Fitting Tribute

By Rogers and Not Out of Here
July 25 2015

We hear how from our most loyal supporter who flies in from New York to report on our 20/20 season concluding to a damp squib end with us picking up the wooden spoon.  It's not all doom and gloom as R&O describes how he makes the most ofhis  day and a some hope for our 20/20 future.  

Our wooden spoon game with Somerset at Taunton proved to be a damp squib as the game was called off around two hours before start time due to persistent rain. Whilst we finished bottom of the South group for the second consecutive season, our record had improved by two extra wins this time around.

I'd attended the same game last season which also happened to be the last T20 match of 2014 and witnessed the usual drubbing. However, our fine beating of the Mexicans at Lord's gave us hope that we might avoid the dreaded wooden spoon. I'd booked my ticket for the game long ago in the vain hope it might be of crucial importance. Seven consecutive defeats meant it was of little importance, plus I'd also opted to visit New York just before to watch New York Red Bulls versus Chelsea which meant it was a tight squeeze to see both games. After watching Asmir Begovic's passable debut impersonation of Dan Christian in last season's double header, I headed back to the UK to find that dire weather was forecast for the last round of T20 group matches. The fact I'd got non-refundable train and hotel bookings meant I was always likely to travel in any event, and so I trooped off to Reading station in monsoon like conditions.

My Penzance bound train was jam packed and there were two unfortunate German ladies who ended up standing despite having first class tickets. I opted to take a cab to my hotel due to the inclement weather and my driver stated that there was no chance of the game going ahead. He also thought that Somerset were worse than us at T20, although I begged to differ. His prediction was sound as soon after, I received a text from Somerset CCC stating that the game had been abandoned. So I dined in a place called Wine & Sausage which adjoined my hotel and had plenty of both products, wine in particular.

All that remained was to ruminate on our T20 campaign. Not as bad as last season, although again we were bottom of the pile. Well done to John Simpson for excellent batting throughout, although if only he'd held on to a chance in the first game at Bristol when he dropped Cockbain off Ravi, we might have started with three wins. The games at Southampton and Cardiff should have been won, but when they weren't, we reverted to type and ended up in our usual position.

Having said all that, I was very proud of the seconds taking the spoils at Arundel and I have every hope that the likes of Nick Gubbins, Ryan Higgins, George Scott, Max Holden et al can lead us to T20 glory in years to come.