The season’s curtain-raiser at Staplehurst gave some reasons for optimism with excellent individual performances from Pooley & Forbes supported by a fairly solid bowling performance. However, against a capable 10-man Staplehurst side and a decent pitch, 167 looked a little light and so it proved when Staplehurst’s keeper drove the winning runs through extra cover as the church clock struck 6.

It had been a gloriously bright April afternoon in this pretty corner of Kent known for its sparkling rosé. Eridge hoped to be cracking open the bubbly to avenge a 73 run defeat when the sides last met 2 years ago. Captain Forbes won the toss and opted to bat but had little time to bask in his good fortune before Staplehurst’s scorer was in the changing room asking for the batting order.

Messrs Pooley Sr and Severn were sent out to open Eridge’s account and faced some lively fast medium bowling with Henson moving the ball both ways off a languid 8-pace run up and Masood sending down skidding outswingers. Pooley soon had his eye in and was cutting and driving when the bowling erred in length. Severn never looked entirely comfortable against Masood and having played and missed on a couple of occasions eventually edged faintly behind and walked. He was replaced at the crease by Fawls who left more divots in the wicket than he managed scoring shots. He was removed on 9, his off-stump paying the price for an attempt to square cut a good length ball.

By now Pooley was helping himself to the first-change bowler’s half volleys – sending meaty drives to the rope, and soon reached his half-century. At the other end, Ellis departed without troubling the scorers, and Forbes strode to the wicket. Hopes of a fruitful partnership were dashed when Pooley, on 62, tripped during a routine single and was a long way short of his ground.

Eridge were reeling at 79 for 4 with two new batsmen and the miserly Connell pitching his off-spin on a sixpence. Relief came when Davey introduced his left-arm finger spin at the other end; he no-balled twice in his first over and then over-pitched to give Harris the chance to sweep into a vacant midwicket. The pair built some momentum for a stand of 28 until Harris was bowled attempting to drive. Hancock was next up and stuck with the skipper who was benefitting as the bowlers tired and accumulated steadily with little clemency for the now regular full tosses. With 8 balls to go and having reached 50, Forbes lost his wicket trying to heave and debutant, Sam Martin’s Eridge career was under way. He wisely left his first ball alone and was at the non-striker’s end for the last set. Hancock keen to protect his young charge, turned down an easy single on the second ball of the over and blocked out for a maiden, meaning Eridge were defending 167.

After a decent spread, it was time for Staplehurst to start their pursuit. The danger man was first team captain, Davey, who took a liking to Ellis’s bowling last time and hit him for 24 in one over. If Eridge could get him cheaply, they would give themselves a real shout. The opening pair looked anything but openers and after a few swishes of the bat both were back in the hutch courtesy of some accurate Ellis bowling. Davey was in at 3 and played carefully and correctly to start with. Parsons operating from the other end was shown the respect his nagging line & length deserved. In the field there was an air of concentration and errors were kept to a minimum.

Ellis claimed his third wicket with a full slower ball and Henson joined Davey. Both were skilful enough to find the gaps in the field and keep the scoreboard moving. Forbes turned to his first change bowlers, Hancock and Severn. Almost immediately Severn made the breakthrough trapping Henson leg before wicket. At the other end Hancock was seeing his bowling fly through the unguarded midwicket with regularity, and no sooner had he moved the man at mid on to plug the gap than Davey played a textbook on drive. Careful observers may have noticed steam coming out of Hancock’s ears by now but no one can have missed the four-letter word tirade when the unfortunate Parsons failed to take a looping opportunity at square leg.

Severn claimed another wicket before Hancock got his revenge, taking Davey’s leg stump as he stepped across his wicket attempting another trick shot. Eridge now needed only 3 more wickets with 50 runs still required but level-headed batting from the middle order knowing they had plenty of overs to play with, was enough for the home team. In a final roll of the dice, Jake Pooley and Ed Harris turned their arms over, the latter picking up a wicket when “This time, Geoff” Parsons held on to one but it was not quite enough. The champagne’s on ice till next year.

Eridge Cricket Club

Staplehurst Cricket & Tennis Club

Match details

Match date

Start time

Location