President's Day 2009

Michael Facey invited his friends & fellow Old Stationers with their partners to his President's Day celebration on 30^th August 2009 at Botany Bay Cricket Club. Over 60 of sat down & enjoyed a sumptuous three-course lunch, superbly organised as usual by Gordon Rose. Although the weather had "promised to be good", it was fickle - it didn't keep its promise! Fortunately, we were spared a cloudburst, but the skies looked more & more ominous as the afternoon progressed. At about 3:20, Tony Hemmings commented to Webmaster Mike P, "Look over there... that's towards where I live and it was OK there when I came here this morning..." - to which Mike replied in castigating tone, "Hmmm. Shame you didn't bring the sunshine with you..."

Botany Bay CC were most apologetic and regretted that on this occasion they were unable to field an XI to partake in their customary battle with our redoubtable President's XI, but fortunately the Old Elizabethans had stepped into the breach.

Geoff Blackmore has, as usual, provided us with a detailed Match Report, which is shown beneath the photos.

Just click on any of the images below to see a larger version, & use your browser's "back" button to return to this page.

*Our President Welcomes us...*	*Supporters enjoy the day...*	*Opener Steve Martin retires early...*
*Richard Slatford drives for four...*	*Steve Young defends stoutly...*	*Cloudy(!!) but dry for President's Day...*
*Tony Pigden tries to push the score along...*	*Michael Facey's President's XI*
Above pictures & captions from Tim Westbrook.

OSA Presidents XI: 164 for 6 off 40.0 overs (Richard Slatford 60, Tony Pigden 47, James Mote 25)
Old Elizabethans CC: 166 for 5 off 37.0 overs (Robin Baker 2 for 22, Colin Walker 1 for 26)

As in previous years, selection for the fixture commenced soon after the OSA AGM and Annual Dinner, when the President declared that he had no ‘special requests’ for inclusion in the side. In time honoured fashion, the Match Manager attempted to reduce the side’s average age and with help from James Mote, approached a number of current OSFC players who were known to be ‘competent’ cricketers.

The brothers Douglas – Andy and Damian - both of whom played last year (when Steve Young led a successful campaign), initially said ‘yes’ but then ‘cried off’ in subsequent weeks as ‘family commitments’ took precedence. Mark Golding was fairly non committal early on, and therefore the ‘usual suspects’ were lined up – although Mike Weatherly (who it is believed had played in every Presidents XI game since the first in 1972 except 2006 when he was on holiday) decided his body would not stand up to the rigours of an afternoon’s cricket.

Despite Mike’s ‘pleas’ he was still thirteenth man in the squad at the beginning of the week leading up to the game and as two of the thirteen had not confirmed their availability – he was in danger of having to play!! However, he was ‘released’ from active duty following Barry Soames’ confirmation that he would be there. After Mike’s ‘release’ the thirteen were twelve, with one still unconfirmed until Mark Golding finally said ‘yes’ on the Saturday lunchtime!!

However, in an ‘unexpected twist’, Botany Bay advised during the week before the game that not only could they not raise a side for the Sunday – they had also inadvertently arranged two games at home on the same day – and suggested that to resolve the issue, we might like to play their ‘other’ opponents, who were none other than our Football Club landlords – the Old Elizabethans Cricket Club!! So after playing the Old Stationers CC, the Old Stationers & Sahibs CC and Botany Bay CC in the last thirty six years, the OSA Presidents XI were about to meet it’s fourth opponent!!

Despite the ‘confusion’ in the run up to the game, the President Michael Facey did not let it faze him (I’m not sure he even knew about it) and he ensured that his many guests, including a handful of school year contemporaries, had an excellent lunch, yet again organised by Master of Ceremonies, Gordon Rose.

As we wanted to use a squad of twelve and to bat first, given the change of opponents, the Match Manager ventured to the changing rooms and asked the one face he recognised – Jonathan Smith, the OE’s barman when the OSFC are at home – who was captaining their side on the day? Fortunately for us it was Jonathan and despite knowing absolutely nothing about the change of opponents, Jonathan was happy to ‘play ball’ and even inserted us when he won the toss.

Unfortunately, however, the bowling was a little stronger than usually faced when we play Botany Bay – and added to the variable bounce in the pitch, scoring was far from easy. Steve Martin departed early to a one handed ‘wonder catch’ before Tony Pigden and James Mote put on 52 for the second wicket. After James was out for a hard grafted 25, Richard Slatford joined Tony, and they took the score to 102, before Tony fell just short of a well deserved half century, being stumped for 47.

Richard then ‘shepherded’ the middle order, inc. Past President, David Hudson, through the last dozen or so overs before he was out in the 37^th of our 40 overs for a well struck 61. Whilst 164 for 6 was probably 15 or 20 short of what we hoped for, it was a defendable total if we could bowl to our fields!!

After tea, and the obligatory team photo, our ‘irregular’ bowlers struggled to find their line and length to the OE’s First XI League keeper, who could also bat – as Steve Young put it early in his innings “...this batsman is a step or two up from those we usually bowl at...”. Despite the rapid pace of the early overs of the OE’s reply, Tim Westbrook took a wicket with the score on 32, before retiring to the fine leg boundary and tearing a hamstring for the cause. Fortunately our ‘squad of twelve’ policy meant we were able to put Tim ‘out to graze’ for the remainder of the game.

After twelve overs with the score at 74-1, we were staring a heavy defeat in the face, but Richard Slatford took a superb catch at short-ish mid wicket off Colin Walker and when Barry Soames bowled their number four, to leave them at 104 for 3 – albeit with plenty of overs left – we had an outside chance of a victory. Unfortunately for us, not having any ‘regular’ bowlers and an ageing fielding side meant that four an over was always within the OE’s capabilities – and whilst Robin Baker bowled a tidy spel1 and took two wickets – catches by Geoff Blackmore and Steve Young – we finally succumbed after 37 overs.

Yet again our thanks to the Botany Bay Cricket Club, who hosted the lunch and the match so splendidly – although we wait to see whether they will get a side out to play us next season!! In addition, our thanks to our President, Michael Facey for his hospitality towards both players and spectators, to Gordon Rose for his usual efficient organisation and to our umpire Dick Hersey and scorer, Vic Clark, who both officiated throughout.