Age is beginning to take its toll on a number of senior Stragglers. It was widely postulated that montane erosion is more eye-catchingly swift than the Boulanger on the boundary or Snapper fielding off his toes; and the Chairman's bowling now has such lack of pace as...
Having failed to post a decent score after winning the toss (a modest 175), and being dismissed for the second game in succession, disaster and defeat were staring the Stragglers firmly in the eye, when Wickham & Stodmarsh reached an effortless 60 without loss in the...
A very young side of future Stragglers (the average age of the top nine a mere 15, somewhat increased by numbers 10 and 11) ran into an older and stronger Thanet U17 side, and wilted somewhat in the Broadstairs sun. Max Linington and Charlie Sinclair, batting together...
Bishopsbourne was often a happy hunting ground for Toby Cox, with frequent rapid-fire plundering of wilting attacks; his 2009 innings included 7 sixes in an innings of 63 from not many balls faced. In a 2011 team bristling with youthful talent, it took an old stager,...
The long unbeaten run came to a very tenses end at Provender, with a last ball defeat in a tightly fought and high quality game. Having put in a very good shout for the 2011 champagne moment at Belmont with his immaculate umpiring, Toby the Trigger was under pressure...
Picture the scene, feel the tension - scores tied, one run to win, penultimate over, and the Boulanger at the wicket facing his first ball. Carelessly he allows the ball to strike his pads, and before you can blink, Toby 'The Trigger' Snape has him on his way. The...
A confident and thrusting BaBes side were eventually undone by failing to take the catches that mattered. A swift start was controlled by Paddy Butler, who induced a trio of lofted shots to deep mid-on; all three were safely gathered by Charlie Sinclair. Nigel was the...
With the bowling attack put to the Turkish sword on another wonderful track at Belmont (not helped by a resumption of normal, butter fingered service in the field), Straggler batsmen ultimately withstood a combination of heavy artillery, artifice and desertion in the...
The Night Watchman tends not to follow the Gooch school of abstemious preparation for an important game, and, having enjoyed a small glass or two the evening before, arrived at Belmont for the fifth over. Bending to tie his laces in the covers, his shades just about...
Looking pretty loose from the long walk at the end of each over from fine leg to mid off and back, the Boulanger forced himself into contention as first change bowler at Wellesley House. Not quite so loose it turned out, as his first ball pitched very close to the...