The King is dead. Long Live the King!

So reads the proclamation when a monarch passes away and his successor ascends the throne. And, how fitting that in Hatfield, residence of the gargantuan serial-husband Henry VIII, another inspirational new Cavaliers hero was heralded.

Final Day of the Season - Hatfield CC 04 09 05	Tension Builds - S Foster and B Rankin observe proceedings

Loyal readers will recall how last season’s Cavaliers vs Hatfield fixture seemed to be heading for a defeat, until the Cav’s own voraciously-appetited rotund lothario, Jim Burton, had his finest hour – or five minutes – in which he bludgeoned 24 runs from the penultimate over to claim victory for his team.

This season, a similar feat was needed, and the man who should step up to the plate was Matt Penhaligan, ably assisted by his left-hand man Sean O’Brien in an unbroken, match-winning 50 run 8th wicket partnership.

But to the Hatfield innings first – and it was inevitable that it would be the Hatfield innings first; the last game of the season was also the hottest, meaning that skipper Gareth Lloyd was certain to lose the toss and see his loyal troops sent out to field. With most Cavaliers out the night before to celebrate the announcement of the imminent arrival of the newest Cav – Tim Foster’s nipper, due in March, well done Timmy F – the opening efforts in the field were not terribly impressive. Misfields were abound as the hangovers kicked in, with Foster and O’Brien bowling tidily but not really reaping the rewards they deserved. O’Brien, fresh from a disappointing season with the Cavs’ hapless relegated feeder club Gayton, got the breakthrough with a fine delivery, before the normally reliable Jim Handford spilled an easy chance at gully to make it two. Penhaligan replaced Foster and bowled with great pace if not complete control, while Tim Firmin produced perhaps the best spell of the match to stem the runs that had thus-far flown freely. Firmin was having arguably his best game of the season; ferocious when bowling and lithe in the field, taking a fine catch off the bowling of Handford, pulling off a tidy run-out and even stopping a bullet of an on-drive at mid on with his foot with the touch worthy of Zidane, Cruyff and Carrick.

Handford claimed a second scalp when a tailender top-edged a pull to Fraser Tant round the corner, while Tant came on at the death and lived up to his new soubriquet ‘Tail End Tant’ by clean bowling the last three wickets to finish with 3-24 and see Hatfield all out for 174 off 39 overs.

Despite the pitch showing inconsistent bounce, the Cavaliers were confident that they would chase down the runs. However, when regular run-machine Jay Wise holed out at deep square leg in the first over for the first duck in his 54-innings Cavaliers career, the target looked a long way off. Step forward Ellis Thorpe and Jim Handford, whose partnership had sailed beyond 70 without a flicker when Thorpe – otherwise untroubled - nicked behind just one run short of a deserved 50. Foster was next in at 4; a name not uncommon that high in the order but normally preceded by the forename ‘Simon’, not ‘Tim’. However, with Foster the elder deciding that Love is The Drug and consequently only making himself available for 7 non-tour games this season, it was Jnr who strode out at 4, and promptly strode back in with just 3 to his name – a disappointing return for one who promises so much with the bat but rarely delivers whenever an infrequent opportunity comes his way. Handford was out soon after for a fine 39, and when Tant was lbw to a shooter for just 4, Lloyd was run out for 7 and Paul Wise bowled for 2, the Cavaliers were 120/7 and struggling.

Succesful Captain for 2005, G Lloyd urges his heroes	Sean O'Briens (ex-Gayton) winning run - an glanced four

With just Tim Firmin – heart like a lion but not the most prolific of runscorers – and an injured Nick Francis to follow, the men in the middle O’Brien and Penhaligon knew the result largely rested on their respectively round and hairy shoulders. The cricket-savvy O’Brien nibbled and nudged without taking risks and this was largely expected by the onlooking Cavaliers. What was more of an unknown was how Penhaligon would approach the task.

With gusto, that’s how. It was as if, while Jim Burton himself is in Bolivia, the Spirit of Burton was with us. 6 followed 6 followed 4 followed 6, with some sensational clean hitting seeing the runs-required fall from 70 off ten overs to 40 off 5, then 20 off 3. With 8 balls left remaining, O’Brien edged through the slips for four and victory was assured. O’Brien had 23*, Penhaligan 25* and the season had ended with another memorable victory at Hatfield.

The final word has to go the skipper, Gareth Lloyd, who has led the Cavaliers this season with great passion, hard work and tremendous enthusiasm. Whether he decides to retain the armband next season will depend on his domestic negotiation skills over the winter, but regardless of this, there can be no doubt that the 2005 season would not have been half as successful or enjoyable without his great efforts at the helm. Respect is due.

The (un)likely lads. O'Brien and Penhaligon (aka The Truro Express)	All in a days work for the Harpenden Cavaliers (C) and (TM)

Man of the Match: Matt Penhaligan
Mentioned in Despatches: Sean O’Brien, Ellis Thorpe, Tim Firmin
Orange Cap of Shame: Former Cavalier Simon Foster (Bent)

Hatfield 2004 - Burton's Blitz