Defeat and score-settling at the Hogs

As most attention was centred on events at Tonbridge, the OCCC had a second full side in the field for the annual trip to Hampshire Hogs. Always an enjoyable day out in beautiful surroundings, the game often seems to provide off-field internal controversy. Last year Ed Henderson (rightly) took pot shots at Mike Roper after what became known to almost nobody as Texaco Coffee Bullshitgate. Despite that the forgiving Henderson again played Roper. Both filed match reports. Both are printed below. Firstly, the always-amusing Henderson …


OCCC 226 (E Copleston 69, P Roper 43) lost to Hampshire Hogs 228 for3 

 A string of recent victories at the Hampshire Hogs(a) had to come to an end at some point and (b) prompted the Hogs captain Indy Chakhrabati to pick a strong side.

Denied the services of any Cricketer Cup players due to the game at Tonbridge, our XI looked short of someone able to score a hundred and short of about four bowlers. As it turned out we were short of players able to score a fifty and short of players able to catch a cricket ball too. Fortunately, and most importantly, we were not short of gumption and perseverance which meant although we lost by seven  wickets we did not embarrass ourselves by any stretch.

 It was a marvellous and unexpected bonus to have all 11 players at the correct ground before the designated start. That allowed the captain, Ed Henderson, a full complement of players from which to fashion a batting line up. How that translated into Michael Roper opening the innings is unclear. Whilst Michael fished around outside off stump unsuccessfully, his brother Phil had a look at the bowling and after a few overs, tucked into it with a series of clean, aerial strikes. Michael Roper (0) was replaced by his good friend James Jupp who professed to be 'neither in form or out of form' thanks to no cricket since 2014. It is fair to say he struggled to find the middle and didn't contribute materially to our grand total. Gerald Waterfall failed to trouble the scorer batting at 4.

 The ever eager Eds Copleston who bats at five whatever the captain on the day may say was in fine form. Looking untroubled and manoeuvering the slow bowlers cleverly, he batted beautifully for his 69 and was only undone by the Hogs quick bowler resorting to short pitched theory. Eds was supported by Charlie Clarence-Smith (23), Rob Verdon and Rob Merry who all chipped in. The real fun came when Peter Hobbs stood up to the quick and smashed some hooks and drives in entertaining fashion. Our 226 exceeded expectations and looked unlikely at times. For those of us who like routine and consistency, it was reassuring, as it is every year without fail, to be on the wrong end of two interesting lbw decisions.

In the field we had to take our chances when they came. We didn't. Henderson was culpable for the most heinous drop which denied Copleston, in the middle of a spell of very well flighted and controlled leg tweakers, a wicket. Other than this we bowled and fielded reasonably but without the penetration required. All in all, a valiant effort from the troops.

And then Roper ...

The 2016 fixture promises
more off-field banter

The OC Lions arrived at Hogs for this June fixture in good spirits buoyed by recent successes on this ground and the opportunity to be captained by Brendon McHenderson. The notable exception to the team togetherness was P Hobbs who was struggling to come to terms with his omission from the Cricketers Cup XI. Having lost the toss, OCs were inserted on a green top and Hog's excellent new ball partnership, capable of swinging the rock both-ways, made the most of the overhead conditions rendering opening the batting a near impossible task for the Roper brothers. Following a flurry of early wickets, runs from Sweets Roper, Eds, Rob Merry and the classy Hobbs ensured the OCs posted an eminently defendable 225.

The OCs, looking for early wickets, made the baffling decision to throw the new nut to James Jupp with the instruction of unsettling the Hogs batsman with three overs of aggressive short stuff. While Ed Henderson bowled with admirable determination from one end, the lack of high quality seamers was apparent as early as the 2nd over. Turning to spin sooner than expected, Eds, Hobbs and Phil Roper bowled well in spells but the one or two chances created were not taken. The clear highlight being the half chance that fell to Hendo preceded by what can only be described as a salmon pounce. Hogs accelerated towards the end of the chase and won comfortably by 7 wickets. A disappointing day all round but important to let the dust settle before making any knee jerk decisions with next year in mind.