Well, first up huge thanks to Ashley, whose hard work and opportunism made this fixture possible. So we were stood up in advance for our date with the Beast of Blaise, scheduled for Wednesday, so Ash hastily pounced on the opportunity to play Winford on the Tuesday instead, and did the ring-around to see who was available. The short notice meant debuts for Leigh Caller and Mike Serjeant, and a first game of the season for Al Pearce. We rocked up at Winford for the second successive year, having had our scheduled fixture earlier in the season fall foul of the weather, to find little sign of the prospect of cricket with the gates to the ground and car park still locked. One by one the youthful Winford players strolled up to the ground in their laissez-faire manner, and we were ready to roll by about 6.15pm. With the rumbling of an easyjet plane overhead SJ Smith won the toss, and in a break from all HOB tradition (if not conventional wisdom), batted first!

Stu Adams went in first on his favorite ground, and was accompanied to the crease by Matt to face the opening salvos. They were tidy to say the least. Stu got nowhere near anything in the first over, contending admirably with a succession of jaffers - mostly by not nicking them. Matt provided some respite when he clobbered six off the second over, but in truth the bowling still looked more than handy and the pitch was full of juice. It looked like we might be in for a rough evening. So it proved, as Matt and Stu departed fairly quickly for 6 and 12 respectively, bringing Jon Smith and Lambshead Jr to the crease, both looking determined. What followed was attritional at times, inspirational at others, but the two HOBbers batted excellently for the partnership which formed the bedrock of our innings. Jon made 43 at a run a ball, and Sam made the most of his stay at the crease with some lusty blows towards the end of his innings - so when they both departed in quick succession, they had given HOBs the chance of a defendable target. The Serjeant brothers briefly batted together for HOBs for the first time, SJ Smith went for a Golden, and Fillingham for a single in the rush for late runs, until Phil and Ed gave HOBs the impetus they desperately needed, clattering 20-odd off the last 2 overs. HOBs wound up with 118, probably below par on the small ground at Winford, but they had successfully defended far less.

Our turn in the field came then with the light dimming rapidly and two young (one very vociferous and a gob-shite) openers to contend with. The Smith brothers shared the new(ish!) ball and bowled at the talented youngsters pretty economically, not letting the whippersnappers get off to a flier, without really threatening to take wickets. Jo held an over back from Jon, but bowled himself out, and the twins were replaced by Stu and Leigh, for a tough bowling debut. The duo started nervously, with 12 runs off Stu's first over, and a few wides from Lee. The recovery was magnificent though. The arrogant and goading Winford opener sledged the final ball of one of Leigh's overs, to which captain Smith took umbrage and had a word with the umpire - who in turn told the youngster off. The following over, his impetuousness got the better of him, and Stu held a very sharp caught and bowled chance from a ball that just wasn't there to hit. Winford had put on over 70 for the first wicket, but Stu had triggered the unlikeliest of collapses.

Another wicket in the over, and two more in his next two, and the old boys sniffed the chance to pull off an extraordinary victory. Leigh bowled very well, picking up his maiden HOB wicket, Ed bowled superbly tightly when replacing him, and Jon cam back with a terrific wicket maiden to finish with 1 for 17 from his four overs.

The pressure was all on Winford, HOBs upped their game. The fielding was exceptional - exemplified by two marvelous catches, and a stop on the boundary that defied belief, all from Mike Serjeant and a terrific run out from Al Pearce. The skip put his faith in debutant Leigh Caller for a final over in which Winford required in excess of 20 runs, and he did not disappoint with pin-point accurate bowling. The game was up for Winford, and an exceptional comeback - perhaps the finest display in the short history of HOBs - was complete.

Winford put on their usual quality spread in the pub afterwards with bangers and chips all-round; and as HOBs toasted their splendid victory it transpired that the side they had defeated contained a number of Somerset and Winford 2nd XI players, making the success all the sweeter. It's now two on the bounce for the first time in 2007 for the Old Boys, let's hope for more of the same against the MOD in the next match. Congratulations to everyone on a brilliant all-round performance, and special mentions for: Jon for his outstanding 43 in adversity; Mike for leading the way in fielding; Ed for his vice-captaincy support (crucial on the day); Al for coming, not batting not bowling, but still fielding with huge enthusiasm; and lastly to man of the match Stu "Golden Arm" Adams, for a vintage 4-fer performance which turned the game in our favour. Bring on the MOD, we're on a roll…..