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Revolution was
in the air as a power struggle ensued between Second team
Captain Richard "Lucy" Stewkesbury and Vice-Captain
Daniel "Three Seats" Jones. In an audacious
move, Stewkesbury retired from cricket after the mauling
at home to Bridport (the visitors put on 382-6, with PRT
2nd's replying with a defiant 173-6) leaving Jones to
take the reigns. His first match in charge was against
table-topping Yetminster, who were dismissed for 210, but
the new captain turned an unlikely victory into a
comfortable defeat. This, compounded with the Child
Okeford fiasco (see below), led to Jones's resignation
and the triumphant return of Stewkesbury to his rightful
mantle. "Jonah" Jones has now quit both the 2nd
XI and Evening League sides to concentrate on his Sunday
form.
Child Okeford were
disappointed to find that their fixture with the PRT 2nd's
on 21st July, was cancelled due to a rain-affected pitch.
Blame was placed firmly on the shoulders of then captain,
Daniel "Jupitus" Jones, who did not inform the
visiting team of the cancellation. An unnamed source
hinted foul play may have been involved, as then ex-captain
and long-retired "Duke" Stewkesbury had failed
to provide Jones with the Child Okeford captain's contact
details, when informing Jones of the groundsman's
decision that morning. Triangle Spokesman, Graham Elenor,
said that the matter would be dealt with internally.
The 2nd XI is free
of relegation worries, now that the withdrawal of
Gillingham 2nd XI from the division means that they can't
go down. Triangle Spokesman Graham Elenor said "At
least that's something we don't have to worry about, and
we can concentrate on the teams that really matter".
Pete "Wobbly"
Walburn returned to form in style, and dare I say some
panache, with match winning figures of 4-33 against
relegation-hopefuls Broadstone 2nd's, in the Sunday
Division 7 encounter. Bowling his 12 overs straight
through, it was in the final two that he made the biggest
impact taking 2 in 2 balls, setting up a hattrick, but
unfortunately bowled a wayward delivery down the leg-side
when the pressure was on. He maintained his anti-youth
policy by verbally berating members of the Under-14 side
who had turned up to watch, saying (of what is
publishable) "Get those kids of the field, this is
men's cricket!" A spokesman for the team said that
Walburn's contract would be under review at the end of
the season.
For the first time
in PRT history, a cricket match nearly became a scene of
violence, as a heated home fixture against fellow Sunday
Division 7 title challengers, Suttoners, nearly boiled
over. No one event could be seen as the catalyst that
almost led to a mass brawl in the middle of the wicket,
though Triangle Spokesman and Sunday Captain, Graham
Elenor, who was at the heart of the proceedings was
available to give an insight. "I don't want to point
the finger, but the main culprit was the lad who turned
up an hour late and then wanted to bowl straight away.
Their captain then overreacted to some of our boys light-hearted
banter, and I was forced to intervene acting as
peacemaker. Things nearly got out of control, but luckily
by the grace of God, and some brilliant diplomacy, we
were able to continue and have a friendly game of cricket".
Martin Hewson's 1st
XI is leading the Dorset Division 1 after an unlikely
victory against promotion chasing Blandford as well as
the scalps of West Moors and the formidable Weymouth 2nd's.
A spokesman for the club, 1st team scorer Graham Elenor (author
of the Dorset Echo's Odds On column), said that promotion
would not necessarily be the best thing for the club at
the moment and he would have favoured a relegation battle
this season. As quoted at the time "Success is a
dangerous thing, next year our fans would be looking for
more trophies to fill our overloaded cabinet".
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