The sporting summer of 2021 has been gradually building to a crescendo, with Euro 2020 spoiling us with some wonderful fixtures and upsets, leading many people to believe that football could well and truly be on it’s way home, while Wimbledon 2021 has given rise to a new star of British tennis and England have thrashed Sri Lanka in their latest series. However, fans across the country were in for yet another emotional rollercoaster with the Peckers’ first fixture against the Latymer Old Boys, Henner’s alma mater.

Continuing the theme of recent weeks, the Peckers descended on Dunsfold CC through intermittent heavy showers and patchy sunshine, with many panicked whatsapps being fired around to see whether the stoic Pob would look to call things off..“Child’s play compared to what we played in last week” he said, and any hopes that Horse had of a day of rest after a brutal two day stag do and a week of heavy boozing at the Oval and Wimbledon were quickly dashed.

To further add to the pre-match drama, Badger and Macca were struck down by a COVID outbreak, rendering them unable to play and leaving Pob, Spinach and Dill (who was initially attending as a spectator) without a lift. Fortunately Horse bravely stepped in on his hangover from hell to give them a lift in the horse-box and ensure that the Peckers could field 10.

Whilst the outfield was squelchy in places, fortunately the wicket had been covered and the forecast just about in our favour, the game was on. After winning the toss POB put the Old Boys into bat on what was a low, slow and unpredictable track… What then ensued will live long in the memories of those who were lucky enough to be present that day.

L-R Back Lamby, Horse, Pob, Karl. Beearon, Muttley, Dill, Spinach, Henners, Greasy

In what must go down as one of the greatest opening spells in Peckers history, Spinach (4-14) claimed a wicket with the first ball of the match, knocking back the Latymer opener’s off peg and sending him on his way for a humiliating golden duck. He continued to keep things tight in partnership with Greasy (3-6) who also bowled an admirable opening spell to remove batsmen 2, 3 and 5 in quick succession. Unfortunately Spinach fell just short of what would have been a magnificent first Pecker Michelle, but it was not to be.

The pair were finely supported by Muttley behind the stumps, who took what must have been the finest catch of his career of Spinach’s bowling, diving to his right after being wrong footed to cling onto an edge from one of the top order batsmen.

With the Latymer dressing room reeling and the sound of wickets falling accompanied by the soft hiss of yet another beer being enjoyed by the Latymer fallen, Lamby (1-3) on debut claimed a wicket with his first ball only to be pulled from the attack 2 overs later. The Peckers had ripped through the top order to leave Latymer 16-8 and in desperate need of a few runs to make a day of it.

Fortunately, Pob obliged and brought on Runky (0-28) for a tough spell with a wet ball in what can only be described as driving rain at times, where he had the task of bowling to a well built, rather unorthodox batman with a great eye and a healthy appetite for anything short of a length. He was rather unlucky to go home empty handed due to a dropped catch by Dill, who had a rather eventful debut (sliding around in the field in his tennis shoes) and deservedly claimed the “Most Enthusiastic Fielder” award.

Henners wasn’t his usual self and struggled to make an impact with the ball, perhaps feeling the pressure of playing against his old school, leaving him with figures of 1-22 from his 3 overs. Horse (0-14) was employed as a spinner also bowled a tidy spell, all things considered, and was relatively unlucky not to claim a wicket.The result of all this was a lot of tail wagging and a partnership of around 80, meaning that Latymer had set the Peckers a target of 108 to win from their 35 overs.

Greasy and Lamby trudged out to bat after tea with their sights set on knocking off a small, but challenging total which was enthusiastically and vocally defended by the Old Boys

With the ball sticking in the wicket after the afternoon of intermittent showers and an incessant stream of terrible chat from the Latymer team (much to Runky’s disgust), there was little fluent stroke play to speak of, but Greasy and Lamby managed to put on a healthy 21 for the first wicket, before Greasy was bowled playing down the wrong line to a straight one.

Karl with a K came out with high hopes but unfortunately feathered his first ball through to the keeper, leaving the Peckers 21-2 and the Latymer Old Boys jubilant. Henners, keen to make amends after a rather underwhelming spell of bowling, played some good looking shots, including a couple of mighty drives over long on, but unfortunately fell for 7, chancing his arm one too many times on a wicket that wasn’t conducive to aggressive strokeplay.

108 seemed like a mountain to climb from 37-3, but the Peckers middle order sprung into life, with the enthusiastic Dill scoring 9 on his debut (only his second innings in the past decade) only to be given out LBW by Greasy to one that turned square from the Latymer off spinner (despite Runky’s vocal protests from square leg umpire). Lamby (30) was unfortunately bowled by one that pitched short and rolled from the off spinner, leaving the Pecker’s tail to wag to get the job done. A brilliant debut knock by Lamby-chanceless till bowled by a Grubber

Fortunately, a rather reluctant old Horse was dragged out to bat, hanging around for an excellent 23*, despite the fielding side dropping him 4 times, to help see the Peckers home through a nail biting finish, ably supported by Pob (4), Muttley (1) and Spinach (1*). The Peckers had scratched their way to 108-7 and a win that will at the very least give Henners bragging rights over his old school. Our heroes read like a menu in a French Restaurant, Lamb, Horse and Greasy Spinach..with a sprig of Dill x

Horse sees us home valiantly, ably supported by a random spectator