SCORECARD

Temperance Sunday in the Royal Spa
Leamington Lemmings 180-8
Fitmen 154 all out

Lemmings win by 26 runs

Sunday 17th August may not go down in the history books of this famous old ground (see postscript) but it did have its moments – not least that The Fitmen arrived on time, thirsty and almost a complete 11.

The downside was that the pre-match warm up wasn’t possible in Temperance Spa as the well-appointed lounge had the shutters firmly down and they were to stay that way!

With no pre-game libation the visitors duly won the toss and elected to have a bowl on the basis that the bar might be open by the interval………another disappointment was just round the corner!

On the field Capt. Guy (5-2-11-0) and ‘Indoor Batsman of the year’ (8-0-23-3) loosened up, stabilised themselves against the cross wind and started ripping in to the Lemmings. At 16 for 2 after 8 and both Ralphie and newbie Jack (6-0-25-1) still up his sleeve the skipper decided on a change.

It gave them a chance as The Chairman (6-0-32-1) kindly donated a boundary per over to the Lemmings run fund in a similar vein to Pat (5—0-26-1) and Raj (5-0-28-1). Suffering from the aftermaths of man flu, Raj recorded the weakest ever appeal for lbw – not given by the umpire as he was upwind and didn’t hear……….and it was missing.

By the interval there was more of a solidity to the hosts score.

Spare keeper and fielding spectator Tuckerrrr (4-0-16-1) was an economical swinger and would have gone for less if the chuckle brothers at long leg and 3rd man had finished ‘to you to me’ earlier….an all run 4 resulted.

An outstanding catch behind by Tom got deserved applause and generally the fielding was good (catches also secured by Sunny & Jack).
The Fitmen were still confident that a total of 150 would be do-able and it looked that way until the last quarter of the game when the home side’s #6 took charge in a well fashioned 50. His efforts along with the last 4 or 5 overs that were a bit leaky meant a higher than par 180 was recorded.

A quick scan round the changing room for recognised batsmen resulted in about 8 recognised bowlers staring back………………..
Tea came and went……………can’t comment on theis as the 30 minute break was taken up with a mercy dash to the local off license for cold Stella x 12.

Meanwhile Ralphie and Si opened the reply and it all looked very comfortable. Smashy and Nicey trotted along at above the asking rate. Then a nasty little habit was begun.

All the top 5 ‘got in’ and all looked comfortable - the money would be on one or two of them to push on and claim the game but down they toppled ending with Si 18,Ralphie 16, Tuckerrr 18, Raj 23 and Sunny top scoring with 34. There was no real pressure on the run rate so it’s a bit of a mystery. The pitch largely behaved so it must have just been collective bad luck …..or modelling themselves on the Indian top order. Though it must be said we sailed past India’s half-baked total with ease.

Enter the tail………….would it wag?

Err………no.

All that was left was a vain hope of the last pair at the crease rolling back the years and putting on 50 to win. Guy made a decent fist of it and got the oppo slightly worried with his 18 but it all came to a shuddering end as they worked out where to bowl.

Still, a marvellous venue and some very good post-match hospitality from our hosts and a Fat Pig. www.thefatpug.com
We look forward to a return match next season and to learn whether newbie Jack has married into the Brentnalls…………..thereby qualifying for a year’s hard labour in 2015 with The Fitmen.


Postscript
Coincidence?
There’s a spooky link to the Fitmen’s last visit to Leamington when they were entertained post-match in the Liberal Club. It was of course the Liberal government who passed the “Defence of the Realm Act 1914” when pub hours were licensed, beer was watered down and was subject to a penny a pint extra tax…………….at least you could get one though!

Temperance Bars
Did you know that Leamington in years past had three temperance hotels.
None as famous (or still operating) as Fitzpatrick's Herbal Health. It is thought to be the last original Temperance Bar…apart from the one in Arlington Avenue as it turned out. Fitzpatricks in Rawtenstall is the country's "Best Sarsaparilla Brewer", and got a prestigious award for its Dandelion & Burdock. http://www.mrfitzpatricks.com/

Ground History
The venue held its first match (Leamington v Stratford) in 1900 and the first ‘first class game’ (Warwickshire v Hampshire) in 1908. Whilst Warwickshire playing home games away from Edgbaston is a rarity these days, the ground hosted the ICC Trophy between the Netherlands and the United States in 1979. In the 1982 ICC Trophy it held a match between Zimbabwe and Canada and finally in the 1986 ICC Trophy hosted the match between Hong Kong and the United States.

The ‘Bears’ haven’t played at the ground for over 100 years – though at least the 2nd XI have visited 3 or 4 times this century (2001)……though not since 2007 when the place was declared ‘dry’ on Sundays.

Champagne/Sarsaparilla Moment of the day
The Fitmen spending the afternoon nervously looking around anticipating a grand entrance by The Temperance Society of Leamington, or a Welsh male voice choir en route to a nearby chapel.