For the second year running Romsey Town CC was invited up to Clumber Park, Notts., to participate in a triangular tournament with the home club and a team from the nearby town of Woodsetts. Last year it was a post-season excursion, but this year the four-day slacking extravaganza of the Queen's Jubilee meant that the tournament could be held mid-season. So seven of the Romsey faithful -- and a few of our cotorie of eager groupies -- headed up the A1 to Sherwood Forest and into the National Trust estate of Clumber Park. Whilst the manor house was torn down to avoid death duty, much of the rest of the estate remains, including the cricket ground with its thatched pavilion and Pringle-like shape (that's the snack, not the rotund ex-England player). If you've been reading carefully you'll have noticed that we were slightly undermanned, so four Clumber Park players joined our ranks, including one Steve Shelley (brother of our own Roger) who, handily, is normally captain of Clumber's firxt XI . . .

The first of the three matches was between Woodsetts and Clumber Park (thus ensuring we didn't have to get up too early) and proved to be most exciting. Woodsetts were bowled out for 91, and the hosts appeared to be winning comfortably . . . only for a late order collapse to leave them on 90/8 with one ball remaining. They duly scampered a single (although the shot was almost caught) to tie . . . except the competition rules meant they actually won due to having lost fewer wickets.

After the lunch of champagne and strawberries we took to the field in blazing sunshine and performed brilliantly. Steve Shelley (1/13, both accurate and pacey) and Daniel Mortlock (2/10, getting the wrong-uns right for once) opened very economically, before Andy Owen (1/10), Rog Shelley (1/22) and Paul Henderson (4/12) wrapped up the innings for a paltry 75. There was a brief period in the middle of the innings where things got relatively loose -- two catches were taken off no balls and the bowlers were a little unsure about how best to bowl to some youngsters -- but, as the above figures suggest, it was a great performance in the field. The star here was Rich Savage, who took three catches (although the second was off one of the no balls) and completed an excellent run out. He then opened the batting, scoring a sometimes brutal 22 with support from Arnie Garide (9) at the top of the order. The remaining runs were then picked off by Andy Owen (27*) and one of our Clumber ringers, Michael Beard (9*).

After a quick break we were back in the field again, safe in the knowledge that we'd ensured a three-way tie even if we lost this match against Woodsetts. Steve Shelley (1/14, fast and tight) and Daniel Mortlock (1/15, lucky that the batsmen kept trying to would-be wides) again kept things economical, but then the batsmen started to hit out, and took a few successful risks. Andy Owen (2/21) was unlucky to get just the two wickets, and Clumber's Michael Beard (0/21) even more unlucky to get none, with two catches dropped off his bowling. The fielding suffered a little, with plenty of overthrows and generally looser work than in the first game. Woodsetts' eventual total of 112/5 was the highest score of the day so far, and it seemed likely to be a winning total. It was, and easily so. Their bowlers were a little too quick for us, and only Andy Owen (20), Michael Beard (10 and now a bright pink after a day in the sun) and Arnie Garside (10) made it into double figures.

With all teams having won one match, some sort of tie-breaker was called for, and it was eventually decided we'd have a ``bowl off'', cricket's version of a penalty shoot-out. Each side nominated five bowlers, who each got two chances to hit a single stump. The three teams gathered to watch their representatives miss on 29 of the 30 deliveries. The one successful ball was by a Woodsetts player, and so the tournament was duly theirs (and fair enough too -- they seemed to be the best side).

With the sun starting to drop below the trees it was time to eat some barely-cooked flesh, and so we headed off to the Clumber Social Club for burgers and beer. But all too soon the day was over and only the monotony of the motorway and a truncated working week lay ahead.