While many local cricket clubs are fighting apathy and dwindling playing numbers,  Claygate continue to thrive - and their cricket week produced yet more excellent sport and memorable hospitality. 

The tradiitonal curtain-raising 8--a-side tournament , masterminded this year by Damian Ross, featured several champagne moments  and a blitz of sixes before it  was won by Kingston's Hotel Antoinette team led by Peter Hartnell and Steve Buckingham.

Then on Tuesday Claygate , chasing 197 to beat the calypso cricketers of Carnegie,  could not score quickly enough against a high-class attack,  but forced a creditable draw on 180 for 4 with Dick Murphy continuing his fine season with a polished 63.

Earlier the much-improved Luke Webb bowled superbly to record figures of three for 45 to keep the cavalier Carnegie batsmen in check. 

Even Wednesday's rain could not stop Claygate and East Horsley, who managed a 30-over game regardless.  The visitors won by just five runs despite sixth-former Jamie Henderson's 62 not out.

Henderson was in the runs again on Thursday,  batting like a whirling dervish and hammering 94 as Claygate eased to a five wicket win over Stoke D'Abernon. Rufus Legg offered key support with 63 and seems destined to hit a thousand runs for the third season running.

Friday's draw with a young and talented Sunbury side featured a half-century for another of Claygate's promising youngsters, Nick French.

In  Surrey Downs League action at the weekend, rain saved Claygate's Ist XI after they were dismissed for only 121 on a wet track at  Salfords, with only Dick Murphy's  35 not out offering much resistance.  The home side were cruising on 73 without loss when the downpour came.

Claygate's 2nd XI  lost to Salfords.  Chasing 224, they collapsed to 26 for 4 before a big fightback left them within sight of an unlilkely victory. 

Ian Darke's back-to-form if chancy 72 not out provided the foundation aided by a classy 44 from Joel Watkins and an explosive 32 from Peter Shury.   But a silly run out with 7 balls remaining cost Claygate the satisfaction of holding on for a draw.

The 16-year-old Watkins followed his Saturday heroics with a career-best 91 in the Sunday second team's defeat at Ockham, while the first team looked as if the week's exertions had taken their toll as they slumped to an 8-wicket loss at the hands of Cobham.


ENDS

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