Conditions could be described as near perfect, apart from the gale force nor-wester that felt like we were playing in Miramar. Otago Boys’ High School have fashioned a record against The Willows second to none. The fact that they were prepared to sacrifice the viewing of the second half of the All Blacks match against France immediately alerted me to the subtle and calculated tactics that all Southern men possess. Being from the fertile Taieri Plain myself and having married a Cantabrian I am well versed in these dark acts.

Batting first we were steady and managed to build a few partnerships but never really got any ascendency. I was really impressed by the unity and discipline of the OBHS fielding and bowling and it had finger prints of Ken Rust all over it. The fielders refused to drift and bowlers melt, as can be the case in these hot windy conditions. Angus and Kindley both finished with four wickets apiece.

We pampered our total of 199 runs believing that the outfield was worth at least another 50 runs. The Otago boys broke the scoreboard pressure early and with some confident stroke play and hard running they were taking away the game. McAuslan was the best with 55 and Pryde chipped in with 35. Ollie Borrie possesses an Afridi-like arm ball and with no slow motion cameras in attendance he unleashed a few and turned the game into an event contest with ten overs to play. Our problem was they need four an over and we needed wickets so in maintaining aggressive fields we leaked the odd boundary or two. We got it to the last over with four runs required. A brave blow from one of the lads secured the victory with three balls left.

It was a fantastic game and reminded me of the words of Lord Harris (1931):

“To play it keenly, honestly, generously, self sacrificingly is a moral lesson in itself and the classroom is God’s air and sunshine.”

[Editor: It’s worth noting that for Lord Harris, despite a playing career spanning 42 seasons, the moral lesson he wrote of so eloquently didn’t really sink in. He virtually ignored famine, riots and sectarian unrest during his five years as Governor of Bombay. He did, however, spend a good deal of this time watching, playing and promoting cricket. Later as MCC President he tried unsuccessfully to block KS Ranjitsinhji’s selection for England despite Ranji having been resident in England for eight years.]