Ripley take the friendliest of revenges in our oldest fixture

Some fixtures simply mean more.

As our oldest annual opponents, Ripley have shared generations of cricket, friendship and stories with London New Zealand. After last year’s dramatic one-wicket LNZ victory, our dear, dear old foes arrived determined to gain the friendliest of revenges.

Their task became slightly easier before a ball was bowled when Chairman Cheyne Voss withdrew at the eleventh hour with a sore throat. Rumour has it the hoarseness may have owed something to enthusiastically supporting his “other” team during the previous night’s World Cup match. Thankfully, LNZ still managed to field eleven.

Ripley won the toss, naturally choosing to bat on a blazing 30-degree day, leaving LNZ to toil on a brown dustbowl disguised by an unusually green covering of grass, with enough variable bounce to keep everyone interested.

Before play, Jono Reid was presented with his well-earned Nottman Cap.

Vance Thompson turned back the clock, swinging the new ball beautifully before producing a superb running catch over his shoulder. Robbie Laird impressed on debut, while John Shea seemed determined to run every inch of the boundary. Andrew Haines, meanwhile, endured one of those afternoons—dropping several chances before somehow breaking his thumb attempting another on the rope.

Ripley looked set for a huge total as Tom Clover (59) and Tim Russell (65) added over 100 for the second wicket. But when Clover charged past one off Robbie and AK completed a smart stumping, the innings changed completely.

LNZ ripped through the middle and lower order, taking the final nine wickets for just 113 runs to dismiss Ripley for 245—a fine effort in the conditions.

LNZ’s reply was led by Richard Burgess, who reached a deserved half-century while running between the wickets with unusual enthusiasm, well supported by John Shea, who swept with the determination of a demented caretaker. Even as wickets fell, the required rate never drifted out of reach.

Then came Andrew Haines at number nine, striking 32—including a towering six—with effectively one functioning hand.

Ultimately, LNZ kept themselves in the contest but couldn’t quite build the one partnership needed, finishing on 205 to lose by 40 runs. Vance Thompson was left stranded on 1 not out—agonisingly one run short of 2,000 runs for LNZCC.

Richard Burgess deservedly claimed the LNZCC Player of the Match award, while Ripley’s Tom Clover received the Celebratory Semiquincentennial LNZCC Cup—presented to Ripley by LNZCC in 1998—for an outstanding all-round performance.

Another superb day between two wonderful clubs.

See you next year. Forever, we hope.