So, we went out today looking for a penultimate-day hat-trick.
For a brief period it looked doable, but Binstead and Basingstoke Capital proved a bit too strong for the Seconds and Thirds. Good luck to them with their promotion campaigns.
But, with all due respect to the 2s and 3s, part of their job is to keep pushing players upwards and strengthening the First XI. Then it’s down to the First XI to take that support and deliver when it matters.
Today, when it really mattered, they delivered.
A resounding victory over promotion rivals Whitchurch, built around a magnificent 156 from returning legend, Josh Carpenter, and six wickets from loyal club stalwart Alex Brundle.
Those two deserve the applause and the slaps on the back tonight, but this has always been about something bigger than one game or two outstanding performances.
After relegation last year, the objective across the whole club was simple: bounce back and start getting the First XI moving up through the leagues again.
Every captain, every player who has moved between sides, every youngster who has stepped up and every bloke who has answered a desperate Friday-night phone call asking if he fancies spending Saturday afternoon fielding at fine leg has played a part.
There’s still a little bit of work to do, so nobody needs to start spraying the champagne around just yet.
But if everything goes according to plan, next Saturday should be a celebration for the whole club, from the bottom upwards.
If the First XI get over the line, it’s a club effort involving 40 players or more.
One more Saturday. One more day to enjoy.
Let’s finish the job, and finish it in style.
