Statistics reveal that 15 games were played, once again involving a total of 23 players for Mallards. Phil Holmes, who seems to have cancelled his holidays in pursuit of glory with the team, turned out for each and every game. He accumulated 136 runs in his 15 innings, with Ian Morgan contributing 129 (11 times out), followed by Ian Lincoln (94) and Ian Stone (83). The star batsman, however, was Jules Taylor (no relation to the ‘other’ Taylor), who hit 405 in 11 innings, historically the highest scorer for Mallards in a season (based on available data). Taylor’s average (36.82), however, was topped by Ash Amin (79 for two times out, av. 39.5) and… geographer Dick Buswell (55 runs, once out).

Ian Stone (55 overs), Jules Taylor (50) and Dave Welsh (46) hogged the bowling to a remarkable extent (helped by the five-over maximum per bowler rule at the time); medium-pacer Colin Wymer (21 overs, 8-115) and the wily spinner Morgan (16, 8-82) were the main supporting bowlers. While Stone’s 55 overs included only 4 maidens, his stuttering run-up and ‘swinging to leg’ method gave him 23 wickets for 266 runs (av. 11.5), including two ‘fourfers’. Scotsman Dave Welsh, miserly with both words and runs – and merciless to batsmen in this pre-helmet era – bowled 9 maidens and took 9-187 (av. 20.8). Quick bowler Jules Taylor was more generous – 9 for 243 at an average of 27.0. Among the best bowling averages, however, came from another Taylor, one Gareth (2.0.6.1, av. 6.0), in his debut season for Mallards. The newcomer’s batting, however – no runs in two innings – suggested a need for intensive work in the nets practice over the winter.

What was possibly the inaugural Mallards Dinner was held at the Hospitality Inn, Osborne Road, Jesmond, on 2 December 1992, when the players tucked into leek and almond soup, roast Northumberland turkey, and pear and almond flan with butterscotch sauce (there must have been an excellent almond crop the previous year). The meal was topped off with plenty of invention, exaggeration and selectivity in recalling the recent season. Another Mallards’ tradition was thus born…

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