A Brad Game In The True Tradition ! Only 1 run in it!
Date: 25/08/2009
On a sunny day in Gosforth an SNCC XI faced A NORTHUMBERLAND XI to contest the 12th JB memorial game in the convivial spirit redolent of times past, combining age & experience with youthful endeavour as Brad would have wished. Nigel Wardropper , & son Lachie, on holiday from Australia, were making their first appearances as were Ryan Sidney -Wilmot, Greg Hollins, Micheal Shotton, Xavier Taylor & Iftikhaar Fazal.Northumberland ,batting first ,amassed 190 before declaring with solid contributions from Michael Harbottle (33), Ryan Sidney-Wilmot (31), Dave Swan (27) & Greg Hollins (23). Excellent catching from James Miller, Chris Goodfellow & Nigel Wardropper supported tight bowling from Michael Thompson (2-16), Nigel Campbell (2-17) & James Miller (2-21). The dismissal of the dangerous Allen Thompson, caught Wardropper N., bowled Campbell was reminiscent of many years ago !
On a pitch, which offered some help to the bowlers throughout, SNCC reached a comfortable 169-4 wih 7 overs remaining ( Howard Sidney-Wilmot (47), Xavier Taylor (35), Nigel Wardropper (30), Ben Jones-Lee (24), Tris Mears-White (21) ) & then ,in time honoured Nomads fashion, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by losing 6 wickets for 20 mostly to the gentle offspin of Greg Hollins who finished with a career best 7-34! Along the way Allen Thompson caught two smart catches as SN's experienced line up found new ways of hitting full tosses to fielders , Eric Hall withstood a painful back to take two take two catches behind the stumps, Phil Hall & Ron Balsillie bowled mean spells & Greg made the stop of the day in front of an appreciative pavilion, saving a certain four brilliantly!
As ever we are indebted to John Dodds for a perfect ground to play on, Susan Gadomski for excellent catering, Bob Simpson & Bill Jackson for umpiring generously , Sally Shotton for scoring & Joe Knox for responding to a late call.
This game isn't about runs & wickets but the camaraderie of those who love the game & the memory of what JB gave to it as personal reflections in the autograph book testify. We hope number 12 can be on Wed 18th August 2010. May all those of senior years winter well. !
Duncan D. Stephen.