After last year’s fixture was spoiled by rain the 16th of June 2024 became a feast of sporting entertainment: Sunday of a US Open, England’s opening Euros game and Peckers vs Withyham for the inaugural Tom Saxty Trophy. The fellowship assembled at The Dorset Arms for a quick jar of Sussex’s finest Harvey’s – introductions were made for debutants Rory ‘Wheezy’ Humfrey and Zane ‘Khal Drogo’ Khaleeque. By the time Deggsy had arrived via bus from Brighton it was time for an arranged toss – Peckers to bowl first.

The Woodpeckers’ game plan was clear: get back in time for the football. With a large crowd* sat picnicking on the slopes and the sun shining on the glorious Earl de la Warr’s estate the scene was set.

*There to celebrate the life of a Withyham legend Tom Saxty, a wonderful man and cricketer who scored countless runs including the club record highest score of 208*.He had a special place in the Woodpeckers as he made his senior debut for us when I spotted him before the game, a diminutive but fresh faced youngster on his bicycle.’Do you play cricket?’ ..’Yes I do!’ ‘Would you like to play for us?’ ‘Yes I would! He pedalled off like the wind to get his kit and was ever present and fun at our fixtures. Tom played for us again on Greasy’s Peckers debut in 2017, where Henry took his first wicket to the excellent, upbeat and timely chat from Tom behind the stumps… ‘Bowling Greaser!’ ‘Great Stuff Greaser!’ Tom sadly succumbed to a brutal illness two years ago, but every year his two clubs Withyham and Woodpeckers will remember him by playing for the ‘Tom Saxty Trophy’. The home team were aptly skippered by his 14 year old Godson Jacob Tully with his cousins Andrew and Patrick Spencer both on debut. Parents Sarah and Julian amongst the many other family and friends there.

Cat opened the bowling with a real mixed bag before settling in and eventually breaking the opening partnership with a diving caught and bowled. Taking 1-43 from his 7 overs alongside Fancy Pants who served up plenty of short stuff much to the delight of Traash and the opening pair. Sporting the bonnet for breaking a gazebo earlier that morning Pantaloons fittingly finished the opening spell of 0-34 off 5 As the possibility of a 250-run chase began to become highly likely the peckers needed a bowling change – kickoff is at 20:00 remember.

*Two Teams joined together to celebrate the life of a great bloke and play for the ‘Tom Saxty Trophy’*

The introduction of Deggsy, once he stopped talking to his lady on the boundary – and Traash, once he stopped talking helped stem the flow of runs and even bring wickets. Pace from Traash and accuracy from ‘Long-Dong Silver’ were rewarded equally with wickets coming either side of drinks. Withyham collapsing from 88-1 to 96-6. Both bowlers breaking through defences and being aided by smart catches from Moleman and Kamikaze finishing with almost identical figures of 3-28 (Traash) and 3-29 (Donger).

Whilst Withyham could choose from an enormous squad of 30 players, Peckers had an unusual age profile to the side. Records were broken as John ‘Ducky’ Peters(born before Elizabeth II began her reign) and Wheezy – soon renamed Vlad the Inhaler were separated by 62 years– Wheezy having showed great technique in the field was rewarded with a bowl and quickly settled into an excellent line and length with the highlight being a wicket maiden caught and bowled(1-16 off 4) .

*Vlad the Inhaler had the full Kindly family to support his long awaited Woodpeckers debut*

At the other end an excitable Kamikaze (2-16) chose to vary his pace, line and length leading to the stumping of the beefy Withyham opener Ben Adams(71 off 48 balls) .

We had them 138-9 but James Bowen was clearly not a regular‘no 11’ and struck 5 4’s in a fluent 24, putting on 42 for the 10th wicket with Tom’s cousin Patrick, rallying the Withyham score to perfect arrows..180! Mission get home early was going well – we only bowled 34.2 of the allocated 35 overs. As both sets of players tucked in to a splendid spread with enough food to feed the 5,000, or Cat for the day,

*Cat ponders a stunning array of sandwiches, cakes and other assorted items that went round the corner too*

One more sausage roll and onto the second innings.

The Peckers kept true to their word and set about finishing the innings as quickly as possible. The top order adopted an ultra-aggressive batting style. The 14-year-old Withyham captain, Jacob Tully opened briskly and Kamikaze was bowled by a full toss first ball of the innings. Kami was soon followed by Cat (hoiking at a straight one) then Khal Drogo (shouldered arms) both also bowled by the ace youngster. (Khal very unlucky as Mole reported it pitched half a metre outside off) . A tough debut for Drogo who contributed little in the field bar wearing the bonnet. Traash joined the party with a duck of his own, flaying outside off.

*SCOREBOARD OF SHAME -The ‘let’s get back for the football’ trio contributed a total of 7 inc two quackers*

Moleman, who loves to bat at Withyham, top scored with 44 and helped to raise our total through a partnership of 22 with Murphy (12). After Mole disappeared into his burrow, Ducky made a glorious 14 from 25 balls, including some sumptuous cover drives -What a way to celebrate becoming the record oldest Pecker at 76(He’s had four hip replacements and still plays golf off 10).

Hearty Congratulations to Ducky for breaking the record in style

Fancy Pants and a hobbling Pobsy joined the Quackers, but there was a luvvy partnership of 13 between our two veteran actors Ducky(The Bill, 101 Dalmations) and Deggsy (Game of Thrones, Spectre).In amongst it the skipper’s younger brother Bruno took Vlad’s wicket aged 12, fittingly the same age Tom made his senior debut for the Woodpeckers, and also a real character. Chasing 180 ultimately was very much beyond our reach as we were bowled out for 97,though the football was in our sights.

*The crowd was seventy-strong at Tea, but many stayed to enjoy Withyham sealing the Tom Saxty trophy*

Plenty of Jugs of Harvey’s were shared in the Dorset Arms afterwards as we reminisced about Tom and some wonderful stories from our 70 year rivalry. We discovered that Withyham’s record eldest player was Matt Munroe aged 82-year so Ducky may need a couple more new hips to break that one -You can do it! And so, the first part of the Sunday sporting trilogy was complete. The Tom Saxty trophy remains in Withyham’s possession, maybe a different game plan next year…?

Penned by Fancy Pants, POB in Italics