Usually at the end of a season a side has become the complete article, experiencing highs and lows, knowing eachothers roles, evolving as a team into one where everyone is in form and ready to go. To say this was the case for the 10 men who turned up to face Headley on the 31st of August is an understatement to say the least… With 5 men playing their first games in a year, skipper Max had a rather fresh-looking side. The side included both Billy and Jac McBride and Charlie Fry, all freshly poached from The I ‘Anson’s very own Titanic re-enactment society. Skipper Max also welcomed back 2nd XI stalwart Fergus Middleton, and new addition Joel Henry, making his 2s debut alongside father Alex.

The day got off to the worst possible start with an unnamed team member (take a wild guess…) missing in action, leading to Grayswood only having 10 men for the start. Headley won the toss and to Max’s delight opted to bowl first – effectively meaning Max won yet another toss (87% win rate from the skipper this season fyi…).

Adie and Andrew strode to the middle to begin the Grayswood innings and once again were into their work, both sending cuts to the boundary early on. However, Andrew was soon sent on his way to a good catch at cover and Alex joined Adie at the crease. Both began building a partnership in difficult batting conditions, bringing the score to 65-1 at drinks with the big hitting middle order still waiting in the wings. Both started positively after drinks but then disaster struck as first Alex (29) and then Adie (35) were both dismissed, bringing the middle order in. Charlie Fry was quickly into his work, powering several boundaries; including the large six, to race to 33 before falling to a good catch to leave the score at 98-3. Here the spinner was introduced and the (now amusingly) named ‘stacked’ middle order by skipper Max before the game, tumbled like a deck of cards with the Wood losing 5 more wickets in very quick time. An honourable mention goes to Chairman Chris who kindly offered to umpire while he was watching, and proceeded to take season’s best figures for the 2s, picking up 6-13 (sorry Chetan) in a finger raising exhibition as the wickets continued to fall. A good last wicket partnership between Joel and Noah raised the score to 133-9 when Noah was out, before a stunning declaration was made by skipper Max, obviously sensing conditions were right, and having nothing to do with the fact his elusive 11th man had just informed him he was in Albania.

The Wood needed early wickets and opening pair Noah and Jac were straight into their work, with Noah once again providing pace and control to dismiss Headley’s opener and no. 3 in the same over, breaking the bail as he did so. However, Headley’s other opener applied himself well, picking off a string of boundaries to hamper Grayswood’s efforts. But then, just as the game was turning back towards the home side, Jac induced the edge from the Headley opener, sending the ball towards a vacant second slip before keeper Adie flung himself full-stretch to his left to take stunning catch just above the turf, sending the Grayswood side into pandemonium. Headley slowly inched their way towards the total before spin was introduced at both ends with skipper Max and Billy getting control, with Billy especially producing some outstanding deliveries without any luck going his way. After a sustained period of pressure, Billy and Max were both able to make breakthroughs, with Billy taking 2 and Max one to leave the game teetering. Here two key catches went down, and with the absence of the extra fielder, Headley’s no. 7 was able to pick the gaps and move the score along, eventually reaching the target 7 wickets down with 4 overs to spare.

A good effort in tough conditions for the last game of the season with drinks in the clubhouse afterwards giving the players the chance to reflect on what has been a great season. I'm informed that for the skipper it’s been an absolute pleasure to skipper the side this year and he would like to thank everyone who has played throughout.

See you all in 2025, up the Wood