Once again the HOB's traipsed up to Filton's Civil Service ground that was by now beginning to feel more like their home pitch than their home pitch. The opposition was almost as familiar as the ground, as the MOD, DEFRA and Avon and Somerset Police clubs have morphed into one another more times than us Old Boys have actually won games. All I can say is at least we have a consistent side.

On inspection, the ground and crease was in good condition, albeit for the rather annoying slope of the field that at times can seem like you're playing on the side of hill. The evening sun was beating down as skip Jon won the toss and elected the Old Boys to field, a scenario that has become our weapon of choice. Sun tan lotion was sloshed on liberally, hats were donned and the backs of three new HOB's recruits in the shape of KJ Sage and A and I Burnell, were patted for what we hoped would be an Old Boys win, god knows we needed one.

SJ Smith and J Brown opened the bowling with mostly nothing but defensive shots being played from their first well aimed overs. The HOB's fielding side was alive and singles and potential fours were stopped and returned to the safety of Ashley's well padded hands quicker than two grown men can run between 6 pieces of thick wooden sticks stuck into the ground with four other bits of wood resting on top of them.

The HOB's didn't have long to wait for a wicket. As with his mighty no run up, long arm windmill whip around and release style, it was not long before the sound of ball against bail could be heard, as SJ Smith sent batsman Burnell of MOD/Defra/A&S Police (call them what you will) home with just one.

On walked the opposition's 3rd batsman who confidently took up his mark at the crease and then backed up his somewhat cocky swagger with a succession of well placed shots and some quick fire 4's. J Brown continued to bowl well but had to wait for a gloriously well-placed ball to go rocketing left in the direction of new boy Sage before it looked as though 11 were to become 10. Breath was drawn and mouths remained slightly ajar as the ball sped towards the Mushtack, with fingers of almost equal proportion to that of an antelope's legs, he effortlessly plucked the spinning red ball into the safety of his sweaty and big palms. Cheers were raised as number two walked.

With the 4th man now starring down the down the barrel of JS Smith, the now rapidly sweating and very red faced beast of a captain turned to myself and exclaimed "I'm gonna smash this cu*t out". At the start of the game when people were getting changed I originally thought this 4th man was a girl (albeit a very butch one) due to his / her ample chest. Being the modern man I am, I thought, well good on her. Alas, she was a he and his game was certainly not of girly proportion as he reversed the tables and smashed skip Jon to the boundary on more than one occasion. It was down to EC Davies and the eagle eyes of AM Fillingham to take this man out. Ashley catching him after he sent a ball pretty much straight up, and down into the awaiting wicket keepers gloves. He walked back in with a respectable 40.

The overs rolled by and the Old boy's continued to pick many a ball from behind the white flags.

S Adams put in a sterling performance but unfortunately for him and his bowling record, the batsman's eye's were firmly in and they continued their relentless assault, until finally, to the cry of "Thank fu*k for that" from JS Smith, number 3 batsman asked politely to retire and walked in on a very well batted 50.

The game went on with I Burnell bowling his first 2 overs in 13 years and to be honest he did alright. However I wish I could say the same for his brother, A Burnell, who's well insured and delicate hands dropped an absolute dolly at cover, much to the amusement of the spectators. Rumour has it he had to take two weeks off work before the swelling in his index finger subsided enough for it to re-inserted into a pair of thinning scissors, at least he's the boss!

The last two batsman went on to score 19 between them before they finished not out taking the final MOD score to a well earned 147, a more than adequate target for the Old Boys to chase. With skip Jon's, HOB's pre batting team talk consisting simply of "ok lads, just go in there and smash" the Old Boys new exactly what was required of them if they were to make a game of this.

JS Smith and J Brown stepped up to the crease, with skip stopping the first ball with a well defended block. The second came in and was hit for a simple one seeing J Brown to the stumps to show us what he was made of. He gave us a quick two, calling the fat to run back to where he had just come from, causing further beads of sweat to drip from his prematurely bald head. Brown's second ball however was not quite so well played as it took the stumps clean out from behind him. He was sent home making just 2 runs, an unlucky performance from one of the HOB's more graceful players.

JS Smith now joined by A Burnell, who the eager sidelining HOB's hoped would put in a better performance with bat than he did with hands, made a excellent start scoring two 4's in close succession. JS Smith's next ball came thundering in and was duly smashed also for 4, but if only the same could be said for his third. With Burrows of MOD running in, he unleashed a beauty that flew down the pitch at a fair old rate of knots and caught JS Smith sweetly in the testicles to moans of "oooohhhh" from fielders and spectators alike. As luck would have it "the roosters" were box encased, needless to say that skip still flinches with talk of scrotal skin trapped between box and thigh. Enough to bring a tear to any mans eye and enough to put Jon off his stroke, scoring just the one more run before being bowled out to a well delivered yorker.

In walked Smith number two (SJ), who on leaving his fellow Old Boys at the boundary was heard to express similar threats as his brother of "right I'm going to go in there and smash" and for once our tallest, although not thinnest member of the team walked the walked making a fantastic 41 which included five 4's and a 6 that was almost as long as his arms. Unfortunately his rein was to come to a messy end as his legs, which incidentally resemble a giants, were placed on the wrong side of the crease and he was quickly stumped by the watchful eyes of MOD wicky. A Burnell's steady stint continued until he walked the same plank as SJ Smith, by being stumped. Still, he walked home to applause after making a respectable 17 on his Old Boys debut.

Sage who had already proved himself in the field, faced his first ball with fellow HOB's agreeing that anything he hit would be a bonus, and a bonus he brought, making two 4's quickly. Now batting with EC Davis, one of HOB's most economic batsman this new pairing made more runs than notches on Lambshead's bedpost. The partnership came to a crushing and bitter end as once again a stumping saw the end of KJ Sage. He trekked back with a well earned 16 under his belt.

I Burnell stepped up to the mark with a series of aggressive swings, of which unfortunately none connected with the ball. He made nothing, caught of guard and stumped once again by that ever eager MOD's wicket keeper. S Adams walked in to join EC Davis and furthered his reputation as steady run scorer making three 4's and many singles. Ed and Stu still had more runs to make as the last over of the game commenced. With the bowler fighting as hard as the batsmen, the last remaining Old Boys did their very best. But alas time, overs and a couple of opposition smashers were not to be on the HOB's side, with Davis and Adams finishing not out for 11 and 17, leaving the final Old Boys tally just 17 short of a win with a score of 131.

Unfortunately victory was not to be ours (again) but we felt confident in the fact that we took four more wickets and had notched up our best score yet. Post match ale, crisps and chat were enjoyed by all.