Pryde and van der Plas steer the Lambs home by one wicket

This year's instalment of Lambs v Rams took place at the glamorous surrounds of Ruskin Park, played out before a healthy crowd of affluent young professionals, dog walkers and several children's birthday parties. Better still, the social highlight of the year awaited the survivors: the Summer Party at the President's house.

The standout feature of the fixture was the sheer number of new faces, a hugely exciting sign for the future of the club. A whole raft of debutants filled out Shaun Raumati's Lambs side, and a very warm welcome to every one of them.

The grizzled old veterans of the Rams, marshalled by their fearless skipper Voss, looked on with mixed emotions: envy at the athleticism and youthful good looks on show, and no small amount of pity as the poor lads appeared to be taking a fearful dressing down from The Sheep in what was, apparently, a pre-match welcome to the club.

Rams Batting

Andrew Haines opened alongside Adam Khanbhai, and the pair had barely settled before Peter Southey-Jensen went to work. One of the debutants, and clearly not a man burdened by reputation, he immediately applied the pressure.

Vaughan Robertson soon joined Haines, and the pair ignored the early breakthroughs. Haines raced to 26, including three towering sixes, before holing out to Jordan Gunn, another debutant who duly collected one of the day's prized scalps. Vaughan contributed an energetic 16 before departing.

Voss looked in good touch before handing over to Ben Fulton, who found the boundary with remarkable regularity on his way to 40 not out from just 25 deliveries, including five fours and a pair of sixes. Much of the innings was compiled amidst an ongoing workplace rivalry with Brad Abraham and a shameless North–South recruitment drive.

Reza Rana compiled a busy 21, Andrew Neal continued his excellent recent form before retiring on 33, while John Shea and Vinay provided the late fireworks to propel the Rams beyond 200.

A generous helping of 26 extras, including ten wides, certainly didn't hurt as the Rams posted 212.

The pick of the Lambs' attack was Jono Reid, whose outstanding figures of 3 for 24 marked a triumphant return following the infamous 'Jacket-gate' incident at Goodwood a couple of years ago.

Lambs Batting

The chase was, for long periods, one man and a supporting cast.

Jack Pryde produced one of the most brutal innings seen in Lambs v Rams history, smashing an unbeaten 76 from just 31 balls, featuring four fours and eight enormous sixes. It was an innings played at such a different level to everything around it that you had to wonder whether he'd accidentally taken the wrong turning on his way to Trent Bridge.

The Rams, however, found answers.

Chairman Voss—inevitably naming himself Man of the Match—produced an inspired spell, claiming two key wickets to wrestle momentum back. Brewis fell for four, Edwards was trapped lbw the following over and Eddowes was bowled.

Former chairman Peter 'Choc' Bellamy then rolled back the years, removing both Southey-Jensen and Reid to add two more names to his already distinguished list of inter-club victims.

Brad Abraham remained true to his nickname, failing with the bat almost as reliably as he fails at the bar, offering Reza Rana a simple caught-and-bowled opportunity for four.

At 64 for 6, the Rams appeared firmly in control.

What they hadn't reckoned with was another debutant, Mitchell van der Plas, who produced the innings of his London New Zealand career. His superb 46 from 30 balls breathed life back into the chase, while Fraser Bartholomew's inventive, scoop-heavy 18 provided excellent support.

Then came the moment of the day.

With nerves visibly jangling at the prospect of yet another Rams victory and another year of "trophies" chat, The Sheep took on the one Rams fielder actually capable of doing something about it. Ben Fulton gathered cleanly and hit direct, sending the batter back to the pavilion and the Rams into raptures.

It wasn't enough.

Despite doing almost everything right, the Rams couldn't quite close the game out. The Lambs scrambled home by a solitary wicket, with Jack Pryde returning to the crease after his second retirement to see his side over the line, all while John McMullan provided a running commentary behind the stumps that would have made Blundell proud.

Celebrations

The victorious Lambs, shirtless and jubilant, were last seen spraying Sainsbury's finest prosecco into the south London sky.

The Sheep, meanwhile, was spotted with a tear in his eye, making a beeline for the mantelpiece where, one assumes, yet another Lambs v Rams trophy now resides.

Special thanks to Mike for once again organising a fantastic day, and to Richard and SJ for hosting another outstanding Summer Party in SW12. As always, their generosity and hospitality were second to none.