A long off-season and with plenty of boardroom speculation. The fans could put up with the incumbent and long serving captain no more. Results had not been forthcoming and the fans barracked for a change of leadership, new captain and a new selection process!!
Having been 8 years since the Tonsley Events Challenge Shield resided in the Tonsley trophy cabinet, the Cuddington Kites were rightly confident. After all, why should this game be any different from any of the others. Home advantage, a regular side, track record, in charge of the teas…etc.
Tonsley Tornados XI
S. Grigg, S. Cunningham, P. Flood, G. Ekerold,
A. Moxon, R. Duncan, G. Tebbitts, S. Woolf,
D. Speer, B, Bruce, J. Bruce (capt)
However, on this day in this quiet best kept Buckinghamshire village, the winds were about to change, a Tornado was brewing.
A dull but dry day set the tone at the Cuddington Oval. The Kites put into bat first, ground out on a traditional Cuddington pudding, a respectable total of 150 for 9 off their allotted overs. Chantry and Brown lead the scoring with 44 and 22 respectively.
The Tornados played a containment game with wickets evenly spread throughout but mentions must go to Sandy Cunningham and Gary Ekerold who bowled tightly and both grabbed a brace and Benny Bruce who kept the lid on things superbly. Fielding was tight and well crafted.
Too much tea for the home side perhaps or perhaps they were a little short on the board. No room for complacency in this game.
Enter the mistral… After 25.2 overs the game was over and the BBQ had been fired up! 151 for 5. Shared batting success throughout: Cunningham (35), Paul Flood (33), Ekerold (29), Richie Duncan (22).
And now for the double… the Tonsley Events “Just Bowl Off” Trophy. Nip and tuck as usual with endless wides but for the first time, Tonsley took the prize.
Moaning is still heard to this day around the best kept village in Buckinghamshire. “They stole our players”, “Wait till next year”, “We didn’t have our strongest team out”.
Gents, the scorebook tells the truth. Tonsley Tornados: W, in fact WW.
JB (Skips)
