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With the usual problem of players dropping out, the start of the
football season and work commitments, the Roasters took the trip to
title challengers Crofty with just 9 men. A heavy defeat would be
expected, but the score doesn't show just how hard the hosts had to
fight for their points.
Batting first, unwashed tramp, Ronnie Williams II and veteran Andy
Boo Boo Bonnett refused to lie down and be taken, frustrating the
opening attack of Caddy and Mankee., Caddy bringing himself off after
6 overs off peppering Boo's 'twinkle' toes with Yorkers, but the defiant
Roaster dug each one out, playing only one onto his tooties!
Drinks were reached without loss, 58 on the board, but with the score
on 67 Boo tickled one behind, Julian Osborne taking him eagerly. Pint
sized run machine, Kevin Oliver, the only representative from his
family due to injury, scored a sparkly 12 before Caddy brought himself
back and promptly removed the little rascals stump. 88-2
Celtic Warrior, JJ Walker joined Williams, looking in good touch until
being caught in two minds, neither of them helping him as his woodwork
was rearranged. Returning military hero Nigel Dunstan, returning heroically
from the war torn streets of ........er, Canada, came out and 4 balls
later, trudged back, not troubling the scorers.
Kev 'Sicknote' Pawley was next to go, caught for 2, followed shortly
by Williams, run out going for a second run, but a great 110 ball
innings built a target to bowl at before 'Paco' Griffith and 'Pri'
Mark Pollard were bowled by Caddy in successive balls.
Over the last couple of seasons Crofty had struggled to chase totals
against the Roasters, and today was no different. With just 9 men
on a large outfield the gaps were going to be good and the bowlers
would have to bowl particularly well, and their figures don't reflect
how well they did just that.
With Dunstan pounding away from the start, showing an impressive length
despite this being just his 2nd game of the season, and the Irish
prince giving nothing away at the other end, in the 12th over JJ had
Grant caught behind with the score on 23. Dunstan was eager to get
his man, and Fenton fell for his charms, middle stump flattened for
2, before having Mankee poke him behind to Williams for 23 with just
34 on the board.
Mark 'Pretty' Pollard was brought on and just his fourth ball saw
Juilan Osborne pick out 'Rabanne' Griffith at long off, pushed back
just 2 balls before, but the luck was with the Roasters. Number 5
fell when Schotel chipped back to Walker and only 47 on the board.
Caddy now joined Alan Shears, and the pair began to make inroads into
the target. Walker finished his fine 12 over spell for just 20 runs,
Parish coming on and in his 2nd over the ever fragrant Griffith steadied
himself under a Caddy skier and Crofty were deep in the mire at 75-6.
From here Shears played a faultless innings, finding the gaps, taking
few risks and ably supported by Paul Mankee, the pair saw off Dunstan's
2nd and final spell and with no other options to turn to it was just
Parish and Pollard left. In the gloom the total was reached in the
37th over, the relief evident from all the Crofty players, but an
immense amount of fight and character was shown by the Roasters. Both
games between the two sides have been close this year, and if Port
had 11 each week the league table may have had an entirely different
look to it.
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