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The Fudge Cup 2006



 

The Fudge Cup was the climax of the 2006 season and saw Daf’s Dynamos lock horns with Smally’s mighty Spitfires for the second time…with the Dynamos sitting pretty at 1-0 after their victory in 2005. It also marked the end of Cairns Fudge HQ (aka Renault House) which had been the hub of all Fudge operations for the last two years…and yes, we had a party…the night before, stupidly…again (at least the absinth didn’t make an appearance this time!). I think we can all say we did it proud!

The morning came very quickly and seemingly very early we tiptoed out the house (not because people were sleeping but because there was glass everywhere!) and made our way up to Wheatley…it was nearly time…

Daf and Andy were soon in the middle for the toss and the pitch was a howler…especially as the covers hadn’t protected it from the rain properly and one end was going to be like batting at the seaside. With that in mind and after winning the toss, Andy decided to bat in the elements…and possibly made the most drongo decision of his cricketing career!  Dave Jeffery and Tom Small strode out to the middle, determined to get off to a good start…and not make their captain look like a plonker! Matt Johnston and Jimmy Fargher had the new ball for the Dynamos and were keen to make use of the sticky conditions. Matt’s consistent line and length soon unlocked the opening partnership in the 3rd over and Dave was bowled for just 3. This brought Dr Mark Kemp to the crease, hungry for runs. He struck the first 4 of the innings and then Tom also got in on the boundary act – Tom should have felt in fine form after his 10 hours sleep! Dr Mark’s stay didn’t last long and he was soon caught for 13 of Charlie Knight’s bowling. The Spitfires were now 43 for 2 and now the Small pair was at the crease with Phil White & Andrew Milne now into the attack.

Andy and Tom knocked the ones and two around for starters but then started to unleash. Unfortunately, John Small, who had volunteered to umpire got on the wrong end of a straight pull from his eldest son…and it caught him on the side of the face, off the stumps. A freak accident that happens very rarely and the situation was a bit scary for a while…but in the end all that was lost was 4 runs to Andy’s score and Mr Small was soon back on the field to finish the job – now that’s commitment! Andy soon past 50 but was undone by the reintroduction of Matt Johnston, who’s short and wide teaser was only guided into Daf’s stomach at point. This Brought Nick Cudahy to the crease…then back again after being run out for 0. Tom then too brought up his 50 but he also couldn’t go on and was caught after some tight bowling from Knight.

Batsman of the season 2005 Matt Correal and Kristian Jensen were now at the crease with The Spitfires on 139 for 5 and looking good with runs on the board. Dane & Matt Correal however became Matthew’s second & third victims, bowled for 1 and 3 respectively (ish!)…but Matt Correal had got the biggest cheer of the afternoon for his first runs in 2 months! Rik ‘The Power’ Lancaster and Nick Wakeham were now in on the act but Jimmy’s tricky left handed action were their undoing and they were both bowled for 2 and 0. The last stand from Matt Genevieve & Rich Walker saw the Spitfires home…but Matt was run out for 0 and the Spitfires finished on 149.

At the half way stage a fantastic array of sandwiches, cakes and drinks had been laid on by the girls – Julia Gibbs, Beccy Price, Frances Mott and of course Mrs Small…in her cricket tea element as usual. The support too had gathered momentum with Mr & Mrs Jensen and uncle Kristian Jensen now on the side line and cheering their son/nephew on! (I’d suggest waiting for his bowling!)  

Andrew Milne and Nick Ragg marched out to the middle and looked like a formidable opening pair. With the new ball Kristian Jensen was champing at the bit and spinner Tom Small was also given the tough task of bowling at the danger men! The Dynamo’s were soon one down after some great work from Tom Small at mid-off after Raggy crunched one straight to him and set off…but Drew wasn’t coming and they were both stranded at the bowlers end…Raggy had to go, 6 for 1 and not the start they wanted. This brought helmeted Chris James to the crease, keen as ever, and was off the mark straight away. Dane was now rested after 4 overs and Dave Jeffery was into the attack and swinging it a mile. Chris hit a big pull for 4  but was undone in the next over and Dave had his man – bowled for 7. Drew was going along nicely but very slowly…and being amazingly watchful of Toms tight off-spinners. Jimmy Ray had now joined him and the 4’s had started to come. Nick Cudahy was thrown the ball in attempt to slow them down and he bowled 4 overs very tightly…making Drew & Jimmy very frustrated. Dr Mark Kemp now joined Nick and had an immediate breakthrough, fizzing one in and Jimmy Ray could only loop one up to cover for 11…the big guns were flailing!

Charlie Knight now joined Drew and the two looked to consolidate…well…Drew had been consolidating all innings so far! It was short lived however and Charlie was soon back in the pavilion for just 1, Kemp again forcing a catch. The dangerous Simon Weaver marched out to the middle to join Drew which seemed to awake the sleeping giant as he started to up the anti. However he knocked one too close to Tom Small who whipped it into the keeper Andy Small for the second time and Drew was 4 miles short of getting back in his ground…a steady start down the drain and Drew was walking back for a slow but sure 20, and it looked like the game with him. Captain Daf Howells now walked out to join Sai in his last innings as Cairns Fudge & Dynamos captain. Tears in the eyes could have been blamed for a poor performance (like Don Bradman!) but Daf stuck to his guns and was quickly off the mark. Sai too was knocking it around but he was caught at mid-wicket off Dave’s bowling, who was now back into the attack. Max joined Daf but he was soon back in the pavilion for just 1 as Dane was now back in the attack and really firing them down. Daf had been playing well but even he couldn’t handle the heat as Dr Mark too was on the money. Looking to move the score on he too was run out for 11 and with that looked like the match as The Dynamos were reeling on 70 for 8. Matt Johnston was the last recognised batsman and even he could not holt the Kemp juggernaut and was soon bowled for 0. Phil White and left hander Jimmy ‘the project’ Fargher were the last pair and the end was near. Jimmy was cleaned up by Dane for just 1 and the Dynamos were all out for 71.

RESULT: VICTORY FOR THE SPITFIRES BY 78 RUNS