Result - The Griffin

Players

• Ellis, Charlie (c)
• Findlay, Chris (c)
• Siebert, Will
• Snowden, Richard
• Snowden, Will
• Stone, Alex

Match report

The Griffin Inn CC won by 135 runs

Having fielded what was thought to be a promisingly youthful Grannies’ side, we arrived at Fletching (after the customary pre-match BBQ at the Griffin), to be greeted by a number of Sussex’s better schoolboy cricketers. The Griffin have clearly upped their youth policy, and at the end of the day, it paid off for them.

The Grannies opted to bowl first, with new candidates George Smith and Will Burrow opening with energetic seam bowling. Alex Stone then came on at first-change and got one of their openers, caught very well by Smith in the deep.

However from then on, the Griffin seemed to settle into the swing of things. Ben Pullan, whose brother had scored well the previous year, hit a measured hundred. The Griffin’s school 1st XI contingent batted sensibly in the middle order, scoring well alongside Pullan.

High praise must go to spinners Will Siebert and Charlie Ellis, who bowled determinedly, putting the brakes on the Griffin run rate and taking a fine wicket each. Further tight bowling from George Smith and Charlie Ellis at the death stopped the in-form Griffin batsmen reaching a larger score (they scored 218 off 35 overs, whilst the previous day both batting sides had scored over 260 each at the same ground).

Noteworthy also during the Griffin innings was the freak accident that befell Grannies’ keeper Richard Snowden, when the batsman bottom-edged a beamer down into his forehead, dealing a hefty blow and a nasty gash to the head. He was promptly taken to hospital to get multiple stitches and an HIA. Thanks go to both sides for their quick attention and care, especially to the Grannies’ Chris Findlay for digging out an Army-issue battlefield dressing, and Duncan Ellis’ swift call for ice, both of which made a real difference.

The Grannies’ innings never really got going - the uneven pitch, and the unsettling effect of losing one of the more experienced members of the top-order to injury, surely played their part. However, Ben Yeates showed some promise coming in at 3, before being run out by a ridiculous direct hit from a one-stump view. George Smith top-scored with a refined 34, cracking out the Dil-scoop on more than one occasion.

In the end we fell for 83 all out from 24 overs. Fine ales and food were had at the Griffin following the game, with all who played this fixture for the first time agreeing with the old-timers that it was a great occasion, regardless of the result.

However, Harvey’s always tastes better for the winning side, and so to repeat the words of David Pullan in 2016, “the Grannies will be back”.

Match info

Location
Fletching CC, E Sussex, TN22 3SS