Sheffield Collegiate Cricket ClubOne of the world's finest cricket clubs

The SCCC over 45 squad are entered into the Thwaite's Cup for the North of England and yesterday was our first game. Rained off at tea with us on 178-8, so replay next Sunday. It was a good day though!Captain Alan Hampshire rang around valiantly looking for a team upon discovering on Monday that there was a game to be played. On phoning Andy Langdale and enquiring as to Andy's availability he was told I'm just going to put you on hold". "For how long, Andy". "About 6 **** years". Anyway, Saturday night, 11 players + scorer so a collection of bath chairs, commodes, three-wheeled motorised tricycles, and Ford Prefects trundled up the M1 to Brighouse.

Impressive setup, good pavillion, good hospitality. Lost the toss and got inserted. Good as nice ground, cracks on pitch.

Interesting barracking from the increasingly well-oiled crowd. It seems several of the Brighouse players are coaches or regular spectators, and inclined to offer regular and vocal advice to the Brighouse first team. So they got the full 22 barrels at every slight slip, misfield, or half volley. Good stuff!

One of their players on the far side walked over to the pavillion to take a leak, got to the pavillion, but said then he had forgotten why he came over, so went back.

Ended up at 178-8 which looked a good score, espcecially as they suffered 3 fetlock injuries in the process and the slight drizzle was livening up the pitch. Sniffer looking good. For some reason he still has the power in his wrists.

Good tea with the highlight of mini battenbergs. Got told off by Sealy for having two.

Unfortunately at tea the heavens opened and that was that. Quite a lot of standing around listening to vasectomy stories and arguing about the undoubted merits of Mangla curries (Foulkie: "how can it be any good when the drinks bill from the offie is more than the meal bill?").

Suggestions of a toss to decide who goes on to the next round not too well received, especially given Hants' record in that department, so we are heading back up to Brighouse next Sunday to do it all again. Not too arduous as I think we all had a good time and hopefully homes, carers and minders won't mind letting us all out again. Any maybe we should do a Bradford curry next Sunday?

No injuries suffered on our side, all pace makers functioned well, and I think everyone remembered how to get home without having to ask a policeman."