Threatening clouds circled Compton Park but luckily the storms missed Cogenhoe to allow a complete game against Gumley. The visitors skipper lost the toss and home skipper Mark chose to bowl. Gumley’s openers though checked by the bowling of Tony Bird (who must be commended as he had suffered with a bug in the week but was determined to ensure the seconds were not a bowler short) and fellow seamers Smokey, the skipper and Syd. The opening stand was broken when opener Smith hoisted Sid to Mark in the deep. Gumley’s other opener was very fortunate, chances spilled and many shots falling short of fielders allowed Wilkinson to reach 61. At 121-2 this left Gumley in good position for a final assault, which never really happened due to the accuracy and perseverance of the bowlers.
Catches continued to be spilled and on this subject the Chairman provided a memorable moment that will be talked about for years to come. Gumley’s number 5 (who was yet to score) gently lofted the ball towards Roy fielding in the covers and as Geoffrey Boycott would say “ my Granny would have caught that in her pinny” but somehow he juggled the ball to the ground much to his embarrassment. Next ball the same batsman fiercely drove the ball low down to Roy who dived forward and scooped an impressive catch, zero to hero in one ball! The innings ended with Gumley having scored a fairly modest 174-5, a score which some thought given the dropped catches at crucial times should have been much less than even 150
On the resumption the Cooks top order struggled against the visitors opening bowlers and were soon reduced to 20 for 4 and the writing appeared to be on the wall. A dogged stand between anchor man Adam Longley and Captain Bird started a recovery until Adam succumbed caught for a stubborn twelve. Mark found a willing partner in young Tom who were both looking fairly comfortable. With the score passing 100 a dramatic twist to this game occurred, a horrible mix up when chasing an extra overthrow caused the run out of Tom just when the tide was turning for the Cooks. Mark who had been dropped twice by Gumley was then soon bowled for an enterprising 67. A further wicket soon fell and the Cooks were teetering on the brink off defeat with just two wickets left and 56 runs still required.
Syd joined Roy and it was soon apparent that neither of them saw this game as a lost cause. The score progressed to with Roy especially using his spanking new bat to great effect. With the return of the dangerous Pickering to the attack Sid’s resistance was broken leaving the home side still 34 runs short. The last wicket stand was quite remarkable, the two veterans just would not give up. Seven runs were need off the last over, by the last ball 2 for a tie and 3 to win. Roy scythed the ball into the deep, the pair completed the first run, disaster then struck when Tony’s hamstring “pinged” and he was understandably rooted to the spot. Roy was now at Tony’s end and stranded to be run out by the puzzled Gumley fielder, giving them a one run victory.
A well contested match played in the right spirit ended in the most dramatic fashion, a game that the Cooks almost pulled off an unlikely result. The dropped catches proved vital but with many turning points during the game and a quite bizarre finish, too much analysis of this defeat may not be helpful as the halfway point of the season approaches.
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Back Row: Will Tipler, Tony Bird, Tom Robinson, Frankie Perkins, Ben Garratt, Russ Coleman
Front Row: Mark Bird (C), Phil Whiteman, Chris Mason, Jack Harris, Jack Quennell