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Better luck on Sunday when despite some intermittant drizzle we enjoyed a high scoring encounter with Meigle. Batting first against a mixed team of experienced players and youngsters the team was treated to a batting masterclass from Mike Harrison and Stan Frankland whose 2nd wicket partnership moved past 200 as Stan completed a chanceless century. Mike scored more steadily and needed the assistance of late hitting from Tom Clemens and Andy Vivia to coax him to his own century with one ball of the match remaining. None of those present can recall two centuries in one innnings from the Staff team and the final score of 257 must be one of the highest of recent years. Following the usual excellent tea, we started in the field full of confidence and the opening partnership of Tom Elliot and Matt Clarke bowled well, if occasionally straying in line at times. Tom provided the aggression, producing a ball which cut back and struck the 14 year old opener full on the box. The youngster bravely stood back up but succumbed soon after to one of Matt's best deliveries. This ushered in Meigle's star batsman and their own 2nd wicket partnership mounted up ominously as the Staff bowling struggled to find length or line. Both batsmen passed 50 and startled hitting boundaries at will, necessitating a call for Mike and Stan to dig us out of the mire. Mike obliged by bowling the free scoring opener and Stan produced the defining moment of the match when "coaxing" the Meigle #3 into smashing him straight down the ground only for Tom C to produce an astounding one handed grab as the ball sailed towards the sightscreen. As a procession of weaker players came and went - one courtesy of an excellent catch from Tom E off Stan once again - our total which had looked under threat proved to be 20 more than Meigle could manage. A relieved win, mostly thanks to the batsmen but also featuring some much improved fielding, taking a cue from Eric's confident keeping and Mike's exemplary long boundary.
- Patrick Jess