KMCC romp to 100 points as the season ends in champagne and smiles
All the hard work of the previous 21 matches gave an end of season feel for champions KMCC to favour and enjoy it they did batting in more carefree manner than at any time since the crushing of Pannal in early season. Rodney departed for his second duck in consecutive innings but after that the runs flowed - but not without the constant clatter of wickets - Firstly Paul Gardener completed an excellent Rookie season by smiting a quick-fire 51 and this was followed by a no less carribean 41 by Goldie and just when Galphay thought they'd worked their way through the KMCC batting Duncan stepped into the fray to bludgeon the quickest fifty of the day. Bradley batting at eleven, after taking advice from former captain Shedley, steadied the ship and ensured the point was not lost as the innings closed on 228-9. Richard Peacock provided the barbie and despite the bitter cold wind blowing from the arctic the KMCC fielders entered the fields in good spirits.
The Galphay batting order was reversed as they had ensured their second division status several weeks previously but with the KMCC bowlers hungry for the bowling point that would take Kirkby to 100 points for the season no mercy was shown. In particular the oxygen starved gouty struggled up the hill to take 3 more wickets to add to his 3 in the championship victory of the previous week. The Galphay innings crumbled away despite some outrageous cheating initially by the ageing Pickersgill no-balling the wicket keeper from square leg and then a Galphay batsman who'd knocked the cover off the ball walked halfway to the pavilion and then walked back when the umpire had failed to correctly give him out and all that on a Wookie hattrick ball. It was all over shortly afterwards however with gouty on his return dismissing the last Galphay batsmen amid great celebrations from the vociferous away crowd. The title was celebrated with champagne provided by the President washed down with copious quantities of Stella - and with Galphay taking home an evening league cup the area was left reeling in silverware for the first time in many years.... Next year the first division and new challenges await!!!!