The opposition’s name was somewhat of a misnomer, when the first member of their side I met was one Gary Hooper. He suggested that with his presence a more suitable name would have been “Submerging” Players! “Hooter’s” sense of humour still remains after numerous years in the game.

The toss was won, and we had first use of a good batting strip. Marcel McKenzie was the mainstay of the innings with a well compiled 67 runs, with useful support first from Hamish Anderson (25) and later Matthew Hudson, who scored a determined 38 runs. The total of 195 for seven was 20 to 30 runs short of the target we were looking for, but defendable if we bowled well.

After three overs the opposition had two runs – a promising start – then Kelvin Scott decided to increase the tempo with lusty hitting. We managed to claw our way back into the game with some tight bowling from Jason Pawson and Kyle Earnshaw. Kyle finished with 2 for 20 from six very tidy overs. Carl Anderson, Stephen Gibson and Matthew Hudson did the bulk of the bowling for the remainder of the innings and although wickets fell regularly, Campbell Galletly steered his side to a determined victory with an excellent unbeaten 100 runs. The bowling and fielding of the Willows side was excellent, and testimony to this was the fact that the winning runs were scored from the first ball of the last over with eight wickets down.

Although a loss was not the ideal start for the 1996-97 season, several of the younger players in the Willows XI performed creditably under pressure and will be better players for the experience.