CAPTAIN'S LOG with Cherry Tree skipper David Hayes

APOLOGIES if this column is a drab affair this week, but I have been hit by "writer's block" and a deep depression following recent events.

On Saturday last week we were easily defeated by Edenfield following an impressive bowling performance by their pro Steve Kirkby. He showed no signs of battle weariness following his confrontation with Whalley's Kevin Reed the previous week, and bowled fast and straight throughout.

He is my sort of a cricketer, giving 110 per cent every ball and not averse to the odd comment to the opposition. However, after the game he is the first to the bar to buy you a drink.

Then Sunday produced one of those rare occasions in sport. It is probably rarer than Liverpool defeating Manchester United, or Neil Bramwell taking a wicket, but unfortunately it did happen -- we lost to Blackburn Northern.

The afternoon started with myself and Neil Weaver exchanging pleasantries. He stated it was nice to see my arm in plaster, and it was a pity it wasn't my head. I think I may have upset Neil somewhere along the line, however we did make up in the bar after, on the agreement that I didn't quote anything from Mel Gillibrand in this column.

Mel himself is in a crises and may now be forced to retire having been dismissed first ball by Andreas Sudnik who bowled a real "beetroot" at him.

Unfortunately for Andreas, Ata-ur-Rehman picked his "beetroots" a little better, depositing him over the canal four times on his way to a century. Things could have been so different had Doc Butler not proved as adept at catching without gloves as he is with them when Ata edged to him at slip when he was 10. The Doc did atone for this error by catching Ata eventually for 108.

Following the game the usual chorus of "There's a pub down in Pleckgate I used to frequent, I met Neil Weaver his money was spent..." did not emanate from our dressing room.

Instead, from Northern's camp, could be heard "Cheer up David Hayes, Oh what can it be, To a fat..." As old Ron Walton said: "Every dog has its day."

Even Stella struggled to raise my spirits and I was still fairly glum when I attended the fracture clinic on Wednesday. The defeat against Northern paled into insignificance as the consultant informed me I would be in plaster for four more weeks.

My season is over, and I will have to watch my second Ramsbottom Cup Final in plaster having ruptured my Achilles tendon in 1995. I wonder if Neil Weaver practises voodoo and has a fat doll at home?

Away from the cricket field, the Ribblesdale League voted this week on whether to become a feeder league to the Bay Northern Premier League. Unsurprisingly the dinosaurs won the vote convincingly, and the Ribblesdale League will remain as it is. Or will it? Whatever did happen to those dinosaurs?

Finally, good luck to our boys in the final on Sunday. You don't need me, just go out and believe in yourselves. The final starts at 12.30pm at Cherry Tree and your support would be much appreciated.