Just picture the scene, one of Wick Van Hire's finest seventeen seaters purring at the ready, star stumper Dickie Morgan at the wheel, "We all live in a Watts & Morgan House" blaring from the radio and Dominic Mobbs gathering his troops for a journey into the unknown. Welcome to the Bridgend Town Cricket Club's end of season tour for 2006.
The four day hike, to Tallinn, Estonia, was the brainchild of 1st XI opening bowler Dominic Mobbs. As well as organising two games of cricket against the Estonian National side, at the rather exotically named Hippodrome, Mr. Mobbs also managed to talk UEFA's hierarchy into organising Newcastle United’s first leg in the Estonian capital during the lads stay.
Therefore with just three hours in Tallinn, the tour party found themselves in the home end of Leveda Tallinn, amongst whistles, klaxons, non-alcoholic lager and annoying plastic horns! The football was nothing to write home about as the Magpies lacked the normal penetration provided by Geordie favourite Shola Ameobe. Even so, United were more than worth their one nil win thanks to a header from Sibierski early in the first half.
Now on to the cricket. On the Friday, a Twenty20 style match was arranged with many of the Bridgend boys nursing severe headaches and stomach upsets from the terrible jet lag that can occur when travelling to Eastern Europe. However they were boosted by the arrival of heavy run scorers Alistair Dalton and Spencer Collier, leaving Mark White (Chairman of Selectors) with selection headaches.
Captain Mobbs showed his unselfish nature by winning the toss, electing to bat and opening the innings himself with 3rd XI stalwart Liam Weller. Neither managed to impress the scorers and a tumble of quick wickets saw Bridgend reduced to 30 for 5. This soon became 30 for 7 as Hampton Hill professional Alex Price, ran 1st XI skipper Stuart Morris out without facing a ball and then Dickie Morgan nicked a sharp chance to the keeper to return to the boundary edge for nought.
Thankfully Dalton was still in the pavilion, and led a fantastic revival, first with Price and then with club legend Huw Miles. Dalton finished 49 not out as Bridgend set a challenging 138 for 8 off their 20 overs.
Bridgend used the usual opening attack of Mobbs and express train Adam Weaver who both showed good pace on a lively Estonian wicket. However, wickets proved difficult to come by and Bridgend had no answer to Estonia’s resident Australian professional. A cross between Jo Mangel and Steve Waugh, the Australian cut and pulled with aplomb and saw the home side to victory with just 2 balls to spare.
The Bridgend side were clearly disappointed at this result, and the lads had decided on a team rule of an early night. Unfortunately, a faulty fire alarm led to the boys having a disrupted nights sleep and next morning a late fitness test was required on young leg spinner Johnny Davies.
By the time the team arrived at the ground, all of the team had been passed fit and IT Specialist Jonny Ling opened the batting with 2nd team regular Kenny Cadogan.
Bridgend made a much better fist of things second time around and partnerships of 50 for the 1st wicket and 95 for the 2nd saw the visitors finish on 187 for 2 from their 30 overs. Ling made 20, Cadogan 49, Collier 30 not out and once again Alistair Dalton getting the bulk of the runs ending on 65.
Aggressive bowling from Weaver, Mobbs, Weller and Miles left the Estonians struggling for runs. As a result home umpire Bert Schumuker decided to take matters into his own hands, consistently no balling Mobbs despite him not letting the ball go, penalising Weller for bowling left arm over the wicket and constantly adding a ball or two to the over as Morris wasn't provided with six counters at the start of the Estonian innings.
Despite this, Bridgend still managed to keep the home side at bay and gained a satisfying 6 run victory.
Dalton was justifiably named man of the series for Bridgend, while the Estonian man of the series was undoubtedly Chrisse, the Estonian captain, James long term girlfriend. Not only did she score both books beautifully, she also collected the boundary markers with such speed that Dai Dobbs’s role at Bridgend next season is seriously under threat.
A fabulous time was had by all and a huge thank must go to Jason the Estonian CC club president, Dominic Mobbs and Wick Van Hire for all their support and organisation.
First XI scribe