Photo caption: Mallards 1993, one of a handful of matches played at Bullocksteads.

(L to R) Ian Morgan, Ian Stone (capt), Colin Wymer, Tony Cleaver, Nick Hayward, Dick Buswell, Kevin Hinde, Geoff Davis, Dave Welsh, Neil Rhodes.

*The pitch was not perfect. Dick Buswell was injured catching his foot in a rabbit-hole on his run-up.

The trend to a rising number of fixtures continued, with 17 games played this season. The 25-strong squad positively sparkled, with eleven victories (60%), including wins over Adders, Mech Eng, Built Environment, and a double over Bainbridge (the department store).

Pete Brearley built upon his solid 1992 performance with the bat to become the highest scorer (236 runs, 6 innings, 2 n.o., av. 59.00). Kevin Hinde, in his second season, also made an important contribution, with 194 (9 innings, 3 n.o., av. 32.33). Newcomer, Newcastle student Neil Rhodes, came next, with 117 (av. 39.00). Phil Holmes was somewhat less imperious than previously at the wicket, falling back to 77 runs from 10 innings. Kevin Ives, in his only season (78), Geoff Davis (74), Colin Brown (72) and Simon Hayes (69) weighed in with valuable runs.

The bowling attack helped the side to press home wins through restricting opponents’ scores. The economy rate of 8 out of the 16 bowlers was under 4 runs. With the injured Dave Welsh unavailable this season, and Colin Wymer now retired to the outfield to concentrate on keeping alight his roll-ups, Stone (49 overs) and Cleaver (48 overs) began their run as partners in attack. Stone returned 24 wickets for 176 (av. 7.33), and Cleaver 10 for 161 (av. 16.10). Important roles were also played by: Simon Hayes, bowling 60 overs – possibly the most in a season by any Mallard in history – from which he took 14 for 212; Nick Constantine (25 overs, 9-108); Kevin Hinde (31, 8-111); Dick Buswell (14, 6-76); Neil Rhodes (16, 6-74); and Kevin Ives (16, 6-60).

It can only be speculated why Nick Hayward (who scored 35 at an average of 8.75) won the Cross-Bat Award – although there must have been a sound scientific reason – with the Mallard Ball going to Tony Cleaver. New awards, the Swoop Fielding trophy and the Asti Spumante Momento went, respectively, to Ken Hinde and (jointly) Dick Buswell and Gareth Taylor. The latter received the accolade for the supreme ineptness of their fumbling joint attempts at, first, stopping the ball, and then returning it circuitously to the ‘keeper, which caused the batsman to laugh so uncontrollably that he was actually run out… (That’s true! – Ed.)

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