The 2014 Brouhaha

Report by Daniel Mortlock:

Another year, another defeat-free week for FAS, whose six games comprised three wins and thre draws. The wins, against Remnants, Fladbury and the Royal Marines, were all comfortable; and we never really looked like losing any of the drawn games.

There were plenty of good individual performances, with the resultant awards going to:

• Best batsman: Tom Hall (133 runs at 66.50), who was top run scorer on tour, full of grit and determination. A new dawn?
• Best bowler: Jimmy Houlder (4 wickets at 11.00), who had the best bowling figures on tour (4/44 against Temple Grafton). I'll bet you didn't see that coming!
• Best all rounder: Harry Houlder (117 runs at 117.00 and 5 wickets at 24.40), with impressive bowling and captaincy, plus wonderful batting this year, and such solid gingerness.
• Best fielder: Tim Prifti, for a "what a catch!".
• Best wicket-keeper: Chris Barras, who's still the best, even if he was grumpier behind the sticks than normal.
• Best captain: Harry Houlder again - see above!
• Character of the tour: Alex Stone, heartbeat of the tour for twenty bonkers years.
• Most improved young player: Charlie Prifti, the Spawn of Satan, highlighted by splendidly accurate seam bowling from the young debutant.

The awards were all presented at the end-of-tour dinner on the Wednesday, where we also presented thank you presents to Wendy Dare (for once again opening up her home to us) and the Dare family as a whole (for making this tour happen at all).