Having "fallen" at the 12th hurdle DUCC needed to pick themselves up before undertaking their trip to furthest Penzance. This was the starting point for an intensive 9 games in 11 days a challenging Itinerary organised by Mike Halliday. Although the later matches were regularly "on our list" a family holiday in the far South West (of England) had inspired him to arrange the first leg of this venture.

As the fates decreed Mike himself was to miss all that part of the trip. When Gerry Duffy was unable to get time off work to play for Ireland v Scotland in the annual 3-day First Class game Mike was drafted in for his first cap. There were two other debutants for the match in Perth. For Raymond Moan and Wally Booton this was to be their only Irish Cap; for Mike, however, it was the first of 93!! It was both a great achievement and honour to be capped as a 21 year-Old but it did mean that we headed the 90 miles to Rosslare Harbour to catch the Fishguard Ferry with but 10 players and without "our leader".

In trying to get over the Belvedere defeat some of us headed to Howth on a very sunny Sunday. There was some interest in England's Football World Cup Quarter Final against West Germany which they lost in extra time. I can't claim that the inhabitants of, and visitors to, Howth were over-flowing with sympathy for this outcome. According to Wikipedia the result was a factor in the surprise General Election defeat for Harold Wilson's Labour Government on the following Thursday! Ted ("Sailor") Heath got the nod although it would have to be said that the DUCC party were more concerned with gathering their own quorum of players, and that the Cricket "Test" England v The Rest of the World had a rest day on Election Thursday.

Apart from the Skipper, who was to join us in Southampton on Tuesday 23rd all of the "Regular XI " toured. Michael Bryce had an Exam on Tuesday 16th so he travelled overnight by Boat, and then Train all the way to Penzance. As we shall see later he then completed his journey by Taxi to "St. Clare" the ground of Penzance CC. John Kirby was on the trip throughout and Simon Holland featured in many of the games and his Blue Bedford van played an even more important role. Allied to my A40 and a car from the Silverstone "stable" we had just enough transport and baggage room to accomplish our "tasks".

I recall leaving Dublin on the Monday evening by way of a short visit to the Halliday homestead. Mike wished us bon voyage as we headed for Rosslare from where we took the "overnight" sailing to Fishguard disembarking at about 4 30 a.m. It being mid-June it was already daylight. We then trundled through West Wales; you must remember that the M4 was not complete to beyond Swansea as it is now. After a couple of hours I do recall pulling in to a Lay-by near Cardiff for a snooze partly with the aim of avoiding the morning rush hour(s).

Suitably refreshed and, presumably, having obtained some breakfast we ventured on through East Wales and crossed the magnificent (original) Severn Bridge. Turning South on to the M5 and by-passing Bristol we felt we were "nearly there"-however the Motorway signage indicated that it was a mere 185 Miles more to Penzance. Although about an hour of this was on Motorway we still had Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor to traverse. 1970 traffic was much lighter than today's and it wasn't high season for Tourists but it was still a daunting trek. We finally arrived in Penzance around Teatime and were much relieved to meet up with our fellow travellers.

Wednesday 17th JUNE was a dull dark day, the eve of the Election and much gloom locally that England weren't about to play a World Cup Semi-Final. We were straight into action with an early afternoon start against the Home-town club. As we were only 10 in number it would appear we won the toss and batted, but not very well! Barney (10) and Silvo (15) got us to 27 but thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals with 2 victims apiece for Nankervis, Bawden and Heffer. John Kirby had come to the crease at 52 for 5 and soon lost partners Simon Hewson and John Frankland. Fortunately the (I think) Liverpool train had by now arrived; Michael Bryce sent the second delivery he faced sailing over the boundary and with a further 7 boundaries in his 45* the match now had a different complexion. Kirby accrued a very useful 27* and the pair took us from the brink of an embarrassing score to a very defendable total.

The challenge now was to chase 130 off what became 30 overs and since McCarey and Frankland soon had the locals 3 for 3 it was never threatened. On the other hand we hadn't left ourselves quite enough time tp bowl Penzance out-when John Frankland took his 5th (the innings' 9th) wicket there were only 3 balls for number 11 James to face and he survived. The most vivid memory of this period of play (it was now even duller than at the start) relates to an incident when Ronnie McCarey dropped the ball after 2 of 3 strides of his run-up. He turned back to pick it up but the batsman shouted out for it to be left. Then he walked the 35 yards to where it lay and with Ron looking not amused (arms folded) he smote the ball to the boundary.

It would be fair to say that the atmosphere at the end of the game was not overly convivial; however in the conditions McCarey and Frankland were not an easy proposition. Perhaps minds were on the election but for DUCC it was helpful to recharge batteries after the arduous journey and prepare for games on each of the next four days. On Election day we had a late afternoon start against theHolman Sports Club in Helston who were completely routed by John Frankland - 14 overs, 10 maidens, 8 for 8! When Alan Kirk bowled Dave Taylor for a four boundary 16 they were all out in 28.3 overs and it took DUCC just 17 overs to win the game.

After a visit to Sennan Cove on the Friday morning we ventured to the village of Mawman Smith near Falmouth. Sennan's Golden Sands when disturbed by a football kick-about quickly revealed the Black Oil from the 1967 Torrey Canyon Tanker disaster. More characteristic of Cornwall the roads to Mawman (on the Lizard Peninsula) were narrow and winding with very high banks and hedges on both sides. It was a small village ground and there were more sixes hit in this match than in any other. Mawman's innings had 13 boundaries and 5 sixes but DUCC cruised to victory with almost 3 overs to spare. This was a very enjoyable evening encounter with most hospitable opponents and I seem to recall that the return trip to Penzance (quite late on) was tentative but without significant event!

• DUCC 129 for 7 wkts. dec. M. Bryce 45*, J. Kirby 27*; Heffer 2 for 10, Nankervis 2-36, Bawden 2-41.
• Penzance 72 for 9 wkts. R. Lampshire 25; J. Frankland 15-4-42-5; R. McCarey 7-2-16-3.

• Holman Sports Club 74 all out. K. Bere 27; J. Frankland 14-10-8-8.
• DUCC 75 for 1 wkt. M. Bryce 37*, B. McKenna 18*.

• Mawman Smith 114 for 7 wkts. (24 overs) C. Polkinhole 39, A. Winn 24; S. Hewson 3 for 35.
• DUCC 119 for 3 wkts. (21.3 overs),J. Silverstone 33, B. McKenna 31, H. Cox 23*. Won by 7 wickets.