After a promising start to the season which included excellent wins over the Racqueteers and Crawley we endured an absolutely miserable mid season month thanks to poor weather and very poor batting! We also had to cancel the popular game away to St Leonard's due to only having eight available players, a reflection of the challenge we have when we ambitiously try to play twice in a week. Match reports aren't a popular activity when things are going badly but it is worth reflecting on the events of this tough time.

We lost heavily to St Giles on 22nd June having managed just 65 all out (which was actually a good recovery from 33-8) but was very embarrassing for all concerned, well perhaps not for Tanoj who helped himself to a late order 25. Peter Symonds on the 29th fell foul of the wet weather before a ten wicket loss to the Racqueteers on 6th July. The Racqeuteers comfortably avenged their early season loss to us at the King Alfred Trophy chasing down our 102-6 without losing a wicket. From a positive perspective we did see unbeaten 25s from Dave Shep, Rhys and Ben Francis (Andy's son).

On 13th July we played in an extremely enjoyable RioMed cup against the Cryptorchids, but lost the cup for the first time in a number of years. A strong batting line up for the GPs made batting look far easier than we did, with another collapse seeing us 8-3 and always behind the run rate. Chasing 136 from 20 overs we never even got close, all out for 95 with John Gordon helping himself to a leisurely 29 which included a return to the crease in his chino shorts. Superb food as always were provided by RioMed after the game and did find the cup after the game!

On 20th July we played our final pre-tour game and sadly suffered another defeat, our fourth in a row, the victors this time The Queen Inn. Actually we did very well to get this game played moving the game from the cancelled council ground at North Walls to Kings School and their artificial track. We made 125-8 with the skipper finally finding his touch, retiring in the third over with 25 from 9 balls (in an opening partnership of 26 with Mark!) before returning late on against their exceptional young bowling pair to end with 35 from 19 balls. Mark too collected an unbeaten 25 and despite the small pitch we had a defendable total. Unfortunately their two quick bowlers also opened the batting and rapidly reached their 25s. We just didn't have enough in the tank to pull the game back from their and a loss was secured. A mention for their young wicket keeper who batted beautifully before his own skipper caught him out (generously fielding for us as we only had ten players). We now move on to the Oxford tour in the hope that the season can be reignited by great cricket or perhaps just a few beers!