The Jubilee Tour
Day 1
ACC zami tour England every year since around the mid-2000s. Earlier having visited e.g. Sussex (remember Ronaldo, anyone?), the team visited Oxfordshire in 2009 to participate in a ridiculous six-a-side tournament on an obscure beer-and-cricket festival. Astonishingly, the team (the Wolfies, Marvin Watts, Richard Matchett, Patrick Phillips) walked away with the tournament trophy in a biblical scale downpour of rain. Naturally, a defense of the title was necessary, and a tradition was born: ACC visits to North Moreton in summer (not taking the title, that proved elusive until 2022). This year sees the 15th installment of participation, prompting the current Tour Director to coin the Jubilee Tour.
Departing Hoek van Holland at 9:30, the team was installed in the bar to see Spain demolishing France in the World Cup semi. Time flew and drinks drew, and the 5:30 AM wake-up alert for an not-too awful breakfast (bacon anyone?) in Harwich reminded us on the hardships of Tour life. Early coffees plus a visit to the Salix bat factory completed the morning, followed by a run of 9-hole Texas Scramble on a dodgy course (no sir, cash only!)
At 16h30 sharp we arrived at the first venue. UK slot machine billionaire Jeremy owns and stewards the brilliant ground of Merchant le Hatch CC, where a T20 against the local side would be followed by a BBQ and another (failed) attempt to exorcise the UK Argentina trauma. Wednesday Captain Tristan de Man (Tristan le Homme?) sent in a safe pari of hands: great batting of Jan Balk (Jean le Faisceau, 64 marches) was supported by a colorful ensemble of wannabe cricketers and fellow Dutch officials (MOP chairman Vik was recruited when visiting Salix just the same morning).The local team managed to limit ACC to 149 in the 20 overs, an altogether chaseable total And chase they did. Almost effortless the local team reached 150, perhaps aided by generous fielding by Le Homme and Le Faisceau. Of note was a wicket by Le Boulanger (aka La Chaise of l’ACC) and the bowling of Le Vik du MOP. Happy that the match was concluded in time for the football, the barbecue was taken. One match later (thanks speeches by Le Mont du Sable in the break, stress by the bar personnel for an extra-time eliminated by Argentina) Day 1 ended at a lovely campground or a miserable highway hotel. Can’t wait to play Pennshurst, with Captain Le Faisceau….