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Frindsbury ended the 2009 campaign with a victory against Sandwich on Saturday in a game which saw the visitors field a side containing 6 players under 20.

Stand in skipper Rob Sait won the toss and elected to field first on another glorious sunny day at Sandwich’s picturesque Gazen Salt ground. The 1^st XI gave debuts to colts Sam Collis, George Burt, Harry Horsfall and Pete Ashenden and also welcomed back Dave Peters behind the stumps in a side showing the now obligatory 5 changes from the previous week.

Chris Mumford opened the bowling and soon carried on where he had left off last week by removing 3 of the Sandwich top order. Curwen was smartly taken by Budd Junior at square leg, Goatham was bowled with a perfect yorker and then Scarr was sensationally caught at slip by Sait to ensure that the new skipper was wondering what all the fuss was about capatining the side.

He then rang the bowling changes to good effect with Budd Junior and Shiva both picking up 2 wickets apiece leaving Sandwich in trouble at 75-7. Budd senior then got in on the act picking up 2 quick wickets and Mumford was bought back to wrap up the tail but this backfired as the last pair ruined his figures by smashing him to the boundary in a desperate late flurry to get the total to 100. It took a bit of smart bowling by Budd senior to remove last man Smith with a slower ball to leave Sandwich well short of a decent totalon 99 all out. Mumford was again the pick of the bowlers as he passed 20 wickets for the season despite playing in only 10 games.

As Sandwich had used 25 overs in their innings and the teas hadn’t arrived it was decided to turn around straight away but Frindsbury were soon in trouble and could only limp to 15-3 before the break was taken. Peters went for a duck in the 3^rd over, the prolific Sait played a loose shot to fall for only 5 and when Burt was bowled for 5 Frindsbury realised that the low target might be a challenge with both Smith and Wickham bowling excellent line and length.

15-3 soon became 30-5 as both Collis and Horsfall fell to the Sandwich opening attack but they had at least succeeded in using up the overs of the opening bowlers with 15 year old Collis in particular displaying a good technique. Experienced old hands Pete Elswood and Ian Budd started to settle any nerves skipper Sait might have had by putting on 17 runs and when Elswood was held at slip Shiva came in and continued the recovery with the dependable Budd taking the score on to 77. Budd Junior came in and decided that anything his father could do he could more than match and immediately put the Sandwich bowlers to the sword as his flashing blade bought him two 4s and two enormous 6s as Frindsbury finished at a canter leaving Budd senior undefeated on 26 and Budd Junior on 24.

All in all a good performance from what was a very inexperienced side to round off a satisfactory season for the 1^st XI who will be looking to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the club next year with an even better league position.

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