Day 13

A big day for our travelling sportsmen – one final game to avoid being the second touring English team this year to limp home following a cricketing whitewash! Coach Rowe posted the team sheet early - a strong 11, in whose hands (and bats) we were placing our faith. The boys arrived at breakfast full of enthusiasm eager to face the battle. All the boys that is, except for Paddy who was still in the shower.  This wouldn’t usually present a problem. However, on this occasion, in a dining area limited for space, the only available seat was on a table with another guest – a single American lady holidaying on her own. We know this because she is both very loud and very talkative, in fact we’ve overheard her life story on several occasions as she is very keen to tell anyone within earshot (and that’s usually people in a 2 mile radius) everything about her. This morning it was Paddy’s turn. Being a true English gent and a great ambassador, he ‘took one for the team’ and shared his breakfast table with our resident Kansas City foghorn. Fortunately for Paddy (and most of the West coast of Barbados) she was leaving this morning and excused herself fairly quickly. Maybe she was worried about getting the Wally of the day t-shirt and hat!

We assembled early with driver Darcy sharing some words of wisdom and Brian ‘barmy army’ Goodchild offering full support for the travelling crew.  A short drive took us to Banks Sports Club, a nice ground with a large two storey pavilion, created initially for employees of the brewery. Surely if all else fails we would at least be able to console ourselves in some of their homebrew! Today's match sponsosr were the Taggart Family and Mr John Smith, who we thank for their support.

Captain Woodward won the toss and elected to bat, convinced our strong batting line up could set an imposing target.  Once again our hosts had been generous, sending out a side of varying ages and sizes. Certainly the opening bowlers held no real menace or pace as we set off at a canter with openers Ronan and Simon enjoying the friendly bowling and looking under no real pressure. However, word must have got around the Island about our struggles against spinners as once again our hosts made regular bowling changes introducing 6 different bowlers, all of whom tossed the ball up from the smallest of run ups, none of whom turned it a great deal. From being in an excellent commanding position of 112-3 in just 17 overs we collapsed to 145 all out in 29 overs, once again failing to bat for our full allocation of 35 overs. Skipper Woodward held the innings together for a short period scoring a good 43, but he, like every other batsman was guilty of bringing about their own downfall, through poor shot selection,  crazy calling and running or simply not hitting the ball hard enough and getting caught out. Disappointingly, against the weakest bowling attack we’ve seen all tour (and probably the weakest we’ll face all year) and with the strongest batting team we could put out, we failed to set a really imposing target. We even had to wait for lunch as our hosts had expected us to bat a little longer and not foreseeing such a collapse against their fragile bowling.

It’s very hard to stay ‘down’ for too long in Barbados and, following a hearty lunch and a rousing Churchillian ‘we’ll fight them on the beaches’ team talk from Messer’s Rowe and Castle, the boys got back onto the field keen to battle until the end. Things started promisingly with some tight bowling from Henry, Dan Marsh and Cameron removing their first 4 batsman relatively cheaply. Henry produced some of his own ‘chin music’ to bounce out one of the openers (even though he was probably only 12 or 13!). The fielding too was impressive, as the team gave their all trying to stay in the game. Unfortunately with plenty of time and under no real pressure of a high score to chase down our hosts eased to a 6 wicket victory in the 28^th over. To add insult to injury 5 minutes after the game ended the heavens opened and a large downpour, the heaviest rain we’ve seen all tour , engulfed the field…..if we’d simply batted a little longer we may have been able to cling onto a rain induced draw!

Disappointingly the whitewash was complete, all we need to do now is blame a destabilising element in the changing room and sack the coach. Look out Danny Tomlinson and Mr Rowe!!! (the chairman of selectors will of course remain on board for future tours!!....but only if his wife lets him!!)

Showered and donning our ‘glad rags’ the party left the ground and headed for ‘Crystals Outback Restaurant’ for an end of tour presentation evening.  Situated in a very rural setting in the hills the restaurant served up some great traditional food of chicken and rice with flying fish, whilst Coach Rowe supplied a consoling beer for the weary players.

Prizes were awarded for the following:

Best Shot on tour – Ronan Taggart (Hook shot at Lester Vaughan School)

Best Catch – Dan Marsh (running over the shoulder catch v Isolations Cavaliers)

Tour Champagne Moment – Harry Wren (six hit over the pavilion at Carlton CC)

Ambassador of the Tour – Paddy Cox

Best Batting Performance – Harry Wren (54 v Carlton CC)

Best Bowling Performance – Dan Marsh v Combermere School (5-45)

Best All Rounder on Tour – Josh Woodward

Team Player award – Dan Seal

Most Comical Moment – Simon Hulse (falling down the bank v Lester Vaughan)

Wally of the Week – Danny Tomlinson
Come Dine with Me winner – Ben Norris
Barmy Army supporters award – Brian Goodchild