On the weekend we took on Rovers CC. A Grade were away at Duncan Cameron, and lost the toss and bowled. Rovers got off to a good start, and were 0/29, before Imps took 5/25, thanks to wickets to two wickets to Size and Ross and a wicket to Scotty. From 5/54, Rovers veterans Dean Gillard and Simon Duff put on a 93 run partnership, to swing momentum back in Rovers favour.

Some good late innings bowling from Sam Morey (3/28) helped limit Rovers to 170 off 48 overs, which is a good effort at the pristine Duncan Cameron ground. Veterans Rossy and Size continued their good form with the ball, taking a combined 5/38 off their 20 overs (Rossy 2/14, Size 2/14).

In our run chase, Witchy went early for 14, but then an enterprising 40 run partnership between Size and Boyesy, before Size was out for 21, with Boyesy run out no long after for a well made 18. We continued to lose wickets at a regular basis, and I must admit, at 7/99, I thought it was game over and took the opportunity to beat the traffic to the Hungry Jacks Drive through, but in hindsight, I wish I had hung around till the end.

While the wickets fell, Scotty Aitken remained not out, and put on handy partnerships with Boschy and Sam, but at 9/130, still requiring 42 for victory, an Imps win seemed unlikely. Enter Meersy at number 11, and Scotty and Meersy chipped away at the total, until an Imps victory seemed possible. Scotty and Meersy took the game into the last over before Scotty was dismissed for 59, leaving us 9 runs short of victory. Disappointing result, but another really competitive effort by the A Grade side.

I think everyone would be rapt for Scotty and Meersy’s efforts, as both player are universally liked and well respected at the Club, as evidenced by both being previous winners of the Players Player award, an award voted on by the playing group for the player who puts in the most effort at training and on game days.

Fittingly for Rovers, it was Simon Duff who was the hero, making 54 not out and taking 1/15, in what was his 200th A Grade for Rovers, a feat that very few players achieve. In a league where loyalty is becoming less commonplace, this is a great effort, and it was good to see so many past Rovers players at the ground to celebrate the achievment.

The B’s were coming off their best effort with the bat last week, making 4/207, but weren’t able to replicate their efforts yesterday, only making 103, with Daniel Elms (29) the only batsmen to make above 20. In reply, Rovers were 3/37, which gave us a glimmer of hope for victory, but Rovers were able to pass our total six wickets down. Skipper Dash was the standout with the ball, taking 3/14 off 9, with Johnny Downs and Jordy Anderson taking a wicket each.

The C’s were drawn to play Rovers in a T20 game, which I think is a good idea, given the seemingly league wide issue of availability among C Grade sides. We bowled first, and were able to restrict Rovers to 68 off their 20 overs, with Jesse Sutherland taking 3/15, Jack Chapman 2/19, and Hunter Dunstan taking his first Senior wickets for the Club with 2/2. Skipper Eggy, the C Grade Scott Boland, just took the one wicket, blowing his strikerate out to more than a wicket an over.

In reply we were able to pass to the Rovers total in 10 overs without losing a wicket, with Gus Burgess making 44 not out and Ryley Reid contributing 18 not out in what was her Senior debut for Imperials.

We take on Toongabbie CC next week, with the A’s and C’s at Toon, and the B’s at Catterick.