Report - SEVEN SPORTS  v  LYNE CC

At Chertsey Recreation Ground 8th July 2007

The biggest lie ever told about sport is that it is all about winning. At Lyne CC we know otherwise as our game on the 8th July 2007 on the first true summer’s day of the year demonstrated.

Lacking an obvious match-winner Lyne lost the toss and were seemingly about to be put to the sword by strong 7-sports batting.

No-longer-quite-so-youthful Plum Junior and Adam 7-balls-an-over Dix stuck to their tasks and achieved a breakthrough helped by a sharp catch behind the stumps by Steve Beekes.

When our two first-change bowlers came on, helped to the wicket by their carers who told them not to overdo it, the batsmen still looked on top, but on a helpful wicket accurate bowling from Tealey and Keith first pegged them back then started to take wickets.

Tealey unwisely announced after bowling a victim that his next would get him past the legendary Dave Plumbridge, rib-eye destroyer, as the highest ever wicket taker for Lyne.

Two balls later a simple slow lobbed return catch came towards him for a caught and bowled. Tealey dived, reached towards the ball, held time itself in his fingertips, then fell flat on his face as the ball bounced out of his grasp. He picked himself up to wait for the next one.

The chance gone it was left to Brian to take a stunning catch off his brother’s bowling to wrap up the innings and leave Brisser with an unprecedented 6-wicket haul.

When Lyne batted, an opening spell of fast bowling and slow feet lead to a swift collapse. Tealey joined Danny who pushed the ball gently to mid-off and called “YES!!”

Over the years there has been a tradition of stupid run-outs at Lyne CC.

We once had two brothers up one end who both refused to walk and have never spoken again. I have called for a run then fell over with a ruptured achilles tendon which slowed me down a bit.

Well done Dan for showing you can run them out out with best. Later in the showers Richard showed his appreciation with a bar of soap and a loofah.

Faced with humiliation, Paul Carter strode out to show what a bit of backbone and a straight bat can do. Ok, maybe only one of those two.

Helped by Plumbino and an inspired Focus who really seemed able to do it all that day we reached to touching distance of victory. Our leader Mark Pipe joined Smalls. He ran, his laces came undone, he played a shot, his pads fell off. Try as we might his team-mates could not feel confident. As a batsman our captain lacks gravitas. (Thats someone who when they eat gravy still manage to get it on their ars)

Sure enough he played all round a slow long hop and was magnificently and sportingly given out LBW by Jess when the ball hit his front pad half way down the wicket.

Smalls was undefeated, again, and we were beaten by fewer runs than we conceded as extras.

So sport is about winning is it? Or is it about playing for Lyne CC?