.
Anyone for Cricket ............ Officers' V's Sergeants' Mess
   (plus Breakfast with the General, below)
 
Thursday 24th July 2008

This afternoon the Sergeants’ Mess threw the gauntlet down to the Officers’ Mess and challenged them to Cricket!

Sounding very elaborate the game was in fact booked in the diary many months ago, and Sgt ‘Wally’ Walton (the Sgts Mess Team Captain) spent many hours planning, grooming and shaping the best group of men that could take on this challenge.

The event was being held outside barracks on the road to Ascot, where we are very fortunate to have a football field and cricket pitch belonging to the MOD, the football pitch was last seen last year when the Quartermaster broke his foot at the Sgts Vs Offrs Football Event. The hosts of the event were the Sergeants’ Mess and Ben Price, Wally, Dollhead and the rest of the team did an excellent job in transforming a cricket field into a Sergeant’s Mess Annex, complete with Garden furniture, leather chairs and 12 be 12’s!


The Sergeants' Mess Team in bat first, trying not to let the 'tea-cosy' put them off too much!

The first ball down the range (come on, I’m not a cricket man!) was due about 1pm. I arrived on scene at about a quarter to one to be greeted with the fine sight of the Sergeants’ Mess Team dressed all in white (yeah I know, cricket colours) and looking fine tuned in their practising drills. As soon as someone had spied me they asked for a team photo which I gladly obliged. After the photo I walked over to the Officers camp (the next garden table along) and asked if they also wanted a team photo. ‘We’ll get one after we’ve won’ was quickly translated into ‘not yet, we haven’t got all our team players so having a photo will bring too much attention to this fact!’.


(left) The Regimental Sergeant Major relaxing before taking up post in the field, and (right) the teams are supported from the sidelines in style.

Anyway, a man down (which was later filled by the Commanding Officer), the Officers were to field first with the Sgts Mess team laying down the challenge. It quickly became apparent after a couple of bowls and a the first Sgt out that this wasn’t a game of ‘Cabbage Rugby’ and for the first time in many years, the Officers looked like they had a plan, and somewhat skill in their team! There was to be only one innings (turn, for each team to bat and ball for those that don’t have a clue, like me) and each inning lasted for 36 overs (6 bowls in an over) or unless all men were bowled, struck or caught out. Now, not knowing cricket but not being too bad at maths I quickly assessed that this was a maximum of 216 bowls per side, with an average bowl time of about a minute as they have to keep rubbing the ball against their testicles (strange!) so that’s over 3½ hours per side – 7hrs in total ………………. but no worries, I took my eye off the game for a few seconds whilst working these figures out with the old grey matter upstairs and another Sergeant was out!


(Left) LSgt Gill just about to be bowled out and (right) the Sgts Mess Captain, Sgt 'Wally' Walton in full swing to return the ball.

The Sergeants Team did very well with a decent score of 100 all out. Most memorable of the players was Sgt ‘Mac’ Mcgowan who had spent more time walking up to the crease than in it, LSgt Gill who did a truly outstanding job racking up points for the lads and a truly despicable individual from the Officers Team who tried to put off the Sergeants by wearing a tea-cosy on his head!

It was now the turn of the Officers to take up the batting and the Sergeants took up strategic positions as briefed by Wally the team captain. Mac Mcgowan took up the position of wicket keeper but voiced that he’d have to change if the balls came too hard. The Commanding Officer was one of the first batters for the Officers with Wally and the Sgt Will ‘the demon bowler’ Wilson throwing balls down the range at over 80 mile an hour. The half (lets’ keep it simple) started off slow – but good, with no Officers being able to make contact with the ball, thus not being able to get in any runs and therefore not getting any points (I’m getting the hang of this!). After a couple of overs the Officers started to get their eyes in and started to swing away. Points were starting to get racked up on the score board and the Sergeants were re-positioned dependant on who was batting by Wally to keep maximum coverage of the field. Unfortunately, most of the Officers didn’t get their turn to bat as the game was stopped when the Officers hit a 4 on 98 bringing their score to 102 (good game, what).


(left) LSgt Gill bowls with all his might, and (right) the Commanding Officer swings leaving the the ball heading close to the stumps.

The most memorable events from the Second half were LSgt Cass ‘Iron Fingers’ Clay who moved like Spiderman to perform an outstanding catch and DSgt ‘Andy’ Jones heckling from the cheap seats (as all good mess members should) and winding some of the Officers up with the constant calls of ‘Who are yer’ and ‘That was that wide, it nearly hit the Copper Horse!’.

After a few a small thank you and presentations by the ‘Sarnt Major with a trophy of lager going to the Sergeants and Champagne to the Officers everyone had a very civilised team photo. The weather was excellent (my neck reflects that) and the day was fabulous. It was a true reflection on the ethics of those that made time in the Battalions busy schedule leading up to leave to take part or support the match.


(left) LSgt 'Cass' Clay celebrates after an amazing catch, and (right) end of game and hand shakes all around.

A note of thanks must go to the Catering Department who provided Officer sandwiches (you know the ones when the filler is on top and not between), scones with jam & clotted cream and Strawberries for the half time break. All this and Ben (the Mess Manager) and Doll Head (Mess Barman) provided refreshments from the Sgts Mess Bar Tent. A final thank you must go to the scorers and two umpires of the game who did an outstanding job and volunteered at very short notice.

Oh and No, we didn’t have a streaker although I’m sure if there wasn’t children present CSgt Dinger ‘Champion Pace Sticker’ Bell would have gladly obliged!

A few images from the event are below.  More images (hundreds) will be uploaded from this event next week!


(above) the outstanding food is served at the mid-interval break.


(left) Scones and Strawberries, and (right) the final score - Sgts 100, Offrs 102 (not out).


Small presenatations (left) Wally receives the cup of lager, and (right) the one of Champagne goes to the Officers.

           
       The 2008 Sergeants' V's Officers Cricket Team. 
 

back to top

©Website and Customised Images copyright, designed and maintained by A.J Brady