The 2012 season was blighted by the weather. The wettest April, June, second quarter and summer on record had the inevitable result. Undefeated into July, as a result of a failure to play many games, the Stragglers then ran rampant through the rest of the season, losing only one match in 12, picking up a first victory at Provender, and recording huge wins at Bishopsbourne and Goodnestone. While there were only two centurions, there was a plethora of half centuries, and a fair indication of batting success is the fact that the Chairman only padded up once all season. Perhaps the weather assisted the bowlers as Straggler attacks routinely ran through strong sides, and most of the draws saw the bowling attack on top. For the first time for many years four bowlers averaged under 20. Fielding and catching seems to go from strength to strength, and the depth of keeping talent continues to extend – it won’t belong before we can field an XI of specialist keepers.

Straggler Milestones and Other Stats

2012 has generated the usual flurry of stats. The three mammoth totals piled on against Borden (271 for 4), Wickham & Stodmarsh (288 for 7) and Tenterden (284 for 9) in successive weeks in August are the fifth, third and fourth highest Straggler totals on record. The batting strength was such that an average of 206 runs per game were scored from Straggler bats in 2012, the highest ever.

Jonathan Neame becomes the 4th Straggler to reach 4,000 career runs (after Nigel, Wyndham and his father), and Theo Allport is the 39th to pass 1,000 on his way to topping the averages.

The 10 wicket victory at Bishopsbourne was the second highest chase without loss. The 194 run victory a fortnight later against Wickham & Stodmarsh was the second highest total batting first.

The Chairman became only the sixth Straggler bowler to have trundled in for 1,000 overs.

We also have only the second incidence of a father and son (Simon and Theo Allport) combination winning the batting and bowling, the first being Wyndham and Rodney Fletcher in 1956.

Champagne Moment

As ever there are a number of contenders for the Champagne moment (or moments) of 2012, Robby George’s wonderful running throw at Goodnestone, Toby’s diving one handed catch in the same game, any number of other exceptional catches, Nigel scoring his age at Tenterden, Jonathan’s stunning catch at Otterden, and Benny Smallwood undefeated for 2 consecutive seasons.

The award for the 2012 Champagne Moment is awarded, for a second season in succession, to Toby Snape for his one handed diving catch at Goodnestone, part of a high quality fielding display