectual batting returned with wickets tumbling, Underdown bowled for eight, Norris and Brock, both bowled out for nought leaving Richards P at the crease for a commendable nought not out and the home side out for 73.

There is plenty to reflect on in this performance, a weakened team, some spirited bowling but eventually the weak batting succumbed to the stalag-might of Wookey Hole.

Mr. P.A. Richards

Bowling:

Kendal: 10 for 2 off 5, Norris: 18-1-7, Bowen: 37-1-7, Hannell: 22-3-6, Bush: 6-2-2.3, Brock: 0-1-1.

Batting:

Richards A 20, Smith T 16, Bush 7, Kendal 0, Bowen 4, Hannell 4, Underdown 8, Wilson 9, Norris 0, Brock 0, Richards P 0no.

Catches:

Underdown 1, Richards P 1, Bush 1.

Notable Absentees:

Gregory, Tyrie M

Forthcoming Fixtures:

Competition for places is looking fierce in the forthcoming weeks with the return of Twist from School, the encouraging performance of Smith after an enforced nine year absence, the batting of Wilson, the fielding of Richards P, along with the return of Gregory and Tyrie from jollies. Availability during early, cold weather fixtures and the presence at nets (6pm Tuesday nights) can only increase the probability of selection.