July 1st 2001

Tappers

Pembroke College, Oxford

Tribesmen: Alex Paterson (The Chief)
Ed Beckwith
Saul Shanagher
Oli Moorby
James Baird
Rick Welsh
Nigel Toussant
Mark Benbow
Tom Cape *
Anthony Cruickshank*
Another Ozzie *
* Taureg debutantes

Type of Battle: 20 overs after 6.30 (camels optional)

The great warriors assembled once again in the second match of the Season to face our old adversaries, the Tappers.


oh dear...he's been moosed..

The Tappers have given the Tuaregs numerous hidings over the years (like most of our opposition) and the
chief for the day (Alex Paterson) had done his best to assemble a good side.

Despite numerous last minute blowouts he managed to collate the usual bunch of misfits and inadequates,
but this time we had acquired two, new rather good ozzies. They even turned up in a beaten up old camper van!


In and out....in three balls

Full of confidence the Tauregs won the toss and put the Tapers in to bat. Our ozzie quickie took a wicket
with his first ball and at 106 for 6 the Tauregs were well and truly on top. However this is a unique
position for the Tuaregs and it was obvious that we were not comfortable being in the ascendancy.

It was not long before the initiative was handed back to the oppo. with a series of drop catches and general
mong-like behaviour. The Tappers were eventually able to declare at 202 for 8!!!

The Tuaregs retired to tea to reflect on the task ahead. The Tuaregs have never scored 200 runs in a day,
and often struggle to make 200 in a season…So it was not surprising that the conversation quickly reverted
to builders and the important of reliability and dependability.

The Tuaregs began their chase for victory but if that was beyond us were always confidant that we could secure a draw.



At 56-6 and then 74-8 even a draw would have been a miracle. The batting was awful, seldom has the much venerated batting line-up achieved high standards of utter crap.. The Tappers only needed to get two wickets, and had 20 overs to get them.. Would the Tuaregs survive?

Well what happened will go down in the Tuaregs annals as one of the finest back to wall battles ever. Alex Paterson made a valiant and match saving 55 not out, and the Tuareg no. 10 and 11 (we normally only have 10 players!) did their bit until at the close of play the match was drawn with the Tuaregs on 146-9..amazing.

The Tappers could not believe it...


the valiant Mr Benbow....

A totally unfair and outrageous draw. The campfires will take more than inadequacy to be extinguished. We still
remain undefeated for the season, the longest run ever in Tuareg history (2 matches)

Where do I start? The fielding was poor, the bowling something a child would not be proud of, and our first 7
batsmen would find it difficult to get into a team of arm-less girls. However I think it goes without saying that
the Mong moment must go to the Tappers. How on earth could they not take two Tuareg wickets, especially those of batsmen 10 and 11, in 20 overs???? A whole Tuareg innings seldom lasts more than 20 overs,
so to fail to drive home their advantage and win the match is mongness of truly Taureg proportions...

The Chief Mong would like to remind everyone of last years PATERSON LIPSTICK AWARD

This display of fairy like fielding brought chants of 'Oh Al. You've just dropped you lipstick!'