A picturesque rural setting greeted the Taverners for the first game of the Bath tour, and the threatened rain held off long enough to get a game in. Unfortunately, the Taverners struggled from the start to come to terms with the conditions and a canny home bowling attack. The sight of Aymon walking back, bowled in the first over was a sign of things to come as a procession of Taverners failed to make much impression at the wicket.
Tony A managed a creditable 20 but otherwise it was left to Hugh with a hard fought unbeaten 41, to hold the innings together. 106 was hardly an imposing target but perhaps the Priston batsmen would have as much trouble as ours.
The openers soon put paid to this hope, finding the boundary regularly from the start and looking increasingly untroubled. Tony and AJ were replaced by Martin and Andy P, then Barry, but to no avail as any loose balls were ruthlessly punished. Finally, with Taverners hopes fading more rapidly than the early evening light, Aymon got one through Copperman's defences to bowl him for 39. Too little too late, with only 10 runs needed, but at least we had avoided the ignomony of a 10 wicket defeat. Aymon even picked up a second wicket before the end but in truth the home side had hardly been stretched and were comfortable winners, opener Lawton finishing unbeaten on 60.
After a couple of pints with the Priston lads in the characterful village pub, it was back to base in the minibus for the tourists, then time to hit the pubs of Bath in earnest.
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Photo: Guy Gibbs
