The annual President’s Day Match is always a hotly anticipated affair not just for the cricket but for the food and friendship that play an equal part in a wonderful day.

In an effort to halt the run of loses to the juggernauts of recent President’s sides, NCC Captain Bob Samways devised a cunning strategy, the first part of which was to choose from the ranks of Nutters and pick the best team possible. The assembled side was so strong they could have taken on an intergalactic warlord or two had Nick Sherliker’s President’s XI mercenaries not shown up.

Second in his cunning plan was a surprise to everyone, the Skipper is a wily devil and more devious than is at first apparent, drawing on his years of cricketing experience and in depth knowledge of Nutters fondness for lunch, he decided to turn the tables on custom. Tradition usually dictates that the Presidents side bat first, however, this year he suggested a coin toss.

Mr Sherliker, slightly taken aback agreed, then lost the toss - I won’t say the Skip looked pleased with himself but there were a few cats going without cream at that moment - he had assessed the pitch and prevailing weather and with a plan coming together he gave the order to the Nutters to “pad up”.

Such a surprise was it to be batting first that half the usual opening duo was still on its way, but we had strength to spare and Raggy Singh joined Jonny Willis to get the game under way. It was hot and the pitch rock hard producing some unreadable and unbatable bounce, first to go was Jonny bowled by Will Rossiter for 4, the Captain joined Raggy in the middle but it wasn’t long before Raggy hitting out was impressively caught by Naveed off Stuart Balfour’s bowling for 11.

Was the Skip’s plan unravelling? Not if he had anything to do with it, it wasn’t! Joined by seasoned campaigner Graham ‘Chippy’ Prior and still smarting from the President’s inflicted losing streak he and Chippy set about the bowling attack. Graham looked to be having the time of his life with three magnificent 4’s in his tally of 17 before being bowled by Will Morris.

Charlie South was next in but sadly didn’t stay long caught on the boundary from Will Morris’ bowling. This ushered in the missing half of the opening partnership, the ever stylish Guy Ekins, and acting as the lunchtime watchman scoring two sublime 4’s and a handful of singles brought Guy to 11 before getting being trapped LBW off Nick Sherliker just after lunch.

Lunch - what can we say about lunch? As ever the President Richard Walter and wife, Anne, plus the other ‘Richard and Anne’ (aka the Webbers), produced the sort of meal that would make Lord’s flush with envy, we thank you and I think many of us are still full. Humorous speeches and thanks followed and we headed back out.

The loss of Guy’s wicket soon after lunch was a blow, and thoughts wandered to whether this was the start of a Nuthurst collapse? Not yet anyway, Keith ‘Jonty’ Greenwood saw to that and with Bob, piled on the runs hitting numerous fours between them. However, the Captain’s tenure on the square came to an end, going for what would have been his fifty, he was caught on the boundary by Will Morris from a delivery by Rossiter Senior (making a return to the game after many years) for 47. What jug avoidance! A reckoning to be had later at the Black Horse no doubt…

Robbie Keen, so often of late the saviour of matches and deliverer of victories and looking every inch the epitome of a cricketer, joined Jonty at the crease and put on some more useful runs, notable amongst them was a magnificent six from young Keen. Jonty was eventually bowled out on 45 by one of the best cricketers we face, that man, Naveed. He also did for Mr Keen a few overs later, with Robbie edging to keeper Alex Birchmore.

Meanwhile Stuart Caterall had been plugging away with a couple of fours before Will Morris again took a get catch off the bowling of Bruce Hodgaiss and dismissed Stuart for 10.

This left the stage wide open for a couple of old stalwarts, Bob ‘TC’ Weston and Jeremy ‘Jez’ James to leave their mark. Bob not feeling the pressure of the eyes and hearts of his entire family that had come to witness the spectacle, smacked the leather off the ball twice with two of the mightiest of fours we have seen in a long time. Jez not to out done and relishing a turn with the bat got off another cracking four. However, time was against these warriors and with one eye on the clock and the other eye on the tea and cake, the Skip declared leaving TC and Jez not out on 11 and 5 respectively. The Home team finishing their innings leaving their opponents to chase a very respectable 207.

As if lunch wasn’t splendid enough, Eileen and Maya Le Rossignol and a host of helpers delivered a mountain of cakes and lashings of tea – thank you all.

It was now the turn of the President’s XI, how were they going to respond? We knew they were a capable side and so with trepidation the Nutters underwent a little catching practice – just to ease the cake down and soften the hands, you understand?

Opening the batting for the President’s XI was Will Rossiter, who’s superb near 150 innings last season still resonates and Captain, Nick Sherliker. Will was quick off the mark and soon got into his stride with fours to every corner before Raggy Singh bowled him on 22 with a ball that simply had a mind of its own and bamboozled everyone on the pitch! Nick Sherliker, however was not having such a good day and Raggy struck again trapping him LBW for nought.

The loss of Sherliker so early buoyed the home team, however, it brought Stuart Balfour to the crease, a big man with a mighty strike. Fours and a huge six soon followed and in all honesty Stuart’s innings saved the blushes of the Presidents team, putting on his side’s highest tally of 52 until managing to flick Jez’s ball between his legs and off his ankle to send his bails flying. Soon after, Kindle was bowled by Raggy for nought.
Just as the Nutters dared to hope, our nemesis Naveed The Destroyer came to the middle, facing Jez James’ canny bowling, they thrust and parried in a battle of titanic proportion. But just as it seemed that Naveed was getting the upper hand with a well struck four, Jeremy struck back and forced Naveed to punt one into the ever safe and welcoming hands of Jonny Willis. Naveed out for 6 – this WAS looking good.

Bruce Hodgaiss was next in, scoring three quick singles before the lightening quick reactions and arm of Robbie Keen combined with keeper Charlie South’s calm assurance to take advantage of a little confusion in the middle and Bruce was run out.

Will Morris took his turn, after inflicting much damage to the Nuthurst batters with his catching ability, his batting fortunately for us, let him down, bowled by Jeremy James for a duck.

Alex Birchmore, the President’s acrobatic wicket keeper was up next, but more about Alex later.

Olly Prior succumbed to Jeremy and was bowled for 1 and Rossiter Senior LBW by Raggy also for 1.

Last man in - the indomitable Chaffey, the ever-present smile on his face and easy going attitude belies a nerve of steel and will to win. The President’s side were reeling only 117 runs scored there was nothing left but to bat out for the draw.

So back to Alex ‘The Wall’ Birchmore, realising what was needed was nothing short of Herculean he conducted proceedings and Chaffey imperiously, counting the balls and securing the strike. Over after over the Nutters hurled everything they had at the two tail enders but nothing was shifting them. Chaffey stealing singles, with his cheeky grin relishing every moment, when they need to swap ends and neither running when it wasn’t advantageous to do so. Alex in full control with six overs to go and the home side being to feel the win slowly slipping away, grim determination on everyone’s face.

Alas, for the President’s side there was no fairytale ending – a ball from Robbie Keen, travelling so fast it left a smoke trail behind it glanced off Alex’s bat. With every breath held we could see it was travelling into the slip cordon. The man on the end of it was Stuart ‘The Cat’ Catterall. Now Stuart has a quality eye with lightening reflexes (he has done this before at the death) and the softest hands going but was he good enough this time?

Of course he was! Flying through the air like a Superman ‘in whites’, he held the match winning catch… after all, they do that you know! President’s XI all out for 144. Cheers and congratulation and a fair amount of relief rang out around the ground.

It was hard luck for Alex whose patience and resolve deserved more, but a fine innings of 18 is to be congratulated and also his partner for so long, Dave Chaffey, not out on 8.

So, to the winners go the spoils. The President handed over the John Head Memorial Plate to the Skip Samways followed by beer and barbeque with much good humour and resolve that the President’s team would get it back next year!

And after a day like this, who wouldn’t want to do it all again next year?

By Ben 'Bam Bam' Hewson