There are certain hallmarks of Sunday cricket that have become synonymous with the Woodpeckers. Foremost among them is the company. A wonderful descent of people who remind us, week after week, of the importance of keeping our bats well oiled and our whites freshly laundered for another afternoon of entertainment, whether the cricket itself proves to be the main attraction or not.

These descentions invariably take place in some of the county's most picturesque corners, where a well groomed green and a well stocked bar provide the perfect backdrop to an afternoon of well enjoyed folly. And, as it seems is customary with the Peckers, every now and then, one or two arrive looking well and truly underslept and dishevelled from a night that never ends as early as it ought to.

And as I am sure you are relieved to hear, last Sunday’s game at Outwood was no exception.

A toilet blockage Chez GK meant that the early morning showers were of the al fresco variety

With England's quarter-final occupying many minds the night before, the Woodpeckers rolled into Outwood, beneath the village windmill, grateful for the luxury of a 2pm start, yet slightly abashed for missing the skippers pre game loosener at the local. Indeed, for some, the later start was less a luxury and more a necessity as they dusted off the ways of their younger years, appearing to have travelled directly from the previous evening's celebrations. Mercifully, years of experience have taught them one important lesson: that whenever possible, you pull yourself together, smash a mid morning cider and answer the Sunday cricket call.
Pobsy won the toss and to the delight of many decided we should bat on a hot day with Dupa thirsty. Cat got things underway but perhaps had one eye on the comfortable pavilion sofas, departing after a brisk 8. Mole Man stuck around a little longer, adding 12 before being undone by Outwood's rather handy opening bowler. Then came Scupa, son of the legendary Dupa, who, fittingly, was there to witness the occasion himself. Scupa's long-awaited Pecker's debut ensured another chapter was added to one of the club's great family stories. His innings ended for 8, but with the second innings still to come, there was always the feeling his afternoon was only just beginning.

At something like 50 for 3, things were starting to look a little uncomfortable until two of our younger players came to the crease and sorted everything out. It was a Magic-Dog combination. Magic Carpet and Dog calmly took complete control of proceedings, batting with remarkable composure as elegance and aggression combined in equal measure. The increasingly demoralised Outwood fielders spent almost as much time climbing over the boundary fence to retrieve the ball as they did standing on the right side of it, with several straight drives disappearing back over the bowlers' heads and into the surrounding woods. Both men deservedly reached magnificent centuries, with Dog retiring on 103 from just 65 balls and earning him self his first century ever to mark this as an epic day with the most momentously impressive feat .

His Pecker daddy Magic Carpet quickly followed suit with 101 from 81. Their unbeaten 217-run partnership was comfortably the largest stand seen at Outwood that afternoon and almost certainly had the Woodpeckers' statisticians reaching for the archives had they not had to bow out gracefully. This was only the second time two Woodpeckers had made a hundred in the same innings (the first was Pobsy and Mutley if you can believe that?)

Double Centurions -Magic Carpet and his Pecker ‘son’ the Dog

Retirement brought Novichok to the crease, who finally registered his first runs for the Woodpeckers outside of a Peckers v Peckers fixture. Whether this was inspired by improved technique or simply the residual booze still circulating from Saturday night remains open to debate, but an entertaining unbeaten 25 suggested the latter should not be ruled out. Max von-Trotsky joined him to add a nice 6 before Pobs called time on the innings, leaving Outwood requiring a formidable 289 for victory.

Tea was, as always, a welcome sight, though perhaps never more so than on this particular Sunday. It did not disappoint. Doorstep tuna and coronation chicken sandwiches were stacked high alongside bowls of crisps, fresh pasta salads and generous wedges of melon, all lovingly homemade and disappearing at an impressive rate. It was exactly the sort of spread that reminds you why village cricket teas remain one of the game's greatest traditions, and one that was enjoyed immensely, and gratefully by both sides. Fortified by an excellent tea, a generous helping of coronation chicken and just enough ale to restore rather than hinder, the Woodpeckers returned to the field beneath an unforgiving July sun, eager not to let Outwood bat out the 35 overs.

Despite Saturday evening's antics, GroundsKeeper was entrusted with the new cherry alongside Snax. GK couldn't quite find the wicket he so desperately needed to avoid Pobs' murmurings of "nunfer", but the team could always look to Snax. Bowling a decent line and length, he picked up two richly deserved wickets and had Outwood immediately on the back foot. It was after his second that he confidently declared ‘ I’m bowling like a f&^((^! demon". Judging by the state of the Outwood top order, there were few prepared to disagree. Snax-the-Demon-Bowler had given the Woodpeckers exactly the start they wanted.

Next into the attack came debutant Paddy ‘Scupa’ Deperouzel, and it wasn't long before the family name was finding its way into the scorebook once again. Bowling a probing line and length, he claimed his first Woodpeckers wicket before producing a fine galloping caught-and-bowled to secure his second. It was a debut to remember and, we hope, merely the opening chapter of an illustrious Woodpeckers story.

Chefry, meanwhile, continued to work away at the other end without luck and was not looking forward to going home to report no wickets to Ghislaine. In his final over the wily culinarian eventually found his mark, sending two batters packing - Moley making amends for an earlier howler behind the stumps and Pobs taking a screamer that was fired high into the air and looked to come down with a dusting of snow about it!

Dog also chipped in with his first Woodpeckers wicket after eventually agreeing to bowl, but by now the afternoon, and heat, were beginning to take their toll. Grounds Keeper and Novichok had gone noticeably quiet and looked as though a lie down in the shade was becoming a far more attractive proposition than another over.

Outwood were seven down and approaching 200 but, crucially, had chewed through nearly 30 overs. That was enough for Grounds Keeper, and he kindly suggested that Pobs stop messing around and bring Magic Carpet onto get the job done.

Mercifully, the skipper obliged.

Dispensing with his customary pace in favour of a little spin, Magic required little invitation, rattling through the tail to claim the final three wickets. The last Outwood batter eventually departed in the final over, bringing an entertaining afternoon to a close, another Woodpeckers victory to the ledger, and whispers of a record-breaking season growing ever louder.

MAgic Carpet, Moleman, Chef, GK, Cat, Trotsky, Pob, Novi, Scupa, Snax, Dog

As it stands, the Woodpeckers are on course to have their most successful season ever. Ten wins from our opening eleven fixtures is no mean feat and, with seven games still to play, there is every chance that this could become the finest campaign in the club's history.

That said, records are rarely built by the eleven who happen to take the field on any given Sunday. They're built by everyone who answers the call throughout the summer. We are looking a little light for numbers in a handful of the remaining fixtures and it would be a real shame if we were unable to fulfil them, not least because these are the relationships and traditions that keep Sunday cricket alive year after year and what make the club so special.

So, if you've been waiting for the right moment to dust off the whites, or you fancy getting a few more games under your belt and spending a Sunday in excellent company, consider this your invitation. Few things rival a summer's afternoon on a cricket square with the Woodpeckers, and we'd love as many familiar faces as possible to be part of this season’s story whether we beat a record or not.

GK X