I’m pleased to be writing this having read my dear namesake’s wonderful report from the 2s game this Saturday gone. Whilst Leo and I do not perhaps share the same proclivity for night time misadventure, nor do our on-field styles overlap too much, we have found certainly common ground in the solace of the Ploughmans experience.

As you’ve probably realised by now, especially if you’ve had the displeasure of sitting through a Tuesday of Zoom meetings where everybody complains about how sticky they are, it was quite hot this weekend.

Saturday’s first team game against Croydon CC was not dictated by this heat, and in fact by winning the toss and batting first you’d argue we had the better of the conditions, but it certainly managed to melt our brains and dull our qualities as a team throughout the afternoon, barring some excellent moments.

We were well beaten on the day, having scored too few and then leaked runs in the field.

Excellent moments:

- An absolute vintage Angus “Chernobby” Ousbourne cover drive played with full extension of the arms and piercing a tight off side ring
- ⁠the unveiling of Duray’s “ice bag”
- Puff’s full blooded whip behind square for four on the leg side having strode in at number 11 with a Job To Do
- Ritik, throughout. He batted better than anyone, including two sublime late guided dabs through third man region for four. Could’ve gone on and was unlucky not to get us closer to a defendable score. Then took the new ball and charged in for his teammates, removing the oppo number 4s middle stump FROM THE GROUND. Best moment of the season so far.

Returning to my original point. Yes we were bruised, battered and beaten, but there was that hairy bum, and those songs, and the nonstop freight train of cold lager, and by hour two of the post match, it wasn’t quite as shit anymore that we’d been done over by a bunch of 50 year olds.

I capped my night off sharing lamb and duck of the highest order at Silka, Borough Market, with Dom, and would recommend both the food and the company to anyone.

Plough On
Leo C