A draw for the inaugural Allenby-Chaytor Trophy at the HAC

An auspicious date, oh what a day
On this hallowed turf cricket we’ll play
HAC versus LNZ
The skipper late, was stuck in bed

Over 50 years contested, between the sides
This year for silverware as well as for pride
Allenby and Chaytor, from war torn dates
Looked down upon the gathering mates

With Wilkie, Pete, Finn, Bill and Vance
We won the toss and took a chance
HAC to bat, the pitch green and grassy
Opened up with our two fasties

Despite our bowling swift and tight
Their openers started off all right
And whilst some edges we did kiss
Our two fly slips the ball did miss

And so it was 100 for nones
No wickets that is, but plenty of runs
Until Finn stepped up and some leggies sold
Huxtable out at last, caught and bowled

It wasn’t until 187 for one
That we finally had Rezwan 3 short of his ton
James trapped him dead; straight, low and plumb
Little did we know our torment had just begun

Out strode Sean Perry more than a little impatient
And started striking, sweet and fragrant
We tried our best but bowled too loose
His cameo, 65 off 28, tightened our noose

And so when tea time finally beckoned
285-4, a tough chase we reckoned
But maybe we could avoid a dreaded loss
We do after all have the one and only Cheyne Voss

The Skip and Cheyne took to the middle
Found their bowling a bit of a riddle
First ball the skip got a reprieve
It wasn’t glove, he claimed, “It got my sleeve!”

But shortly after an edge low to the cordon
Vossy gone early, with time for a drink in the garden
Khanbhai followed; a doozie he quipped
It seamed in, stayed low, leg stump it clipped

His day was over, so he purloined a cask
To fortify himself for the joyous task
The gear bag was waiting, with only 5 his duty was clear
And he carried it out, despite Vance T only getting a pair

Next in were Olly and Jacob and Pete
They did fairly well, double digits at least
Some watchful batting, some lusty blows
Saw off the new ball, fighting spirit was shown

But wickets kept falling, their bowling was nifty
Finn Ross, our man of the match, did best with three and fifty
James, Brad and Will, while they held up an end
The skipper in panic a message did send

“Play straight, play true, don’t give away your wicket”
But some of the crowd said “That isn’t cricket”!
And so somehow the message was completely revised
They kept swinging and hitting - would this be our demise?

222-8, double Nelson, only four overs remain
At Thompson and Eddowes, would our fight be in vain?
An LBW shout and Vance was displaced
Our Shaun now had their Sean to face

Three balls he faced, his bat straight and true
And against all the odds our men did come through
And so a draw it was, but it felt like a win
A great game of cricket, let’s open some tins!

So the Allenby-Chaytor Trophy would bear both our names
We hope to play for it for fifty more games
Presented graciously, by Lisa Ferris, our Brigadier
Then off we went for Chateau Margaux at The Jugg-ed Hare

So all that is left is to thank one and all
For marking this contest between bat and ball
Players, umpires, scorers, spectators from far and near
We hope that we will see you again, next year

Photos

The new Allenby-Chaytor Trophy

Peter Southey-Jensen getting his Nottman Cap

Action shot v HAC

Action shot v HAC