Photo caption: Mallards 1994, at Heaton Medicals Ground v. History
(in front of automated scorekeeping facility)

Standing: Ian Stone (Capt), Neil Rhodes, Colin Wymer, Phil Holmes, Colin Wren, Paul Dowling, Dave Welsh. Front: Colin Brown, Simon Hayes, Geoff Davis, Nick Hayward.

*108-0? Was that the Mallards’ score or that of their opponents?
Yes… the team was en route to a rare (pre-2000) total of 144-4.

Fifteen of the 19 fixtures were played, but the success of 1993 could not be repeated. Only five wins were recorded, against Built Environment, Bainbridge and Guinea Pigs… and (a dubious inclusion) the Mallards A v. Mallards B end-of-season match. Mech Eng, Old Record Players, Adders, History and Floorplan had the best of the matches in 1994. With Brearley having moved on, Neil Rhodes (327, av. 27.25) headed the batting, followed at some distance by Kevin Hinde (131, av. 26.20) and Phil Holmes (back to form with 120 runs). Geoff Davis accumulated 80, just pipping Trevor Wood (79), in his debut season for Mallards, and Ian Morgan (77). Experimenting with bats, stance and guard – and even trying reverse sweeping – Gareth Taylor was still struggling for scores to match his potential (26 runs, av. 2.89).

While half the bowlers had an economy rate of 3.00-4.00 in 1993, in 1994 just one, Nick Constantine (20 overs, 5-68) conceded fewer than 4.00. Stone headed the wickets taken (14-194 off 41 overs), backed up by Rhodes (10-171 off 37) and Simon Hayes (8-181, also off 37). Cleaver found wickets harder to come by (3-174 off 37) while our opponents seem to have ‘found out’ the fast arm action of John Howard. Topping the bowling averages, however, was economist Phil Holmes, who possessed an armoury of surprising deliveries to return 8 for 83 (av. 10.38). Among this haul was his hat-trick against Built Environment. Captaining the side, Phil stepped up to set up a memorable win… duly described in the international edition of the Peterlee Star (courtesy of Trevor Wood)

This performance by Holmes earned him the Notable Achievement Award, newly introduced just in case more than one team member in a single season did something at all notable. A feature of the awards system at this time was the ever-changing criteria for each category, knowledge of which was strictly kept from ordinary club members. The Awards Committee (membership of which was confined to the skipper and his drinking pals), after long deliberation, gave the Cross-Bat Trophy to Ian Morgan, Mallard Ball to Simon Hayes, Swoop Fielding Trophy to Trevor Wood, and Asti Spumante Momento to Neil Rhodes. The latter’s award was for his score of 91 n.o. against History, and for contributing nearly 30% of all runs scored by the team (327). Neil’s big score is unlikely to ever be beaten, given present retirement rules.

Previous: Season 1993
Next: Season 1995