1ST XI CRICKET REPORT

Played 11 Won Drawn Lost

"Catches win matches" was the familiar cry from the exasperated Mr. Clark as he sat every Saturday afternoon watching another 1ST XI match, visibly unimpressed by the fact that we scored at least 50 in total each game.

Well, actually it wasn't as bad as that. In fact, it was a very enjoyable season with a good team spirit, although the number of draws often outweighed the victories.

The team led by Carl McConchie were involved in three or four exciting finishes, including the masters game, where the guile of Mr. Acheson's bowling and some atrocious batting by the boys saw the 1st XI collapse from 125 for 3 to 153 all out. We lost that game by 3 runs in the last over, after a Viv Richard's like 73 from Dean Richardson and 47 from the captain.

However, the "star" of the season was Mark Jackson, who bowled excellently in each game and topped nearly 50 wickets in the 11 matches ; (with a bit more help from the slips that figure could have been considerably higher). The most famous victory came over the enemy Dover Grammar (minus the deadly Chris Penn and Hope) in a game which provided over 300 runs.

The season climaxed with the tour to Woolverstone Hall and Culford, which Simon Daglish summed up when he fell flat on his face in an attempt to bowl; an enjoyable but not very prosperous tour. Other valuable contributions came from Andy Bennett, Gary Mumford (45), Ben Hall (49), Mark Hills, Neil Forsyth (39), Steines, Andy Clark and Laurence Green. Thanks also go to Mr. Buck and Major Murgatroyd whose pleas to concentrate and other words of encouragement were much appreciated.

N. FORSYTH

Played 7 Won 3 Lost 3 Drawn 1

An exciting, if somewhat erratic season, which was enjoyed by all. Results-wise this year proved to be a better year for the team continuing our steady improvement which started some years ago under the saviour of 2nd's cricket Brad Jackson.

We started the season by winning a low-scoring match by 51 runs against Dover Grammar. An additional fixture against Dover College proved a bit much psychologically and we crashed to 38 all out.

With vengeance in our minds we took on Bethany and won by 42 to runs in what proved to be an exciting contest. Next came Simon Langton, they won. Under a new captain we took Sir Roger Manwood's, a fine fifty by Andy Clark was the icing on the cake as we declared at 161 for 4; not content at that we bowled Manwood's out for less than 60 runs. Our only away game of the season had to be called off, much to our disgust. Not having recovered from that shock we lost to a Sevenoaks team.

Poor fielding ruined our final game against Kings' Canterbury, with a win in sight we dropped numerous catches and eventually had to be content with a draw. A season enjoyed by the players and Mr. Marsh alike (at times) and we thank him for his time, teaching and humour.