Natives B triumph again at the Plate final

From Rob S

Charlotte Court on finals day has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Natives since the team was established, and this year with the A team in the Hatton Cup final and the B team in the Plate final there was considerable expectation again on Sunday

So in our usual high spirits we returned to the scene of previous triumphs in an optimistic frame of mind, while aware of the challenges which lay ahead as the draw had matched Natives A against Dover Bells, while Natives B faced formidable opposition in the shape of the Brown Jug C team.

Losing both triples gave the A team a massive hill to climb in the doubles, but when Duncan Hardy and Rob Sheridan cruised to a 13/4 win followed by Alan Martin and Chris Rowden winning 13/5 the match went down to the wire. Sadly, it was not to be as Robin Hardy and Phil Lyne were up against Marcus Hickman, former England international player, who was in uncompromising form and we went out 2-3.

But things were very different at the other end of Charlotte Court where the B team won both triples in quick time, leaving them needing just one doubles win to progress to the final. The hard work had been done and a surprisingly dispirited Brown Jug team quickly succumbed to some excellent play from all our players and the place in the plate final was duly secured with less difficulty than predicted.

The Rising Sun at Stourmouth have had a excellent season, winning Division 2 and disposing of the Manston Flyers in their semi-final. But the exertion seemed to have had a depleting effect on their team and they were simply unprepared for the onslaught that the B team had prepared for them in the final after the lunch break. Almost before they started the triples were secured 2/0 and very shortly afterwards another famous victory was secured by the outstanding talents and tactics employed by Desi, Bob, Mick, Den, Rod, Jim, Alan, Patrick and Steve. The celebrations commenced at once but they did allow a brief interruption so that a team photograph could be taken

Keen observers will notice the presence of team mascot, Cider, but will wonder why Rod Blake is absent from the assembled company. It seems that he suddenly became camera-shy and declined to join in, so the team decided that if Rodders would not come to them, then they would have to go to Rodders, so another picture was taken of the whole team! (And Cider of course)

So another success on yet another great day out at Charlotte Court for both teams and the small army of keen supporters whose presence added welcome colour and noise to a successful event. And we will have the added delight of having the elegant Jennifer Skudder Trophy to adorn the club-house for another year!