Spain Tour Report
After a couple of years talking about it T&TCC were finally off on their first overseas tour,
heading to Spain and hoping for some winter sun and a head start in the races for runs and
wickets for the 2015 season.
The transport plans were in place and the groups set for the journeys to the airport. Most people
raised an eyebrow when Dicko announced that he would be picking up Aygzz and Rob at 2am
for a 6.20am flight from Gatwick. However, he had the last laugh (after a great deal of
frustration) when it took him and Rob 45 minutes to rouse Aygzz who thought the flight times
were PM and not AM.
Finally he was roused though and we all met at the airport for a breakfast of beer and fry up.
After the flight, transfer and check in we decided to go and have a look at the ground and have
a walk to the seafront for lunch.
We found a restaurant for lunch and for the sake of simplicity I decided to order for everyone.
Having ordered Wiggy decided I hadn’t ordered enough and decided to order some more. We
then settled in for a long game of Man vs Food as we tried to get through the enormous quantity
of meat that was served up to us.
After a few pints we decided to work off lunch and with the beach and volleyball nets just across
the road the choice seemed obvious. The teams formed by chance and not even Wiggy with his
maths ability could work out the chances of the six best players all being on one side. As it was
the team of Wiggy, Aygzz, Fingers, Ed, Ram and Rob ran out the easiest of winners. Ram even
having the chance to showboat on his rare serving opportunities.
Well, easiest until the rematch on Sunday morning which we won even more easily.
With a half-way house rest stop on the way back to the hotel it was time for a sleep before the
evening out. It started relatively sensibly with dinner but then needless to say for some at least it
became less sensible and long as several beers were downed and several stories retold. This
included a drink in a bar where the barman was born in a village 5 miles from where Alan was
born but claimed never to have heard of Boldon. No wonder no-one can understand him.
Saturday was a slow start for most with a meet at the Sporting Alfas ground for lunch before the
start of the game. Whitey was in charge of our first overseas game and went out to do the toss
with SACC skipper Phil Pennick. After a long negotiation and no toss Whitey returned to
announce he had agreed they could bat first in return for an 85 over match.
Rob and Ram opened the bowling and Pennick and Algar got the innings off to a flying start.
Such a start in fact that the first wicket T&TCC took overseas was a retired out when Pennick
decided he’d had enough of playing the pull shot.
Most of the SACC top order got runs as the few wickets that were taken were shared around as
were the dropped catches. After a tough session on a lightning fast outfield SACC took pity on
us and declared on 283-5 after 39 overs. Our performance perhaps summed up by Dicko
bowling a ball that hit the stumps but wasn’t fast enough to knock the bails off.
Aygzz and Meady started the T&T reply and initially things started okay; 26-0 from 5 overs.
However, once Meady chipped a full toss to cover wickets started falling quickly. Perhaps the
lamest excuse being Wiggy’s that the bat he was using was too short.
It soon became a matter of respectability and a partnership of 49 for the 7 th wicket between Al
and Ram started to do that. Al made 33 before Ram went on to score 50.
We even looked like we might escape with a draw but Dicko was the last to go to give SACC a
comfortable and well deserved victory.
Following the game we stayed in the SACC Cabin for a few drinks with the SACC players and
supporters. And then a few more. And then once Wiggy and Meady had gone to find
somewhere for dinner another one. And then once they phoned complaining we hadn’t arrived
for dinner a last one. Thanks to SACC for a great evening.
After a meal at a fine Italian restaurant several of us didn’t properly appreciate it was on for a
late drink. That was enough for me. The fast early evening pace had been too much and it was
time for bed. Whitey and Rob were the last men standing (or pole dancing) in the Yellow
Submarine but more about there tomorrow night.
Sunday we had agreed to meet back at the SACC ground for breakfast whilst watching one of
their junior teams. Needless to say some saw far more of the game than others. However, we
were all there for the exceptionally one sided volleyball rematch. Not even Al’s coaching was
having an impact… or perhaps it was.
Surely in spite of the evidence of the day before SACC skipper Mark Perman insisted we bat
first and we were desperate to put on a better show than we had.
Meady and Aygzz were opening up again and had an unfortunate mascot go out to the middle
with them. Fortunately it wasn’t a bad omen as both got runs as we got off to a good and quick
start. Meady completed a double of bizarre dismissals for the weekend by being out hit wicket
moments before being caught by Rob at deep midwicket who was subbing for an injured fielder.
It may not have been the oddest innings end though as Wiggy retired hurt following being hit in
the mouth trying a reverse sweep.
In fact the game started to follow a similar pattern to the day before with the top order all getting
runs as we made a respectable 259-8 in 40 overs.
Sam and Ram opened the T&T bowling in reply and Sam claimed the first two wickets before
Ram claimed the next two.
The bowling was shared around as wickets continued to fall; Rob and Dicko joined in with two
each before the bowling was trusted to Spike and Meady. Spike decided that the cost of things
in Spain was so cheap that he could afford to be extravagant buying his wicket (to the pleasure
of the SACC number 11) before the game was ended by Meady’s first ever wicket for T&TCC;
so ended the playing part of the tour. See the SACC version of the game at
http://sacc.hitscricket.com/scorecard/fixtureID_441546/Sporting-Alfas-2nd-X1-v-Theale-C-C-01Mar-2015.aspx
The tour party:
Back row: Sam Arrowsmith, Alan Why, Phil Mead, James White, Andrew Wigmore, Paul Ager
Front row: Ram Sankaran, Rob Dimmack, Matt Dixon, Edward Choules, John Morris, Brian
Cooper
After the game we enjoyed the warm sunshine at the ground and had a few final drinks with the
SACC players. They really were great hosts for the weekend and particular thanks to Geoff for
his help with organising the fixtures and Jane and her team for all their work in the cabin that
kept us fed and watered. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
After dinner it was time for a sensible drink before an early night for the early morning transfer.
Needless to say that didn’t happen for some of us as it was back to the Yellow Submarine.
Initially it was for the T&TCC Pool Masters which was won by Spike. This was followed by some
extraordinary karaoke singing: firstly the only other person in the bar, a drunken Norwegian,
massacred two Springsteen songs before the barmaid donned her wig to serenade Sam. His
only option was to run outside and when he tried to make it up to her later on going round to her
side of the bar he was given very short shrift.
It really was then time for one for the road (or one for each part of the journey home as it
transpired).
There shouldn’t be too much to say about Monday; all we had to do was travel home. But there
was a worrying start as Ram, Fingers, Whitey and Sam missed the bus back to airport.
Fortunately enough phone calls roused us and a quick taxi ride had us there before the others.
My troublesome journey wasn’t quite complete though. My bag had to go in the hold and then
someone took it by mistake from the carousel. Fortunately they were traced and contacted
before they got too far and we were able to swap back bags.
From then on the only issue was if Wiggy would make his meeting in Slough for 2pm. He did.
Thanks to all those that went on tour. It was truly memorable and it was a great group that really
was a pleasure to be part of.
If you didn’t go, sorry but you’ll be hearing plenty about it.