Oye Oye Oye

The WOOLVO Reunion was a resounding SUCCCESS!!! Can we all rise and salute a group of fine men who will go down in the annals of history as one of the greatest First XIII ever to traipse on the hallowed turf of Woolverstone Hall.

Led by Captain Marvel: Sir David McAdam Freud, whose simple plan - which shall remain a secret - worked a treat!

When the opposing team got a magnificent 174 runs, and remember last year they got 93 and we lost by 2 runs, you can only imagine the forlorn faces when we looked at the herculean task ahead and in all honesty save for a few, we all thought we were staring at a humiliating defeat that would render us pariahs on here.

We are talking about an opposing team replete with seasoned and well-oiled cricketers, some playing in esteemed leagues. And we, an ageing bunch of misfits, whose last grip of any bat, was this time last year and not very well either ......

But the epitome of the Woolvo spirit was in full effect and with every stretched sinew these noble men thrashed at every ball, and heroes were born. With every improbable outcome in their fronts they ran, dived, hobbled across the crease and at least 4 players utilising the very short call up of the comparatively youthful 59 year old - Master Baldwin - to do their running - what a gallant hero he is!!!

We started with Sirs Fry and McAdam-Freud, both living up to their top billing: Fry getting his required 25 with buccaneer ease and retiring, but sadly Freud getting out for 24. Then Master Benite entered the fray and duly got his 25 and kept to his promise of hitting any short balls for 4 or 6. He reached 25 runs, the agreed amount where he was forced to retire, but we had forgotten to tell him this and with visible irritation he was remonstrating with the bemused umpire: Lady Tanya Sadler. I had to briskly run onto the pitch and escort him off explaining the rules. He was very upset assuring me that he had just got his eye in and was angling for some more 6's, another damn hero. Then we had Newman come in give a respectable account, followed by Baldwin, who again gave a reasonable account. Then we had both Hackett and Latham admirably sticking to the plan with fine hits.

The score that seemed distant was getting to 80, then 95, then 121, even at this score we dared not believe. I started making a few jokes to lessen the tension and even evoked that God would pass up the offer of helping us, stating that this task was more cumbersome than turning water to wine. Then we put in the very confident MOM Sir Bower, and his receiving of this accolade was more due to the low expectation of his input than him scoring the highest or winning runs. After blithely boasting that he felt he could boost the run rate I threw him on only for him to confirm my initial fears with one paltry run after an over. Then just as I was bellowing for him to come off the damn pitch, (I used more choice words than this), he then with expert timing produced three consecutive hits: a 4, 6 and 4. WOW! We were in a concussive mixture of shock and elation, he eventually got a magnificent 24. Then we were at 132, then 140, then 145, could we dare????

Now I was becoming visibly agitated because some in the crease were not following clear instructions and not heeding to the carefully cultivated plan. Then it got to 149, 154, 159. The closer we got the nerves shot through the roof. We threw on Master Adeyemi who also rose to the required occasion and hit some useful runs. And then entered Sir Mark "Boycott"Termeer in at 165, and probably the last man you wanted in to get quick runs as witnessed last year when his snail like approach got us 2 runs in 5 overs, and we duly lost by 2 runs. Anyway he got out to a full toss getting just 1 run, and then I was in! We were at 166. I hit 3 balls, 1,4 and was then run out. I was cock-a-hoop! The bemused opposition could not understand my glee until I pointed them in the direction of the blinding light, and out of it emerged our 2 retired Gladiators Sir Fry and Master Benite! They had forgotten we could introduce them if there was enough overs - and indeed there were, 2 to be exact and needing 5 to win!! Master Benite was now able to hit some more runs and leaving the last winning runs, a 4, to the inimitable Sir Fry and we won with 178!!

I hope in some small way I have evoked a touch of the miracle of yesterday. A day that will live long in the memory and will be spoken years after we have departed this Earth. 17/08/24 will be up there with 30/07/66!

Below are the names of the gallant heroes. Take note all! Arise Brave Warriors, your knighthoods awaits thee.

From L to R: Sirs Ogugua, Bower, Latham, Sapara, Fry, Baldwin, Afuwape, McAdam-Freud, Newman, Hackett, Adeyemi, Termeer and Benite!