Buccaneers Cricket Club

No doubt due to some administrative error, the Sky cameras found themselves at Lord’s on Sunday 2 July rather than at Brook. The loss was entirely theirs.

Brook won the toss and, very sensibly, elected to bat: the glorious conditions making for a batsman’s paradise. However, they did not bank on having to face messrs Rydon and Milne (JrJr) with the new ball. Milne dismissed one of the openers with his first ball, and Rydon soon took care of the other, neither troubling the scorers. Brook’s three and four, undeterred by the loss of early wickets, adopted a Bazball approach, and they were soon flying.

Persuaded to stay on for one more over, Rydon got the breakthrough the Buccaneers badly needed – the number four snicking off and T. Fletcher leaping like a salmon to take an outstanding catch. A. Marsh bowled with characteristic guile and finesse, and S. Moules steamed in up the hill and made life difficult for the middle order – each finishing with three wickets, Moules at a miserly economy of just 1.57. A special mention must go to Marsh who, not to be outdone by Fletcher, dived to his left at full stretch to take a catch off his own bowling that rivals his brother’s the week before.

The Buccaneers took to the crease needing 117 to win in their allotted 40 overs, but Brook’s two opening bowlers (and their minor counties’ spinner) were to cause some problems. A combination of good bowling, a ball keeping low, and some hot-headed over-aggression saw the Buccaneers lose wickets at regular intervals in an attempt to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.

S. Leefe anchored the innings at number three in the face of men coming and going around him, and it took R. Rydon to steady the ship and bring some calm back to proceedings as he has done so often in his decades-long Buccaneers career.

The wisdom and experience of that partnership took the game away from Brook, with Fletcher finishing things off with his usual grace. The Buccaneers won by four wickets.

Brook innings

West                bowled                        Rydon              0
Jackman          c. A. Marsh                  b. C. Milne       0
Williams          c. Fletcher                   b. Moules        51
Holder             c. Fletcher                   b. Rydon         17
Anderson         c. Rydon                       b. A Marsh     6
Botha               bowled                        Moules          18
Clarke              c&b                              A. Marsh         9
Owen               lbw                              S. Leefe            5
Randall            bowled                        Moules            2
Martin             bowled                        A. Marsh          1
Thompkins       not out 0

Total: 116 all out         Overs: 25.3

Bowling:

Rydon: 5-2-24-2
C. Milne: 5-1-33-1
A. Marsh: 6-1-38-3
Moules: 7-2-11-3
Papasavvas: 2-0-6-0
S. Leefe: 0.3-0-0-1

Buccaneers Innings

J. Marsh           bowled                        Holder             14
J. Milne           bowled                        Williams          5
S. Leefe            not out                                               43*
Hugo                bowled                        Williams          6
E. Kalidasan     caught Martin             b. Clarke           6
S. Moules        bowled                        West                 11
R. Rydon          c&b                              Clarke             20
T. Fletcher       not out                                                8*
C. Milne
A. Marsh
P. Papasavvas

Total: 120-6     Overs: 32

Sunday saw the Buccs return to Frensham, on what was set to be a sweltering Surrey afternoon. It was the Buccs who took to the field first, much to the dismay of a few Buccs players whose eyes initially lit up at the prospect of getting first use of what was a pretty flat Frensham deck, with a rapid outfield and small boundaries. After a generous application of sun cream, the Buccs took to the field and it was R Rydon and H Robertson who were tasked with taking ownership of the new ball. Both bowled well but had little luck succumbing to the fast outfields and small boundaries as well as a sharp chance going down in the Buccaneers slip corden off the bowling of Rydon.

As the Frensham openers raced past 60, and after a couple of lost balls, Rydon and H Robertson were replaced by S Leefe and O Robertson after a much-needed drinks break, to seek a Buccs breakthrough. The breakthrough finally came courtesy of a famous S Leefe quicker ball, which eased Buccs tensions due to what was a well put together Frensham opening stand. O Robertson bowled very tightly from the other end claiming a wicket thanks to a great catch on the long-on boundary from brother Hamish, before striking again with another wicket LBW, after a couple of strong LBW appeals were not given in the overs previous.

It was then time for spin from both ends with A Marsh putting himself on to bowl, with J Marsh attacking from the other end. J Marsh took a superb flying catch to his left off his own bowling to commence what was a flurry of wickets in the next few overs. J Marsh took his second the following over, before A Marsh produced a run out after a fielding mishap, mixed with some dubious Frensham running between the wickets. It was J Marsh who then removed the dangerous Frensham number 3 before single handedly cleaning up the tail and finishing with 6 wickets. This left Frensham 178 all out after 43 overs.

After a quick twenty-minute tea and refreshment break, it was now the Buccs’ time to enjoy the Surrey sunshine from the sidelines as G Clarke & C Leefe took to the crease with the Buccs chasing 178. After a solid start from both, C Leefe was the first to depart, chipping one into the off side after a ‘Baz-Ball’ esque start. After G Clarke was out caught behind next, S Leefe and J Milne set about utilising the rapid outfield, with some glorious boundaries racing off the bat of J Milne as he raced to thirty before being trapped LBW for 30 on what was now a dying pitch, leaving the Buccs 60-3 in the 11th over. This was the first of three relatively quick Buccs wickets which saw both H Machin and R Rydon come and go.

As the overs started to count down and the Buccs at 91-5, the Buccs ship was steadied by S Leefe and J Marsh in the middle order, as they started to take on the Frensham bowling attack. After a sharp chance was put down off the bat of J Marsh, both batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking over with a flurry of boundaries and sensible running between the wickets, easing a couple of Buccaneers’ nerves.

As the total of 178 drew closer, S Leefe departed falling one short of his half century after a brilliant knock, bringing T Fletcher to the crease with the required score now under 30 runs away. More sensible batting followed, mixed with some big hitting, and after the scores were tied, the ball raced off the bat of J Marsh to the mid-off boundary, bringing him to a well put together half century and more importantly, getting the Buccs over the line with 8 overs left.

Buccaneers innings

G Clarke ct ? bowled Shine 7
C Leefe ct ? bowled Kitley 10
J Milne lbw bowled Kitley  30
S Leefe ct ? bowled Warren  49
H Machin lbw bowled Kitley  0
R Rydon ct? bowled Doran  6
J Marsh   52*
T Fletcher  10*
O Robertson
H Robertson
A Marsh

Total 178 all out (43 overs)

Kitley               7 – 0 – 40 – 3
Shine               5 – 2 – 21 – 1
Irvine               5 – 0 – 26 – 0
Doran              6 – 0 – 26 – 1
Smith               3 – 0 – 32 – 0
Warren            3 – 0 – 13 – 1
Evans               3 – 0 – 18 – 0

Frensham innings and Bucaneers bowling not available

Nomads: Buccs 136-3 (24 overs) match abandoned as a draw (rain)

Buccs innings

L Ward lbw Page 29
K Kalidasan bowled Clark 4
L Milne bowled Chakravarty 5
S Moules not out 51
C Leefe not out 20

Extras 17

Total 136-3 (24 overs)

Hurlingham Club 120 all out (35 overs) lost to The Buccaneers 121-3 (26.1 overs) by 7 wickets

As ever, with Hurlingham comes gloriously sunshine. This year we were invited to play a timed game format, starting at 13.30 with 20 overs from 18.00. The Buccaneers lost the toss and were put into the field. After the liberal application of factor 50, the Buccs took to the field with Hamish Robertson and Ludo Milne opening up the attack with the new ball. Both bowled well but had little luck with catches not reaching or streaky edges through the slips. It was looking like it could be a long stint in the field until the first wicket fell in the 13 th from the first change Stephen E Moules. The middle stump cartwheeling towards Fletcher as Steve bowled the opening bat. A few overs later Moules struck again with an LBW and Simon Leefe added another through Tom Fletcher’s fast handed stumping. Moules continued his form with another bowled and a couple of catches behind reaching an excellent first five-for of his playing career! (7 overs, 5-30).

Chris Leech soon came to the fold with his tweakers mopping up the tail with a keen three wickets in 4.4 overs. This left Hurlingham all out for 120 in 35 overs.

We were all set to head back out to play following a 15 minute changeover, when we all heard the tea trollies clinking down the path. At which point, a tea comprising sandwiches cakes and refreshments was taken.

Berry and Kalidasan were tasked with opening up for the Buccs and, like Hurlingham, our opening pair got off to a solid start reaching 48 runs without loss before the first wicket fell in the 15th over. It was Berry walking back to the pavilion with an admirable 26 runs. Michael Harms (centurion in the most recent fixture between these two sides) came and went fairly quickly with one run from his five balls faced before blocking one with his pads in front of the sticks. Eswar remained the steady constant for the Buccaneers as Charlie Leefe stepped up to the crease dispatching his first ball for four through the covers.

As ever, Charlie continued to see ball, try to hit ball and a few more crushing fours came off until he missed a straight one and was bowled for 26 runs from his 21 balls faced. Ludo Milne came in to support Eswar to his wonderful 50 no out, sending the Buccaneers to a seven wicket victory. Further revelry and Pimm’s was enjoyed in the setting sun.

The full scorecard can be found below:

Steve Moules’ analysis can be found below:

Eswar’s batting stats can be found below:

Armadillos 181-9 (40 overs) beat Buccaneers 160 all out by 21 runs

A long wet spring meant the Sheffield Park outfield had only had its first cut a few days before the Buccs’ arrival. Nevertheless, despite the lush outfield the pitch itself played remarkably well with little variable bounce. A close fought 40 over game followed, which the Buccs narrowly lost by 21 runs.

The Armadillos were put into bat by the Buccs’ skipper Simon Leefe, to groans all round. However, a tight opening spell (Robertson 3-36, Rydon 1-14) soon had the Armadillos at 38 for 4 and struggling to score. The Dills’ skipper, Ant Pickering, held their innings together and was out to a good ball from Moules, clean bowled on the last ball before lunch. After lasagne and rosé, Miller and Davison started scoring freely and took their side to 140 for 5 before debutante Rhys Skinner bowled a very tidy spell of medium quickish to finish with 2 for 8. Berry joined the party with two quick wickets (2-35) and Jim Mann showed typical Buccs’ ruthlessness by catching out son Ollie at cover point. Plaudits should also go to Kalidasan who showed great athleticism and skill behind the stumps having been persuaded to don the gloves. A total of 181 for 9 off their 40 overs seemed eminently gettable.

Berry was the star of the Buccs’ innings. He kept the scoreboard going by leathering anything that was up to him, frequently taking the aerial route rather than trying to hack his way through the undergrowth. Unfortunately, partners came and went. Moules looked particularly dangerous and scored a useful 30 but was unlucky to be out to a pea roller. Rydon and Skinner also contributed, but once Berry had fallen for the day’s best of 67 there was a certain inevitability to the outcome. The Buccs got close but were finally undone by a direct hit from the boundary which did for a hurtling Close (are you sure?, Ed.), trying to get back for a second.

As always, a great fixture and for the first time in a while, actually played under a cloudless sky.

Armadillos innings

A Pickering bowled S Moules 46
S Maclay ct Kalidasan bowled H Robertson 3
J Bebb bowled R Rydon 3
H Park bowled H Robertson 3
D Myrtle ct Kalidasan bowled R Skinner 0
E Davison bowled H Robertson 31
C Miller ct J Mann bowled A Berry 47
O Mann ct J Mann bowled R Skinner 15
B Pickering ct and bowled A Berry 0
G Colville not out 8
J Colville not out 0

Total 181 for 9 off 40 overs

Bowling

H Robertson 10-1-36-3
R Rydon 6-0-14-1
S Moules 5-0-23-1
R Skinner 6-2-8-2
S Leefe 4-0-13-0
R Hobbs 5-0-37-0
A Berry 4-0-35-2

Buccaneers innings

A Berry bowled H Park 67
J Milne ct S Maclay  bowled J Bebb 1
E Kalidasan ct O Myrtle bowled O Mann 9
J Mann bowled C Miller 5
S Moules bowled E Davison 30
R Rydon ct ? bowled B Pickering 16
R Skinner bowled G Colville 14
R Hobbs bowled H Park 1
S Leefe not out 10
H Robertson bowled G Colville 0
D Close run out 2

Total 160 all out

Bowling

J Bebb 4-0-14-1
O Mann 8-0-25-1
C Miller 6-0-27-1
E Davison 4-0-23-1
B Pickering 8-0-42-1
H Park 6-0-30-2
G Colville 1-0-1-2

11 golfing Buccs enjoy rounds at Felixstowe Ferry and Woodbridge GCs

Founded by the late Reverend Frank Cocks and Howard Spencer, The Golfing Society returned to its spiritual home at the links of Felixstowe Ferry GC on Thursday 27th April. Two teams – The Bazballs and The Boycotts – battled it out in dry but windy conditions where experience (and age) triumphed over (relative) youth. It certainly wasn’t a day to ‘grip and rip’.

The Boycotts made up of Del Fulcher, Chunky Goulstone, Simon Woolfries, David Close, Chris Wykes and Mike Shilling beat the Bazballs of Doc Holliday, Johnny Philips, James Stringer, Phil Butler and Paul Thompson. Nearest the pin was Paul Thompson and longest drive was James Stringer.

After an overnight stay in historic Woodbridge and an interesting dinner, day two was played at Woodbridge GC’s Heath course. In warm but changeable conditions where nightingales on the course were the most numerous of birdies, an individual stableford competition was won by Jonny P who also won the nearest the pin. James S won longest drive again.

The Golfing Society will be meeting for a round in October and is planning another two day trip to Dorset in 2024. If you would like to be added to the Golfing Society mailing list please contact James Stringer on stringer.redhill@gmail.com.

Sunday 13th November saw the 2022 autumn meeting of the Buccaneers Golfing Society. Eight golfers competed in two teams (the ‘Allstars’ and the ‘Legends’) for the Buccacup at North Downs GC with the Allstars triumphing by 133 points to 105.

After a misty start, the sun appeared on what was a soft track. Despite that, a number of players played to or better than handicap. Winners of the individual awards were as follows:

• Nearest the pin (with an outrageous Bubba Watson power fade): Angus Berry

• Longest drive: Richard Hobbs

• Highest individual points: For a second year running (Handicap Committee? Ed.): Chris Leech with 37 points

Beside Gus’s curly whirly nearest the pin, Phil Butler took honours for most memorable moment when he thudded his approach to the 18th green into the roof of the club house causing a shower of tiles. A part of the course will forever remember Mr Butler.

Photos of the teams and play:

The 2022 Annual Dinner was successfully held on Thursday 27th October at the East India Club Pall Mall. 30 Buccs and guests enjoyed a dinner of traditional fare and great company where the club President Simon Woolfries gave a recap of the season. Following a successful season for the Marsh family, the leading run scorer and highest average was James Marsh and most wickets were taken by Archie Marsh with leading bowler being Ollie Mann. The averages for the season are found HERE.

The 2022 Geoffrey Moore Award was presented to Archie Marsh (below), who collected on behalf of his winning brother James. James scored two centuries for the club, both at Betchworth.

“Not sure I have done enough with my life…” was regularly heard from Buccaneers, after our guest speaker Dr Sarah Fane responded to the toast to our guests.

Dr Fane is currently Director of the MCC Foundation (and so Angus Berry’s boss) and previously as a medical doctor visiting Afghanistan, she set up Afghan Connection, a charity which, from 2002-20, supported some 500,000 children with Health, Education and Cricket in Afghanistan. Showing more courage in her career than a pair of England openers facing the ’80s Windies, Sarah explained how the things we take for granted – like a bag of cricket equipment – has the power to tranform lives and create a shared bond through the love of cricket, that we all recognise.

Simon Woolfries presented Sarah with a donation from the club by way of thanks and we will be sharing more details of how Buccaneers can contribute to the charity through the ‘Big Give’ initiative in the coming weeks.

To find out more about the MCC Foundation, please click HERE.

The Buccacup pits ‘The Allstars’ versus ‘The Legends’ in a four ball competition.

The Allstars are the younger members of the Golfing Society and they face The Legends, Buccaneers who may be a little older, but who usually play more regular golf!

The 2022 meeting takes place at new venue North Downs Golf Club near Woldingham on Sunday 13th November.

The format will be a 9.30am meet for a full English breakfast followed by 18 holes of golf. Cost for the event is £60 which includes individual prizes.

If you would like to play, please sign up via our Google form by 14 October. The sign up form can either be accessed by clicking HERE or by copying the link below into your browser. If this is blocked by your work browser please email James Stringer on stringer.redhill@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday 13th November.

The Golfing Society

Despite the grave warnings issued by BBC Weather the day before, all parties were pleased that this year’s House Match could be played without a drop of precipitation interrupting proceedings, albeit with just as much time spent in The Red Lion as on the pitch. The Gentlemen won the toss and elected to field, anticipating that a sticky Betchworth wicket and sodden Betchworth outfield would dry up over the course of the day. What they did not anticipate was having to deal with a brutal C. Leech in form.

Rydon sr and jr took the new ball and bowled with their usual skill and accuracy, the father hitting his trademark line and length in the corridor of uncertainty while the son (rather miraculously) extracted some zip and nip from a wicket that did not look like offering much to the seamers. Hobbs fell early, undone by R. Rydon’s classic straight one (no swing, no seam, pitched on middle, hit middle). W. Rydon replaced his nephew from the bottom end and delighted the crowd with his guileful off breaks, eventually taking the wicket of Bowden. Harcourt put up some resistance but fell to O. Parvin’s quick, Michael Yardy-esque off-spin. A large and leisurely lunch at The Red Lion followed, with so much food and hydration on offer that one might have been forgiven for momentarily forgetting that more cricket was to be played.

Bellies full, the players returned to the field and in a masterful bowling change, C. Leefe was brought into the attack to bowl to the incoming batsman: his father. The car journey home could not have been pleasant as father top edged a long-hop from his son to the eager hands of W. Rydon at mid-wicket, without troubling the scorers. A. Marsh and Moroz put up some good resistance, but both fell to Okines – that canny operator – who bowled with fluency, ease, and grace. But while wickets fell around him, C. Leech was unperturbed. He despatched the ball to the boundary (and over it) regularly, with some exceptionally clean striking and a Dhoni-esque sense of calm, and made a well deserved century to take the Players to 210 (declared).

Tea followed, and would have lasted longer were it not for the very helpful chivvying of R Rydon, reminding all that one full innings was still yet to come. The innings of the Gentleman followed a very similar pattern to that of the Players. Wickets fell early to some good seam bowling from Wedge-Bull, ably assisted by Starkey at the other end.

The spin twins of S. Leefe and A. Marsh were a delight to watch, dismissing a good chunk of the Gentlemen’s middle order. But just as Leech did for the Players, J. Marsh did not allow the fall of wickets around him to stop him playing with his characteristic poise. He amassed runs calmy and elegantly, ensuring that the Gentlemen were always up with the rate. J. Milne entered the fray and looked in terrific form, driving sweetly his first three deliveries with impeccable timing, but sadly dragged his back foot out of the crease in his eagerness to take the attack to S. Leefe’s bowling. However, just when things were looking uncertain for the Gentlemen, R. Rydon took to the crease and steadied the ship. J Marsh finished the chase off in style with a six, and an excellent unbeaten century.

Innings of the Players

1. C. Leech                                                                                       126*
2. R. Hobbs (c)                                                  b R. Rydon                  0
3. A. Bowden                                                  b W. Rydon                 21
4. J Harcourt+                                                 c&b Parvin                  11
5. S. Leefe                   ct W. Rydon                b S. Leefe                     0
6. A. Marsh                 ct. J Milne                   b Okines                      19
7. I Moroz                   st Kalidasan                 b Okines                      23
8. E. Wedge-Bull                                                                                 1*

Total: 210 for 6 (37 Overs)

Gentlemen Bowling
T. Rydon         7-1-33-0
R. Rydon         6-0-29-1
W. Rydon        5-0-27-1
J. Marsh           4-0-28-0
O. Parvin         5-0-28-1
C. Leefe          1-0-7-1
W. Okines       7-0-45-2
J. Milne           2-0-13-0

Innings of the Gentlemen

1. J. Marsh                                                                                      125*
2. E. Kalidasan (c)+                            b Wedge-Bull                          8
3. C. Leefe                  ct. A March      b Wedge-Bull                          5
4. O. Parvin                 ct Wedge-Bull b S. Leefe                                17
5. J Milne                    st Harcourt      b. S Leefe                                2
6. T. Rydon                                          b. A. Marsh                           14
7. R. Rydon                                                                                       28*

Total: 216-5 (32 overs)

Players Bowling
E. Wedge-Bull             6-0-45-2
M. Starkey                   6-1-21-0
S. Leefe                       7-0-41-2
A. Marsh                     6-0-41-1
A. Bowden                  4-0-26-0
I. Moroz                      2-0-24-0
R. Hobbs                     1-0-8-0

The Gentleman win by five wickets