Crispy Duck

2005

POOR START TO THE SEASON FOR HEATH

Blackheath U/16's lost to Bexley A U/16's by 45 runs

Blackheath 82
Bexley A 127-7

I'm back! After being absent for a year due to not getting the scorebook, I realised it was time to start reporting once again! What more can you ask for? First game of the season against the defending champions, and the best team in the league, away from home. Add to that a slightly under strength Heath. What a way to kick things off! Skipper Joe Pearce won the toss and put Bexley in, and things started well with an early wicket when Geoff Williams bowled Bexley skipper George Wells for 12. Another wicket then fell with the score on 39 as Titch Huwa took his first of 2, a good catch from youngster Luke Dobson who was called in at the last minute. That quickly became 39-3 as I (Crispy) took my first wicket of the season, trapping Jack Bell lbw for 20. The boys started to become increasingly confident that a famous win could be on the cards. Our confidence grew even more when Bexley lost another 2 wickets to be left on 58-5, Titch grabbing his second wicket and Dobson getting his first of the game. Then stepped in former Blackheath colt Anwar Khan and after being called Judas throughout the innings by Heath, he blasted his way to 48 before being given out lbw to Williams. This had moved the score to 120-6, which was a shame considering the way they started. I picked up my second wicket before Bexley finished on 127-7, leaving Heath a daunting target of 128 to win.

Being 2-2 within the first 2 overs doesn't resemble a good start to the innings. Both Titch and Jon Hepher went for ducks. That quickly became 21-3 when skipper Pearce was caught for 12. It was up to Charles Dorrance-King and 'Bentley' Williams to push the score up and maybe even give us a platform to win. They did a great job as they pushed us up to 66 before Charlie departed for 21, the first of a 5-wicket haul for Jack Bell. As I stepped out to the wicket, I knew Geoff and me had to stay there, maybe even till the end… that didn't last long! Williams became the second wicket for Bell and fifth for Bexley as he was caught for 27. I then quickly departed for 2 and the bottom order fell apart. The batting left a lot to be desired and we were all out for 82. But we took great heart from the fact that we bowled and fielded well and we gave the champions one hell of a game. We needed to pick things up with a win the following week against Hayes.

Man of the match: Geoff 'Bentley' Williams - great game with both bat and ball.

Bowling: Williams 4 - 1 - 14 - 2 Huwa 4 - 1 - 10 - 2 Crisp 4 - 0 - 19 - 2
Batting: Williams 27 Dorrance - King 21

POINTS THROWN AWAY

Blackheath U/16 lost to Hayes U/16's by 4 runs (20 Overs)

Blackheath 102-6
Hayes 106-7

After a good performance against Bexley, we were looking for our first win of the season. We had it in our grasp… and totally blew it! Hayes batted first and found themselves a man down second ball when Geoff Williams bowled Daniel Browne. They moved the score along to 32 before Mohammed Butt bowled Josh Elliot and he then took his second wicket, a catch from Williams dismissing Daniel Rees for 31 when the score had reached 50. I (Crispy) then came into the attack and took 2 quick wickets and Hayes found themselves 59-5. I then grabbed my third wicket when Will Howlett held onto a catch and Hayes were 80-6. Captain Joe Pearce then brought himself into the attack when Hayes were on the attack and bowled Niall Higgins and Hayes ended up on a decent score of 106-7, but we knew this was a score we could chase.

And my how the chase went well! Until we lost our first wicket. After a patient first few overs from openers Titch Huwa and Henry Troy, they then decided to go on the attack. Titch reached his 50 but then fell to an amazing one-handed catch on the boundary. The wicket fell with the score on 78, another 29 runs needed off 7 overs with 9 wickets in hand. It quickly became 82-2 when skipper Pearce was out for 1.
Troy and Charles Dorrance-King moved the score along to 95 before Troy was caught for 26. 11 runs to win, 7 wickets in hand, 3 overs to do it in. It became 99-5 when Williams was caught for 1 and I was run out for the same score. We still weren't worried, we were when Dorrance-King was caught and bowled for 13. We needed 4 runs with 3 balls to go and Danny Bromley played and missed at all 3 of them. The defeat was our own fault and we needed to make up for it the next week.

Man of the Match: Titch Huwa - Great performance with the bat for 52.

Bowling: Crisp 4 - 1 - 14 - 3 Butt 4 - 0 - 16 - 2
Batting: Huwa 52 Troy 26

HEATH PICK UP FIRST WIN IN THRILLER

Blackheath U/16's beat BOCA U/16's by 6 wickets (20 Overs)

Blackheath 118-4
BOCA 117-5

FINALLY!!! We picked up our first victory of the season with a good performance against BOCA. We bowled first and took an early wicket when Mohammed Butt bowled the opener for 7 with the score on 15. The score quickly became 17-2 when I (Crispy) took a wicket with my first ball. I then got my second with a caught and bowled to leave them struggling at 27-3. Khan and Podiappuhamy then put on an 84 run partnership before the latter was bowled by Geoff Williams for 30. Khan was then run out for a well-played 52 and BOCA ended up with a good score of 117-5.

We opened the batting with Titch Huwa and debutant Freddie Barras. They put on a 70-odd partnership until Barras retired because of illness caused by the sun. The first proper wicket fell on 102 when captain Pearce was bowled for 17, and the next ball Henry Troy fell to leave us 102-2. Surely a repeat of the week before was not on the cards! 2 more wickets fell when Huwa went for 28 and Charles Dorrance King then went next ball. We were 111-4 needing 7 off the last 3 balls, when I stepped to the wicket. I grabbed a single with the first ball, and that left 'Bentley' Williams needing 6 off 2, and how he did it! Dancing down the wicket and smashing the ball away for 4 with the first ball got me a little excited, and got me a telling off from Swad for inappropriate language, but the tension and frustration of the week before was being let out, and it certainly was after the final ball. Geoff smacked it high into the air and there were 3 BOCA players around it. As I came back for the second run, I could see the fielder putting just one hand up to it, and I then jumped in delight over the crease when the ball dropped to the floor. It was some way to pick up our first win of the season!

Man of the Match: Freddie Barras - Batted superbly, especially in the state he was.

Bowling: Crisp 4 - 1 - 21 - 2
Batting: Barras 36* Huwa 28

MORE POINTS THROWN AWAY

Blackheath U/16's lost to Catford Wanderers U/16's by 1 run (20 Overs)

Blackheath 79
Catford Wanderers 80-7

How many more times are we going to do this! Bowling first on a dodgy wicket, we took advantage and restricted Catford Wanderers to 80-7 from 20 overs. 'Bentley' Williams got things running with a wicket first ball of the match. It quickly became 6-2 when Williams dismissed Matthew Way for 2. 'Bentley' was on a roll when he got his third wicket, bowling Lee Hall for 12. Will Howlett then came into the attack and bowled Joe Fuller for 23. I (Crispy) came into the attack and took a wicket with my second ball, lbw. Howlett then took his second wicket, bowling Ashley Forde for 0. I then took my second wicket and Heath's final wicket, when Charles Dorrance-King caught Remi Chea for 7. Credit must go to 11 year-old Allie Ewart who stayed at the crease for the final 10 overs, and despite only getting 9 runs, they were very important. Our run chase did not start well at all, with Alex Senn, Ticha Huwa, Freddie Barras and Henry Troy all falling for scores below 6 and all falling to the Gordon brothers, Dino and Chavaz. Captain Joe Pearce and 'Bentley' Williams looked as if they could take us to victory until they fell for 14 and 12 respectively. Charles Dorrance-King, myself and Gabriel Morrison all departed cheaply and that left Will Howlett and Muhammed Butt needing 9 to win off the last over. They were so close but Howlett was run out on the last ball and we finished 1 run short. It is so frustrating when we do a great job in the field only to throw it away with the bat. It is time to turn things around.

Man of the Match: Geoffrey Williams - top performance with the ball.

Bowling: Williams 4 - 1 - 10 - 3 Howlett 4 - 0 - 16 - 2 Crisp 4 - 1 - 8 - 2

THINGS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE

Blackheath U/16's lost to Old Elthamians Granby U/16's by 10 wickets

Blackheath 46
Old Elthamians Granby 48-0

Less said about this one, the better! Dismal, appalling, ugly cricket! Skipper Joe Pearce won the toss and for the first time this season, we batted first, that didn't work! To be fair to us, it doesn't help when one of your players (Titch) texts you 20 minutes before you leave for the ground saying he cant play and another player (Muhammed) decides to turn up once we had already left for the ground! We had to bring in 13 year-old Joe Kerridge, who brought shame to all of us with the bat. Overall, out of the 10 men who batted, there were 6 ducks! Kerridge was the only man to reach double figures, and he was the final man to go for 15. Him and last man Jonny Hepher put on the highest partnership of the innings! The run chase for Granby lasted about 30 minutes, the number 1 batsmen smashed his way to 44, leaving his partner on 2 not out. Next week, we face HSBC away, one of the best teams in the league! Dear God save us!

Man of the Match: Joe Kerridge - Only one man or should I say boy who deserved it.

THANK GOD IT WAS ABANDONED

Not much to say bout this one, we played 4 overs and found ourselves 5-3. Then luckily, the heavens opened and the game was called off and the points were shared. HSBC weren't too pleased, but we were!

2004

DROPPED CATCHES LOSE MATCHES

Blackheath U/15's lost to Catford Wanderers U/15's by 90 runs

Blackheath 78 Catford Wanderers 168 - 4

Hello everybody, sorry it's so late but I have been very busy (who hasn't been ?? ed) .Sunday 13th July, a big day for the Heath as a win at Catford Wanderers would really put pressure on leaders Old Colfeians in Division 2 of the North Kent Junior League. Wanderers batted first and a steady opening bowling spell from Titch and Bentley restricted them to 20 runs from their first 6 overs. Shakeeb and me (Crispy) were then brought and the score had rose to just over 50 when a run out from me in my third over occurred and their first wicket had fallen. Before that wicket though a catch was dropped by Elliot Pugh and there were more drops to come from Heath. The next wicket fell after a dropped catch from.... ME! That didn't feel too good, I tell you. The wicket came from the unlikely source of Jonathan Hepher, someone with a lot of talent but who I have never mentioned. Well, I say a lot of talent, he dropped a catch next over. With 20 overs gone, Wanderers were 136 - 2, thanks to 5 more dropped catches and a comedy of errors which led to Mohamed Butt falling over the boundary, getting injured and having to go off the field, so skipper Joe Pearce decided to bring back the opening bowlers for their last over. I came back in the 22nd over and bowled 2 yorkers (one knocking out the middle stump) and both star batsmen were gone. After the 24 overs, Wanderers were 168 - 4 and we were left with a daunting task of 169 to win. If catches were taken, (is there something in the constution about using if and but as excuses - ed) it would have been much easier. Shakeeb and Elliot opened the batting and when Elliot was out for a duck in the 2nd over, it didn't look promising for us. Shakeeb then went for 6 and Titch went for 2. After Joe and Bentley were out for 1 and 0 and respectively, it was left to Charlie Dorrance - King and me to try and sort it out, well..... I got a streaky 4 overthrows before I was bowled for 5 and the tail had begun. Danny Bromley went for a duck but Terry Jones offered stiff resistance with Charlie until after fine batting, Charlie was caught going for a reverse sweep for 32. Jones then went and I had to go back out on the wicket as a runner for Mohamed. Mo played some clever shots as he got 9 before he was caught and we had been bowled out for 78 and our title hopes were over, still a chance for 2nd if we win next Sunday against Chislehurst and West Kent. You've heard of the saying 'Catches Win Matches', well there's a new one, 'Dropped Catches Lose Matches' Batting: Charles Dorrance - King 32 Bowling: Paul Crisp 4 - 0 - 14 - 2 Jonathan Hepher 4 - 0 - 23 - 1

CRISPY FINAL GAME THRILLER

Blackheath U/15's beat Chislehurst And West Kent U/15's by 3 runs

Blackheath 109 - 8 Chislehurst And West Kent 106

The Rectory Field was the setting for the final game of the season for Heath against 2nd place Chislehurst And West Kent and it was a 'cracker' as Frank Carson would say. Skipper Joe Pearce won the toss and elected to bat on a field with much moisture after the downpour the night before. Shakeeb and Elliot opened the batting and after the 'Shak Attack' was bowled early on and Titch was out for 2, we were 30 - 2 after 6 overs. Fine batting from Elliot and Pearce took us to 60 from 11 and we were looking good until they both went in the space of 2 overs. That brought Bentley and debutant Omar Iqbal to the wicket. Bentley was caught for 11 and I (Crispy) was in. We were 81 - 5 from 14 overs and in a good position. Iqbal was playing splendid shots around the ground and the 6th wicket fell at 104 when Omar was run out for 29. I was on 10 not out when Terry came to the wicket and first ball he was stumped and two balls later Danny was bowled. 2 more runs from me in my last over and I finished on 12 not out (my HIGHEST ever score for Heath.WOOHOO!) The Heath ended up on 109 - 8 and our fielding had to be superb. Bentley and Shak opened the bowling and they had waltzed to 50 after 9 overs until I came on. My 2nd ball took out the off the leg stump and in my 3rd over I bowled the new batsman, they were now 53 - 2 after 13 overs and we were back in the match. Jonny Hepher then took 2 important wickets including their star batsmen for 42 and an unbelievable catch from Hepher took them to 87 - 5. We only needed 3 wickets because of Chislehurst having just 9 players. Bentley came back and got their other star batsman for 30 lbw and with one over left, they needed 4 runs and we needed 2 wickets, it was down to Elliot's bowling. First ball and a wicket, bowled, a run then came off the next ball and 3 runs were needed off the last ball. The pavilion was full of Heath supporters including the adult Sunday 2nd XI and Elliot's ball was bowled. The batsman hit it and they ran, I ran behind the non - striker's wicket and Elliot picked up and threw to me. I knocked off the bails and victory was ours. An amazing end to the season and hopefully 2nd place will be ours.

I hope you have enjoyed my section over the year and I will be back next year bigger and better. UP THE U/15'S.....TALLY HO.....CRISPY

BENTLEY BOY CANT SAVE HEATH

Blackheath U/15 lost to Old Colfieans U/15 by 42 runs

Blackheath 128-5, Old Colfieans 170-8

A sunny Sunday morning at the Old Colfieans' ground and the stage was set for a nail biting clash between 2nd place Colfieans and 3rd place Heath in Division 2 of the North Kent Junior League. Old Colfieans captain Jack Merrill won the toss and elected to bat so it was up to 'Titch' Huwa and 'Bentley' Geoff Williams to give the Heath a good start, but it didn't start too well for us with 27 runs on the board off the first 6 overs and no wickets taken. A change was needed by captain Joe Pearce and he brought on Mohamed Butt and me. Butt's 1st over brought 8 runs to Colfe's score before some hope was restored in my 1st over. The first ball I bowled was caught by Titch and next ball Bentley made a top class run-out worthy of being in the Jonty Rhodes masterclass and at the end of the over Colfe's were 38-2 and the Heath had woken up. The next 4 overs were hit for 40 runs and when another bowling change was made, Colfe's were 78-2 off of just 12 overs. Colfeians were on 149 with four overs left thanks to a century stand still with 8 wickets in tact and were looking at scoring 200 odd until a scintillating and extraordinary final sixth of the innings occurred. The 21st over and last over for Shakeeb (Akhtar) Ahmed brought about the 3rd wicket when Merrill was unbelievably caught by Elliot Pugh (more to come about him in a minute) and Colfe's were 155-3. Pugh then bowled an over and bowled M.Ray for 49 and they were 160-4 with 2 overs left, now brace yourself for a bit of Bentley magic. Bentley's first 2 balls were hit for 3 runs until Mckiernan skied one down Pugh's throat and they were 163-5. Next ball and a snick off of the bat of Kennedy into the hands of wickie Charles Dorrance - King (we never knew he could catch) and they were 163-6. Surely it couldnt happen, a hat-trick? WELL DONE BENTLEY! The next ball was skied in between Titch and Pugh and no one called, both men ran clattered in to each other but amazingly Pugh managed to catch it and the first hat-trick in Blackheath colt history had been completed.

He was later presented with the match ball - But now back to the game and Colfe's were 163-7. Another run-out came in Titch's final over and Colfe's finished on 170-8. Pugh and Shakeeb opened the batting and disaster struck when Shakeeb was caught behind for 8 with the score on 14. Pugh and Titch steadily pushed the score along to 68 until Pugh skied to Merrill for 26 and the game was beginning to move away from us. With only 10 overs left, we needed another 101 to win. 43 more runs were added until Titch was caught behind for 32 and when next ball Dorrance - King was bowled, with 2 overs left we were on 118-4 needing another 7 runs for full batting points. As I was batting at 7, I wasn't dreaming of putting my pads on when Charles went in but I was in a rush to get them on in time, just in time to see Bentley get bowled out for 7 and I was in for the last over and we needed another 3 runs for full batting points. Captain Pearce hit the 3 runs and I faced 3 balls (one which I classily(only joking)played for 3). The last ball brought us a single and we finished on 128-5, not bad considering the way we started. We are still in the hunt for the title with 2 games to go. I'll be back on Sunday with the report as we take on Catford Wanderers away. I will finish with the famous words of Gafa (rephrased) ...... UP THE U/15'S...TALLY HO...CRISPY

Bowling Williams 4-0-8-3 : Batting J Pearce 38* T Huwa 32 E Pugh 26

Blackheath U15 beat Sidcup U15 by 116 runs [League]

Blackheath U15 137-3 in 24 overs, Sidcup 21 all out

Not of much importance, but the under 15's had a comprehensive victory on Sunday morning at the Rectory Field against Sidcup which should move them up to 2nd the North Kent Junior League. Sidcup won the toss and put us into bat. Top batting from Shakeeb(Akhtar)Ahmed and 'Titch'Huwa took us to 137-3 from 24 overs: Shakeeb Ahmed 67 Joe Pearce(capt)9 Titch Huwa 45 Elliot Pugh 7 not out Geoff Williams 0 not out.

Sidcup (we thought) were a good batting side until we started bowling with the opening pair of Geoffrey'Bentley'Williams and me Paul'Crispy'Crisp.'Bentley' took 2 wickets in the first over and a run out in my first over restricted them to 3-3 from 2 overs. Williams then took another wicket and I finally got one (HOORAY!) in my last over. By the time me and Geoff had finished our overs Sidcup were left at 8-5 from 8 overs needing another 130 to win. In came star batting pair Shakeeb(Akhtar)Ahmed and 'Titch'to wrap it up. (Akhtar) took 2 wickets in his only over and 'Titch' 1 in his. It was left to our resident fairy boy Joshua O'Donnell to take the final 2 wickets in his only over. Sidcup ended 21 all out from 11.4 overs and we won by 116 runs. Watch out 1st X1, the young guns are coming for your places in the team! The League title's coming our way! Well... not just yet! Geoff Williams 4-1-7-3 Paul Crisp 4-1-6-1 Shakeeb Ahmed 1-0-2-2 Titch Huwa 1-0-3-1 Joshua O'Donnell 0.4-0-2-2.

Please adults, I want to take over Gafa's job (only joking Gafa).

Yours sincerely, Paul Crisp 'Crispy'