Marshall’s Muppets put on quite a show
The cricketing Gods blessed the annual Banks Long & Co and Lindum Group six-a-side tournament with an afternoon of glorious sunshine.
The event, which has become a popular fixture of the Lincoln sporting calendar, saw members of the local business community pit their sporting wits against their peers and consume beer and BBQ in equal measure.
Thirty six surveyors, developers, architects, bankers and the like made up the 6 teams that competed for the sought after Toolan Trophy.
The form book was torn up in the first round heats as pre-tournament favourites Bradford’s Bulls were dealt a cricketing lesson by Shah’s Sharks. Crease virgins Guy Kemp of KD Design and William Wall of Banks Long wafted the willow with such free spirited abandon that at least one member of the bulging crowd is reported to have raised an inquisitive eye brow.
On the neighbouring pitch, Harvey’s Wallbangers entertained onlookers with a swashbuckling display of batting excellence, putting Baradell’s Bandits to the sword.
The performance of the early matches must surely, however, be handed to Chris Conroy of Marshall’s Muppets (and Lindum Group) who unleashed an over of ferocious bowling not witnessed on the Lindum Ground since Sonny Ramadhin was in his all conquering pomp.
The semi-finals threw up no real surprises with the pace and power of the beefy John Gouldthorp thwacking his Gouldthorp Gunners through to the final to meet Marshall’s Muppets.
And so the capacity crowd settled down to refreshments, but in probably the greatest shock of the afternoon and in an obvious slap in the face of the traditions of Johnners and Blowers , there was not a single sniff of a cucumber sandwich or a jug of pimms never mind Great Aunt Fanny’s plum bottom cake.
Back to business and in the afterglow of the early evening, captains James Marshall and John Gouldthorp cast impressive shadows in unforgiving whites. Intensity racked across their brows, the seasoned campaigners went to battle and first blood was to the Gunners, racking up 199 runs including a mercurial batting performance by the captain who at one point hit a six back over the bowlers head.
At the other end opposing captain James Marshall started his over impressively with cries of ‘nice action’ ringing out from the pavilion. Unfortunately, he buckled under the pressure and his third ball travelled no more than three inches from his hand. Foul play was at first suspected, however, it was later established that he had suffered a severe repetitive strain injury, incurred whilst thrashing his son at tennis on the club house games console during the break.
So the scene was set for the defending champions Marshall’s Muppets, who required 200 runs to cling onto the trophy. The opening partnership of Marshall and Greaves set about the Gunners bowling attack, majestically stroking their way to boundary after boundary.
At this point it appeared that the win was a formality, however, veteran medium pacer Luke Pickering of Simons Developments found his line and length and helped pen in the remaining batsmen. Finally, in a moment of high drama that saw a spectator lift himself slightly from his seat, the Marshall’s Muppets snatched victory by a single run.
The team were ecstatic in victory, high fiving their way to the pavilion to collect their trophy. They wisely stopped short of raising the captain to their shoulders as there were only five of them.
And so a great day was had by all, with good food, drink and quality sporting entertainment each in plentiful supply.
Doubtless, local legends Harry Pougher and Mark Fell would have been impressed by the days play.
