Tour Report
12th – 19th April 2006 saw the 2nd of the clubs bi
annual tours to Malta. 4 games would take place during the 7 days we
were on the island. We would once again be playing the home team, Marsa
CC, in a 3 game series, whilst our other opponents would be Milan CC.
I’m sure all our batsmen were looking forward greatly to batting on the
matting surface, the matting is laid on concrete NOT grass, whilst most
of the bowlers probably felt they were in for a long week. Staying once
again at the Metropole hotel in Sliema, 19 cricketers and an entourage
of 23 were looking forward to another special week of cricket.
Having arrived in the early hours of Thursday morning the teams 1st game
took place later that day. Batting 1st against Marsa CC Brooklands
totalled 223 for 4 in its 40 overs. Chris Hart (38) and Antony Platt
(58) got the tour off to a flying start adding 65 for the 1st wicket,
Elliot Woodage (35) then joined Antony to add another 81. Tom Holloway
scored 39* and John Pearson chipped in with 18. Previous experience
suggested that this was just about a par score and we would have to bowl
and field well to win. Marsa chased hard as Brooklands struggled to cope
with the late night and the heat. Our bowling and fielding was below its
usual standard and going into the last 10 overs Marsa needed 67 to win
with 8 wickets in hand and it looked for all the world that we would
lose our unbeaten record overseas. However Matty Guy (1/38) and Tom
Mitchell (3/56) both bowled inspired 2nd spells to bowl us back into the
game. That we crept home by 7 runs was a credit to the ‘must not lose’
mentality of this group of players. Rob Holloway’s 2/35 earlier in the
game had kept us in it before our great comeback.
Game 2 the following day saw us taking on Milan CC in another 40 overs
per side contest. We struggled with the bat this time managing just 190
for 9 in our allotted overs. This was well below par on the matting
surface used as a wicket. Chris Hart again batted well for his 40 but
the only other contribution of note came from Tom Holloway with 53*.
Lots of other boys got starts but didn’t capitalise on the conditions.
Milan’s reply centred on Ramesh’s 78. The next highest score was 13 but
whilst Ramesh was still batting Milan still had a chance. Ramesh was
finally 8th out with the score on 135 and Milan were finally all out for
142. Mike Roberts was the pick of the bowlers with 3/31, Tom Mitchell
again picked up 2/29 whilst Chris Hart bowled 5 overs for 6 runs and
picked up the valuable wicket of Ramesh. A win then by 48 runs.
Game 3 on Saturday saw us playing Marsa CC again. This time in a 50
overs per side. Marsa decided on this occasion to bat 1st and were
eventually all out for 209 in the 48th over. A good bowling performance
was topped and tailed by Matty Guy 3/43 and Rob Holloway 3/49 with
support from A J, Mike Roberts and Dan Halkon. A sensible batting
performance should see us home. We lost Rob Wood (5) early but then
began grinding out our reply. Dan Halkon (21) and Elliot (60*) added 37
before Dan was surprisingly bowled. Rob Holloway (32) then added a
further 59 with Elliot before he departed. So at Rob’s departure we were
106/3 with 26 overs to bat. Elliot was joined at the crease by John
Pearson and the game was poised, a couple more quick wickets and we’d be
struggling but a good partnership would get us close. We got the latter.
Elliot and JP (67*) were still there at the end as the runs were knocked
off with 6 overs to spare. This was a substantial partnership’s by 2
lads on there first Malta tour who were both playing in lower sides than
some of the tourists around them. Elliot’s 60* occupied 44 overs but
provided the stability around which we could build. JP’s 67* was scored
off just 59 balls and provided the impetus that the innings needed.
A couple of days off after 3 hard days of cricket then saw us heading
for the beach at Golden Bay on Sunday whilst a day long cruise around
the island and a barbecue and Rob and Tom’s grandparents filled Monday
up very nicely.
Game 4 on Tuesday saw us chasing another unbeaten overseas tour. Word
was the ‘fastest bowler on the island’ was playing and that Marsa would
be a bit stronger for this 50 overs per side game. Andy Naudi is known
as the ‘Malta express’ his 10 overs saw him take 1/61! Brooklands
amassed a huge 317/5 in its 50 overs. Our highest ever score on tour.
This was built around contributions from Rob Holloway (35), Matty Guy
(28) and A J Hart (71). The icing on the cake though was Dan Halkon’s
151*. Scored in 131 minutes off just 109 balls Dan flayed the Marsa
attack to all corners in a top quality exhibition of attacking batting
and his partnership of 165 with A J took the game away from our
opponents. Marsa gave valiant chase, but after good opening spells from
Tom Mitchell (1/35) and Chris Hart (2/29), ably supported by Tom
Holloway (1/20) and Matty Guy (2/36) they were considerably behind the
rate. The ‘Malta express’ managed 46 with the bat to keep Marsa alive
but eventually they were bowled out with 13 overs to spare. Marsa then
had made 178 but had been beaten by 139 runs. A J also managed 1/12 and
Dan Halkon ended a great day by taking 2/11.
So another tour came to a close without losing a game. 42 people had a
fantastic time and we were blessed with beautiful weather. Massive
thanks from me have to go to the lads for all the memorable moments both
cricketing and otherwise. They again represented there club and the game
of cricket superbly. To my fellow coaches, Roy Higginbottom, Mike
Holloway, Jim Harper, Mike Woodage, Dave Garnett and Jeff Marland many
thanks for your support whilst on tour and with the organisation before
we left. To Frederic and Mary Rose Fenech; thanks once again for hosting
our ‘gang’ for a barbecue at there beautiful home. To Jeanette Staley
and the fundraising committee thanks for the time and effort and well
done. We raised much more this time than last. Finally to the friends,
families and associates who made up the party I hope you all had a
smashing time.
Pete Staley
Summary of Results
Game 1 v Marsa CC, played at Marsa Sports Club on
Thursday 13/04/06
Brooklands 223 for 4 in 40 overs BEAT Marsa 216 for 7 in
40 overs by 7 runs.
Game 2 v Milan CC, played at Marsa Sports Club on Friday 14/04/06
Brooklands 190 for 9 in 40 overs BEAT Milan 142allout in
36.1 overs by 48 runs.
Game 3 v Milan CC, played at Marsa Sports Club on Saturday 15/04/06
Brooklands 210 for 3 in 43.5 overs BEAT Marsa 209allout
in 47.2 overs by 7 wckts.
Game 4 v Marsa CC, Played at Marsa Sports Club on Tuesday 18/04/06
Brooklands 317 for 5 in 50 overs BEAT Marsa 178 allout
in 37.1 overs by 139 runs.
