The Dads and Allstars mustered early in between the showers at Verulanium Park. The Allstars, although light in number, were in jovial mood. By contrast the mood of the Dads was sombre, tinged with annoyance, laced with determination brought on by recent events.

The big guns were there in force: Phil Spencer; Shaun Cooper; Peter Church. Even our official, but injured, talisman, Jonno Hook, with son (mini talisman), were pacing the boundary rope.
Captain Peter Church led the Dads onto the field and immediately got down to business throwing the ball to Tim Winfield, to be followed by Shaun Cooper. Both bowled with control and pace. Tim's opener was steady, followed by two maiden overs which set the tone of the match (er...isn't that three overs?). Shaun's kickers were difficult to get away and then a 6th ball skidder bowled the eponymous Alvin.

On came Colin McKinnon and Richard Williams. Colin improving with every ball bowled after a long injury lay off. Richard, hitting the deck from a great height, unnerved the batters. Then David Nightingale and Pete 'Starburst' Stauvers followed. David struck early with a diving caught and bowled reminiscent of Andrew Strauss.

Starburst, spurred on by constructive advice from Jonno bellowing "Get on with it", induced a skier stunningly taken inches from the ground by David at mid wicket (I love you). David's spin bowling fashioned two more wickets, the first carefully watched by Ian Holmes at long off. The second , off a sliced shot by Mike 'Turncoat' Jones, who had sportingly agreed to play for the opposition, which was unsportingly pouched by Starburst at backward short leg.

Next Richard Noden, bowling a mix of looping flight and flat medium pacers, kept the batters bamboozled and quiet. Peter C, bowling next, had to be on his toes to take a chip shot low down for his caught and bowled, being about 6' 10" tall in the shade also helped. He followed this by another crisp over.

Saving the best for last, Phil and Ian were called up. Phil proceeded to bowl at an astonishing pace, resulting in wicketkeeper Simon Wilson, who had another sound game, facing the barrage. Phil's fastest ball garnered a successful LBW shout against the Dads best batter. Ian, who was left with only one over, kept the scoring down at the death of the Alvin's innings. Their total of only 81 was testimony to the all round quality of the Dads' attack.
Peter chose Simon and David (affectionately known as the Boycott twins) to open the batting and lay down a solid base. Both are stroke players and neither surrender their wickets cheaply; it's the running between the wickets that needs work. Sure enough David was run out (but it was a good throw). Simon retired unbeaten but troubled about club finances as David had broken a bat !!

Tim and Colin manned up to good bowling but fell. Could Ian and Richard W keep them at bay. They kept the scoreboard ticking over then Ian fell, this was a wobble. Phil came in and took the attack to the Alvins with a smashed four but fell to a good catch on the boundary. Shaun came in and with Richard W played straight and correctly, the only way to steady the ship. A six and a four to 'cow corner' from Richard led to an impressive retirement, bringing in Peter C to hit the winning runs off the only ball he faced. The Dads scored 83 off nigh on 16 overs.
In summary, Alvin's Allstars had faced a mean machine and lost. There were no chips and sausages on at The Six Bells, this suited the Dads, food is for wimps.