On a blisteringly mild evening at the Verulamium Enormadome, SFDWP took on the might of Gardenfields Primary School Dad's Eleven. As the silver coin leaves the gnarled and raw knuckled hand of Gardenfield's Skipper, Captain Church correctly called "heads". The barnacle covered face of his opposite number grimaces in anger as the call to bat is made. The heavy roller is selected, and the bell rings in the pavilion to call the players to play.

SFDWP open with the classic combination of pinch hitting Longbottom, on debut, and the steady run accumulation of Wilson. Wilson starts with a single, then another, then another, then another, in fact sixteen of them in a row. To save the scorer from repetitive straight injury Longbottom at the other end is dishing out some shoulder dislocating blows to blacksmith's corner. With the demise of Wilson, retreating to the oxygen tent after his all run twenty two, Nightingale comes in and shows his no.3 credentials with some Gower-like drives and cuts. 40 for 1 off the first eight overs but this steady start proves to be a false dawn as SFDWP's batting engine room turns out to be manufactured by British Leyland and like the Maxi the wheels begin to fall off. Nightingale, pulls up lame after one too many expansive drives and retires to the ice bath, and Longbottom, with some fine long handle, has to be dragged off after surpassing 25. A mix up between Captain Church and Knee sees Knee sent back to the log, run out and the skipper soon followed, calmly caught in the deep when threatening to break free of the shackles of some tight dibbly dobbly bowling. Next man in Williams has come prepared for a fight dispatching his first ball for four and scattering the rabbits with a huge six into the stingers. Jones skies his first ball straight in the air and to the cries of 'have a look' the bowler spills the catch that Geoff Boycott's granny would have caught in her pinnae. With Williams gone, again caught in the deep, the runs come in dribs and drabs, with the tail failing to wag as enthusiastically as those of the watching dogs, but a competitive total of 105 is posted.

Roles reversed and SFDWP open the bowling with Hollerton. He's straight into the grove with a dot ball, followed by a bye that sends stand-in keeper Curtis sprawling on his backside, then a wicket! Middle stump knocked back. But there's more to come as with his sixth ball the magician sends the timbers clattered again. SFDWP can smell blood as Gardenfields scrabble to strap on pads and locate matching gloves. 'Follow that Colin', but McKinnon more than matches the steady line and length of Hollerton and Gardenfields are two down after four overs with little on the board. Next up Knee, the slow bowlers answer to Malinga the Slinger, and Captain Church, with more traditional spin, pluck out two more batsmen from the pack. Williams continues his good form with the ball and manages to extract some life out of the moss to induce an aerial shot that is snaffled by McKinnon. Nightingale is next up bowling through the pain of his earlier hamstring pull. With a one step run up it's more line and length, but, Gardenfield's danger man is at the wicket and the fight back is on as boundaries start to come thick and fast. With Danger Man retired, Hook, arms flaring like a dervish, injects some much needed pace into the attack. As the shadows lengthen and the Cathedral bells call the faithful to Evensong both sides feeling the tension and thoughts of pints in the pub put on hold. With his last ball Hook sends the stumps cartwheeling.

Wilson and debutant Longbottom to bowl out the last four overs with all to play for and everything to lose. An attempted run out from Captain Church causing pain in the outfield, and two runs are stolen. Three overs to go and this games has everything, appeals, balls beating bat, quick singles, run outs. Longbottom to bowl his first over for the club, three singles, followed by an attempted run out, a four bludgeoned to the boundary, then a repost as ball beats bat. Back to Wilson, batsmen charges down the wicket and misses. Inspiration cry from the Skipper, 'if you're on the one, you're on the one' has the desired affect as the batsmen attempt a suicidal run and fail to scramble to safety before Curtis removes the bails.

Last over to bowl and six to win with eight wickets down. Captain Church puts all his faith in debutant Longbottom to bowl SDFWP to ultimate victory. Dot ball, followed by three singles, then a wicket! 9 down but danger man is back at the crease for the last delivery. The ball is sent down and it's a good one, but, a firm strike to the outfield causes panic. A run is taken then two..some people are on the pitch.. they think it's all over..it is now.. it's a tie.

Yours, Henry the Dog