After an amusing if not carefree journey (Well, the minibus only took one roundabout in the wrong direction ) the team arrived at Utrecht and prepared to play the Kampong team.
This match, the team's first on matting, was lost by 10 runs in a frantic finish, after the Dutch umpire had unexpectedly reduced the playing time by 30 minutes. We spent the night at Bunnik Youth Hostel, and, on the following day, drove on to Arnhem. The morning was spent at a swimming pool, and in the afternoon the boys amused themselves while Fr. Louis and Mr. Tufnell explored the war-scarred town and church.
We spent the next two nights at Brekland Kamp, where the Youth Hostel was set in the middle of a forest, only about 400 yards from the German border. As the Friday game was not due to start until after lunch, we decided to venture across the border into Germany in the morning. This, however, proved more difficult than we had expected. After a delay at the frontier, we were only allowed to go to the nearest town and back.
After lunch, the match against Hengals was a very close draw, which brought cheers from everyone watching. Friday evening was spent at a fair in nearby Denekamp.
On Saturday we drove to Rotterdam, where we stayed to buy presents and to see the sights. After mass on Sunday, we moved on to Amsterdam, where some of the party saw a British film.
The match on Monday, against the Hermes side, was played on a better ground than we had previously found on the tour - it certainly had the best pin-tables as several of the team discovered.
After a strong start, with a score of 100 for 1 in 90 minutes, we suffered a dramatic collapse and were all out for 136 shortly after lunch. Hermes, however, faced with Wilson, who took 7 wickets for 19 runs, were dismissed for 65.
As Tuesday's match was the last of the tour, we were determined to score at least 200 runs and to avoid the collapse which we had suffered against Hermes. Matthews became the kingpin of the innings, and with his 53 and the other batsmen chipping in with 20's and 30's we were able to declare at 219 for 7 (the highest scorn ever made by a Salvatorian side).
At one stage it looked as though the Hague side might make the necessary runs, but their major batsman took a nasty blow on the nose and had to retire. The remainder of the side were quickly dismissed, and the innings closed at 155.
The tour, which was in all respects a great success, left us with memories of the high standard of Dutch cricket (it came as a surprise to me that they have played it since about 1850) and of the warmth of Dutch hospitality; as to the warmth of Dutch showers, Shower-king Devery is the man to consult!