As widely predicted as early as last Monday, the weekend has been a spectacular washout at Oakley Park, with summer morphing in to autumn with depressing ease as pulses of rain pushed across Hampshire.
Sadly, this denied the first XI the opportunity to continue their recent good form and for the second XI to close the gap on leaders St Mary’s in RNE 2. The consolation is that a blank Saturday eased the seconds closer to an unprecedented promotion, with games running out for the chasing pack.
However, with no games for either side next weekend, it is a really disappointing loss of momentum for the club after a great couple of weeks that has featured back to back club doubles and the extension of the incredible 100% record for the seconds.
A few hardy souls did turn up to have the odd pint in an attempt to soften the financial damage a weekend washout offers whilst others took the opportunity to inflict their non-cricketing misery or their wives and partners.
Such is the selfish nature of the Saturday cricketer, it is standard practice to ensure that those around us will also be punished for the wet weather. Whether it be wandering around in a perpetual state of self-pity, with a face akin to the weather, or muttering obscenities under ones breath in the Festival Place shopping centre, we ensure our pain is shared.
When you drive away from a cancelled game and see the car thermometer nudging up to 12 centigrade as you crash through puddles, it is hard to remain upbeat about a game that is the ultimate test of mental strength and domestic relationships.
However, we must move on…we have no choice. It’s cricket or listless Saturday’s in garden centres.
Up the Oaks!