Captain’s Report
Nerves were frayed as we feared that the 2020 tour would be scuppered by the Covid 19 pandemic. However, the rumours that club cricket might be reprieved were confirmed about a fortnight before the due date. Thankfully the majority of our opponents were able to host us and, with a couple of last minute replacements at Crowcombe and the Somerset Stragglers, the tour started with a new fixture at Morebath as planned.
No lunches, no teas, no showers, arrival in whites, regular stoppages for sanitising the ball and umpires’ orders as to which side to run between the wickets were the order of the day. Peter George’s Tour Report expands on all this, but I must make special mention of the abundance of available players and the superb accommodation at Molland, thanks to our Chairman and wife Debs who masterminded the whole operation. All this brought back memories of the good old days when all tourists used to stay together in school accommodation. The cricket was, of course, as enjoyable as ever and the weather was generally good, with only the Old Blundellians’ game lost to rain. There were centuries for Rich Godfrey and Guy Bucknell and fifties for Harry Kennedy, James Flatt, Philip Oliver and Will Oakes. Wickets were evenly spread and there were no five wicket performances from our bowlers. You will see that the Career Statistics and Club Records have been updated and included in this year’s book. Looking ahead to 2021 we hope for a return to normality and an 11 match tour has been arranged, starting with two days at Morebath and culminating with a return to Bideford and Westward Ho! some 50 plus years since we last played there. We also hope to participate again in The Rob George Foundation 6-a-side in April and possibly enjoy a tour to Portugal at the end of May. All this, of course, together with our Annual General Meeting/Dinner, depends on any ongoing virus restrictions, but let’s be positive and I look forward to receiving your tour availabilities as soon as possible.