Another home match for the old boys but yet another 'home' venue - and probably the best of the lot! - the game against Stoke Druid was to take place at the Failand and Portbury Cricket club. After a rainy May in which the outfield had soaked up more liquid that Oliver Reed, it looks as though summer might finally be here and for the third match running the temperature was hotter than a docker's armpit.

Captain Pandya-Smith won the toss and decided once again to have a bat. JS Smith and SH Lambshead were this week's lucky pair to open up and both took advantage of the small pitch, cracking the ball to all corners. Sam then missed a straight one and was cleaned bowled for a useful 15.

Jimmy in next and pushes one into the covers, Jon 'I love a run out' Smith calls for the run, a Druid fielder throws down the stumps with a direct hit and Osmond is short by a good foot. When out in the middle Jon, maybe you should consider wearing a black hooded cloak and carry a scythe not a bat. Anyway, on with the cricket…..

Clements in, and out for four so Adams now joins the excitable Smith at the crease and starts to build another partnership. Before long Jonny brings up his well deserved half century and with Stuey at the other end nurdling them down the slope, the scorers box was kept very busy. After Adams is trapped leg before in the 16th over, Fillingham and then Barrett hit scores of around 20 bringing up a final score of 178 for 6.

Captain P-S (I can't be fucked to keep writing his new name that's almost as long as his legs) said before the innings started that 150 would be needed on this ground, and he wasn't far off the mark as the Druids also possessed some big hitting batsmen. More on them later (the Druid batmen not Jo's legs).

I think everyone bar Clements and Fillingham had a bowl, Ed made the break though by clean bowling their opener with a beaut. He also took one for the team when sticking his leg out trying to stop a straight drive and almost breaking his foot in the process. JS Smith got a taste of his own medicine when he was smashed back over his head for six. That's a bit like poking a very large, angry dog with a stick, only to realise it's not tied to anything so with the very next delivery, Jon banged one in short that ended up right in the batsman's ribs. 'ave it!

Andy 'safe hands' Barry had an opportunity to turn his arm for a couple of overs and almost claimed another wicket when presented with a fairly straight forward caught and bowled chance……..but finished up looking like someone trying to catch a scorpion so the batsman survived. It was left up to the slow turners of Adams and Osmond to clean up the druids, Adams with a 2 fer and Osmond a very impressive 4 fer 3 from 1 over (with two more catches for Andy Barry).

Man of the match surprisingly went to Jon Smith although I'm not entirely sure any voting slips were passed around. I suppose we'll give it to him anyway for his 72 - well done mate!

Remembering the words of Gore Vidal who once quite rightly said; 'whenever a friend succeeds something in me dies'. You're not alone when it comes to the whole mean-spiritedness thing."