Ripley Home

The season finale saw a Ripley side visit The Brennan Oval in a fixture that saw neither team have anything to gain or lose. Besides Sherman, who had another toss to lose. Blubbs were batting first on a track that was deceptively wet. Thack, playing his 18th home game of the year, replaced Frankie who was on another granny pulling expedition. 

The usual suspects strode out to the wicket, with Winton looking to pass the 800 run mark for the season. His quest failed, a slow loopy away swinger from Stancombe fell to the hands of slip and Winton ended the season with a shiny golden quack. Bubba walked out looking to build up his run tally. Things looked promising as mis-qued swish cleared the boundary.

One swing too many, and Bubba was out bowled for 11. Gobby strode to the wicket, and immediately looked comfortable. 6 runs later and Gobby was also out, pulling a long hop from Stancombe to short fine leg. With Blubbs reeling at 30-3, Arnie stroll to the wicket, looking to end on only 7 ducks after completing a hat trick the week before. Excitement turned to despair as a crashing drive fell into the hands of cover and blubbs were 4 down with only 36 on the board and Arnie completing 4 ducks in a row ending with a record 8 in a season. 

Bungle walked out at 6 hoping to rebuild the innings, whilst Angry stood at the non-strikers end, sweating out the previous evening's Jack Daniels and wondering what carnage is going on at the other end. The run rate slowed as the pair cautiously watched the bowling. After many deliveries of picking the fielders, Angry latched onto a delivery and sent it out of the park. Meanwhile at the other end, Bungle was practicing his ducking technique, Biker choosing the negative approach of bouncers. Biker pitched one in the batsmans half of the pitch and Bungle dispatched it out the park.  

Chaos soon followed. A mis-hit from Bungle off a no-ball looked like looping to the fielder and that being the end. The batsmen stole a single as the ball was parried towards the boundary. Upon seeing the ball being thrown in, Angry ducked only to feel the pain as the ball hit him square on the back.

The score reached 78, with both batsmen playing some decent shots before a delivery from Biker swung in, seemed away, kept low and clattered into Bungle's off stump and Titchie was next in. Titchie and Angry added 10 runs before Angry snicked a Biker delivery and was in the hut for 24. 

Sherman was next in and the brothers Lowe added 12 runs before Titchie hit another Bollon moon ball to long off and this brought Pepperami to the wicket. Pepperami's poor batting form at home continued as he was bowled for 1 and the Blubbs dominoes kept falling. Piewalker offered some resistance at one end as Sherman crashed the ball around at the other until Piewalker missed a lazy sweep shot and Bollon had a 2nd wicket.

Stancombe came back on and picked up the final wicket of Hebb, chipping one up to mid-wicket and blubbs were 133 all out and looking at ending the season with defeat.

The Ripley reply began slowly, with Winton and Sherman opening up. Sherman soon got into the wickets, cleaning up Robinson for 2. Hennings came in... and went out again, bowled first up by Sherman who was determined to get a hat-trick trophy of his own. It wasn't to be. At the other end, Winton got into the action, a smart caught and bowled removed Illingworth, then full and straight was the order as the finger went up, Biker was gone and Ripley were struggling at 16-4. 

Bollon and Whiteley began to score freely before Sherman got into the action again, trapping Bollon plumb in front for 19, Ripley were 47-5. Stancombe came out and took the attack to Blubbs, and Sherman had to think fast. Titchie put his ice skates on and replaced Winton. With his first delivery, Stancombe was on his way back, bowled for 15.

Woodhead attacked the bowling and Sherman turned to Bubba. Bubba removed Woodhead for 12 and Ripley were 81-7. This was soon to be 84-8 as Titchie skated in, did an axel jump, half lutz then pirouetted to the crease before bowling Newton for 0 and Blubbs were within reaching distance of victory. Whiteley was still at the crease and kept the score going. The score reached 99 when Bubba cleaned up Snape for 4 and Ripley were 9 down. Cutts hung around as Whiteley continued to score and it was reaching 'squeaky bum' time. With only 15 to win, Sherman turned to Gobby. As a rank long hop was smashed for 4, it looked like Ripley were going to snatch it, but Gobby immediately hit back, Whiteley snicking to Hebbs gloves and the match was over, Ripley finishing 123 all out and an exciting finale to the season was over.

As the post match atmosphere became more subdued, Clippy brought out the drinks. A snifter of raspberry vodka and a Jagermeister later, the post season entertainment began.

Points: Blubberhouses 5 Ripley 1
Fielding Points: Gobby x2
Fact of the day: Regardless of everything that goes on, you can always rely on Clippy to lead the team astray, this time introducing the art of how to drink Jagermeister.

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