Veterans Vex Social Stars: Glossop Edge Gritty Charlesworth

The Social Team’s latest outing to Glossop proved that while age is just a number, experience remains a rather stubborn opponent. On a day that promised much but delivered slightly fewer runs than we’d have liked, we fell short against the Glossop Veterans, watching them chase down our total with four wickets and nearly five overs to spare. After being put through the ringer, we can at least say we took the scenic route to defeat. The Charlesworth innings was a masterclass in patient accumulation, reaching the 50-run milestone in a brisk (for us) 11.4 overs. Mark Bardsley was the standout among the carnage, grafting a defiant 25 that gave our total of 78 a glimmer of respectability. It wasn’t exactly a run-fest, but Bardsley’s steady hand ensured the bowlers at least had something to defend besides their pride. When it was our turn to hurl the leather, Mike Woodhead proved he still has the golden touch. His figures of 2-6 were nothing short of clinical, momentarily making the Veterans look, well, very old indeed. Glossop reached their fifty in just over nine overs, and despite Woodhead’s heroic efforts to stem the tide, the hosts bypassed our 78 in the 16th over. It was a tough day at the office, but as always, our spirit remains unbowed. We may have lost the match, but we certainly won the race to the pavilion bar at the end. Next time, perhaps we’ll try scoring more runs than the other lot—it’s a revolutionary tactic we’re currently discussing in the nets.