The sheer level of cup success elsewhere have meant that outings for the Sunday XI have been at a premium. This is a real shame as there is something of the old Corinthian spirit about a team made up more of enthusiasm than talent who come together to play rather than worry too much about the result. 

 The team for the clash against Bowden was an eclectic mix of youth, experience, heavyweight, flyweight, quiet and Graham Thompson. With the cup matches elsewhere and the pull of serious Guinness ingestion in the West Midlands it was a good effort to get a team out at all. With Greg Gibson on Second team duty The Bard took the reins and, predictably, lost the toss. As a hip hop performer would undoubtedly have put it, L to the Leather to the C to the Chase.

 Whilst bowling options were plentiful the wicket taking potential of this attack was in question. Gary Dunmore, making a belated Sunday debut, looked mightily surprised to be given the new ball, Will Jameson (trying to outdo Sideshow Beevers in the hair department) was more laid back. To be honest the ball didn't stay new for long, after five overs it looked like it had come off second best in some kind of horror movie sanding disaster, more to do with hitting the boundary on regular intervals than any Mike Atherton 'dirtgate' shenanigans.

 Jamie Thompson came on for a six over burst that certainly deserved more than it got but the brakes were really put on when Aadil bowled eight straight overs of leg spin that slowed down the Bowden express quite nicely, this was no mean feat with Bowden batter Knowles threatening to smite any delivery back towards their trackside home ground faster than the famous Japanese bullet train.

 With Knowles dismissed by Aadil shortly after drinks, and then following it up with a snorting leg break to make it two from the over, the Bowden innings became ever more sedate. The skipper then chanced his arm and put ten year old debutant Jack Lewis into the fray. Looking as nervous as a hedgehog crossing the M5 in peak holiday season he proceeded to snare two victims in his three overs and then retired to the outfield deservedly happy with his afternoon. Sam Pounds then took over and bowled five overs of genuinely useful spin that fully deserved its three wickets. Bowden had finished on 199 all out.

 In an act of wanton mischief The Bard decided to open the batting with Graham and Jamie Thompson after tea, quite how many runs this partnership would garner was open to debate but it was surely good for a family argument or two. The answer to the question was about two (extras) but when Jamie was bowled via his pads he didn't look exactly distraught to be on his way.

 The Kibworth reply progressed at funereal pace and only squeaked above 3 runs and over after an hour or so. Graham hung around in turgid fashion, becoming ever more red of face. This is not to say it wasn't entertaining, indeed it was hysterical to listen to him berating poor Paul Illingworth for not taking runs on offer when Illo (who freely admits he isn't the quickest) was able to practically lap him in first gear.

 The mainstay of the Kibworth reply though was based around two rising stars. Charles Hurley who was prised from the crowd to sub for the injured John Jameson hit a chanceless 58 not out and Aadil who, though only managing to score 11 in an unusually becalmed effort, gave able support to his freer scoring teammate.

 When Aadil finally departed there followed a succession of cameos to try and hit the team towards the skippers target of 150. Gary Dunmore gave it some long handle, Fido biffed a couple to the delight of the crowd which then allowed the skipper three balls at the crease. The first gave him a bruise, the second squirted legside for his first run of the season and Charles blocked the last delivery for a closing score of 147 for 6.

 No sooner had the team cleared the pitch then the first batch of Cockspur spectators came drifting back in various states of disarray. Soon the victorious Second team returned from Ibstock with tales of high scoring antics that took them to their cup final. All in all in was a pretty happy pavilion as the sun finally slipped beyond sight.