After a wet week, there were worries that the Falconhurst pitch may not be up to scratch, but after a lengthy pitch inspection by Barnaby Heap who deemed it satisfactory the game went ahead. Following a wedding and other various commitments which meant the absence of some of our, as the IPL would put it 'Idol' players, such as Harris and Kingham, there were a lot of young moose in the side with a number of them making their debuts. Understandably there were some nerves, and in a 35 overs game, with the Moose winnng the toss and putting Falconhurst into bat, the Moose took to the field in jovial spirits. 

​

After a firey opening 8 over display by debutants Rory O'Dell and Barry Heap, who reduced the very able opening batsmen from Falconhurst to a run rate of 2 an over with Barry Heap picking up a well deserved wicket, the captain decided to bow down to the chants of the crowd and to bring on 'Steve 'The Pain' Macbean' who bowled a very tight spell and was unlucky not to get a wicket, and he was very well assited by another debutant Matt Lee, whose nickname of 'Gandalf' was very apt as he and the falconhurst pitch developed a very close understanding and was spinning the ball to magical proportions. 

​

However the Falconhurst batsmen were coping well, allbeit at a slow run rate, they were slightly intimidated by the commitment and spirit typical of the Moose fielders. The breakthrough came when Oliver 'The Tabloid' Thomas (an ironic nickname as he's very hard to read) bowled the opener (who top scorer for Falconhurst with 30) after a deceptively clever spell of long hops, wides, full tosses and double bouncers. Wickets then began to tumble with Alex 'The Specialist' Lunn picking up a brace and Harry Girardot bowled in his typical mercurial fashion and was ably supported by Ed Barroll Brown, whom after a 10 year cricketing absence bowled with the pace and desire of a seasoned county pro. Ed Gay got riled after a LBW decision went against him, and decided to bowl straight and full for once and picked up 3 middle order wickets, and Rory O'Dell cleaned up the tail. Falconhurst all out after 29 overs for 141. Special mention must go to our fielding with Moose veteran Alex John taking a remarkable catch at first slip, however he also receives a nomination for comedy moment of the season, after his extraordinary reaction to a simple catch at slip, where he cowered and covered his face whilst falling to ground, while the ball gently came off his stomach and rolled onto the ground. Barry Heap must also get a special mention for 2 simple dropped catches, and also Henry Fitgerald O'Connor kept wicket superbly and was instrumental in keeping the oppostion down to 141. 

​

After a tremendous tea, and special mention must go to the Falconhurst tea-providers who outdid themselves with scones, flatjacks and brownies. Alex John and Harry Giradot reluctantly left tea and took to the field to start the Moose run chase. In typical fashion, Alex John looking graceful with some lovely off drives, however he was soon to be undone with a jaffer of a delivery. Sadly Henry Fitzgerald O'Connor was soon to follow him back to the pavillion and Rory O'Dell came to the crease. Rory and Harry stabled the ship and began to form the makings of a great partnership with the ball being dispatched to all areas of the boundary. Harry after a valiant 25 was bowled, and this partnership came to an end. As in such when a partnership is broken, the middle order wickets began to flow. Barry Heap and Ed B-B soon followed after all initially looking very dangerous. The Falconhurst bowlers who were limited in number with the opener bowling throughout at one end (mental note for bowling restrictions next year) were bowling very tight and reduced us to 115-6. Alex Lunn came to the crease and looked very dangerous, with Rory O'Dell continuing to make extraordinary shots at the other end. It looked as though these two would bring the game home, but Rory was caught and his well deserved innings of 50 came to an end. Matt Lee and Steve MacBean's wickets soon followed and at 124-8 with one wicket left, as Ollie Thomas had to shoot back to London in his Thunderbirds 2 car, things were looking bleak for The Moose, especially after Ed Gay was receiving some of his own medicine with a barrage of 'short stuff' which seemed to rattle him. However Alex Lunn batted beautifully with some glorious 4s and 6s, and in true village cricket style the match was tied with the Moose at 141 and we won with the bowler spraying a wide full toss to fine leg. Victory to the Moose. 

​

A glorious victory for the Moose, with Rory O'Dell picking up Man of the Match after his all round match winning performance.