History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LEG TRAPPERS CRICKET CLUB

1997

March 23: Peter Norris and Dave Wright, two ex-members of the recently disbanded Nationals Cricket Club (a former Bermuda Premier League team captained by Neil Speight) meet in the Cock & Feather pub on Front Street to discuss the forthcoming summer. They are still anxious to play cricket but the stresses and strains of participating in the Premier League, not to mention the internal politics of the old Nationals team, have left their mark and both Norris and Wright wish to play in a more relaxed environment. Wright had happened to come across a Commercial League game the previous summer and liked what he saw. He suggests that between them, he and Norris know several ex-pat cricketers who would be interested in playing in the Commercial League; enough, in fact, to form a brand new team. The plan is hatched.
A few days later they call two of their friends: Graham Strange, one of the ex-batting stars of the Nationals team and James Broadbent, another ex-Nationals member who has not played for two years (due to the demands of his girlfriend arriving from England to live with him) but is now keen to start playing again. It is agreed that to spread the load of organisation Norris, Wright, Strange and Broadbent will all share the captaincy of the new team.

April 2: A call is made to another friend, Mark Finnigan (who plays in the same hockey team as Norris and Broadbent). Finnigan works for a wholesale company and agrees to arrange sponsorship. The team will carry the name of one of his company’s products – Lucozade. The working name of the team, the Ducks, is discarded in favour of a name beginning with ‘L’ that will go with Lucozade. Eventually the name “Lucozade Leg Trappers” is decided upon.
The four captains get in touch with more of their friends. Gary Knight, a local milkman and former batsman with Nationals and Bermudian youngster Justin Freisenbruch, a precociously talented all-round sportsman just graduated from Durham University, sign up immediately. Two English accountants, David Hosier and David Outtrim, also join up along with Roddy Moore, a veteran doctor who has played for several years with Renegades evening league team. After several more ex-pats express an interest to play the four captains agree that with the guaranteed sponsorship and a potential squad numbering in excess of 15, they are in a position to make a formal application to join the Commercial League.

April 24: The four captains attend the Commercial League AGM and present their application to join the league, which is unanimously accepted.

April 26: James Broadbent arranges a meeting with the President of Nationals Sports Club, who no longer have their own cricket team, with a view to the Leg Trappers using their ground. A deal is made to share the ground with Social Club for the whole season. Mario the Groundsman (well known in Bermuda for having a pet pigeon) agrees to prepare the wicket each week while Freddy the Barman will open the bar every Sunday.

May 4: The Lucozade Leg Trappers play their first ever game against Watford at Nationals. The team is as follows:

James Broadbent (capt), Graham Strange (vice-capt), Mark Finnigan (w/k), David Outtrim, Ian Falconer, Alan Corcoran, Justin Freisenbruch, David Woodward, Norman Cotterill, Roddy Moore, Noel Capewell

Leg Trappers lose a thrilling game in the last over as Watford overhaul their total of 158-9, mainly due to Graham Strange having ventured in from long on (against the instructions of his skipper) as the Watford number 11 hits the ball over him for the winning boundary. The game is also notable for opening bowler Norman Cotterill losing one of his teeth for no apparent reason during one of his overs.

May 18: Huw Williams turns up for the game against West Indian Association with no whites and has to wear some khaki slacks instead.

May 25: Rick Morris is out for a Golden Duck against Police Club, the first Trapper to suffer this fate.

June 1: Leg Trappers, after being bowled out for 104, still manage an improbable winning draw by holding Forties to 78-8. Dave Wright’s bowling figures are 20-11-28-2. His first ten overs include eight maidens, a Leg Trapper record.

June 29: Leg Trappers recover from 65-7 against North Village to post a total of 164-8 due to an unlikely record eighth wicket partnership of 90 between David Hosier and Ian Falconer which remains the oldest Trapper record on the books.

July 13: In the game against Watford at Royal Naval Field, Dave Roberts becomes the first Leg Trapper to be out first ball on his debut.

August 16: Four Leg Trappers, Dave Wright, Peter Norris, Graham Strange and Jeremy Franklin, spend the day deep sea fishing on the eve of a crucial league game against the Jamaican Association. All four, clearly hung over and tired, perform badly in the game the next day which the Trappers lose and effectively ends their Championship hopes.

August 24: The final league game of the season against Devonshire Stars starts an hour and a half late as both teams forget to bring any stumps. The game cannot be finished as bad light ends play, but there is still time for Gordy Benson to become the second Leg Trapper to be dismissed for a Golden Duck on his debut.

September 7: Huw Williams forgets to bring his cricket shirt for the Cup tie against Forties and has to wear a light blue Triminghams polo shirt.

September 14: In the Cup semi-final against Watford, Dave Wright takes a wicket with the first ball of the match (a first for a Leg Trapper) but the game is more notable for the slanging match between Graham Strange and David Hosier after Hosier misfields off Strange’s bowling, the start of a personal feud between the two which continues to this day.

October 3: At the first Annual Leg Trapper Awards Dinner, James Broadbent is presented with a golden mounted Reebok trainer for winning the Reebok Moment of the Year (his dive into a pile of dust when scampering for a quick single in the semi-final against Somerset which left him looking like Lawrence of Arabia). Other awards are presented to Gary Knight (Highest Batting Average), Noel Capewell (Best Bowling Average) and David Hosier (Worst Cricketer of the Year).


1998

April 27: The association with Lucozade having ended, Rick Morris approaches a contact at Hemisphere to enquire whether they would like to sponsor the Leg Trappers. An agreement is reached and the team is renamed the Hemisphere Leg Trappers.

May 3: Included in an influx of accountants from KPMG to the island are four debutants for the Leg Trappers in the opening league game of the season: Chris Fleming, Tom Wilson, Damion Henderson and Tim Calveley. Unfortunately the game against Police is washed out (which saves Huw Williams from the embarrassment of playing in his shorts and T-shirt, having forgotten to bring his entire cricket kit).

May 10: Leg Trappers record the most crushing Commercial League victory of all time against Public Transportation Board (also known as the Bus Drivers) as they amass 301-4 declared and then bowl the Bus Drivers out for a paltry 36 at Nationals. Chris Fleming hits 105 not out, the first Leg Trapper century, in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership of 121 with Major David Napier, a Leg Trapper record. In a short but eventful Bus Driver innings Tom Wilson becomes the first Trapper to take a wicket with his first ball for the club, Noel Capewell clean bowls the number 5 batsman (aged 13) and then sends him on his way with a torrent of abuse, Huw Williams takes a wicket courtesy of the umpire’s cell phone going off during his delivery stride which rather distracts the batsman, while Fleming completes a memorable day by taking a catch behind the stumps to dismiss the Bus Drivers’ number 11 (a 14 year old girl).

May 17: Ian Smith, a jeweller recently arrived on the island who claims to have represented Surrey 2nd XI, takes five wickets against Watford.

May 24: The game against Jamaican Association is heading for a close finish when it is held up for twenty minutes as confusion reigns on the number of overs left. It is discovered that Chris Fleming, fielding on the boundary next to the scoreboard, had put up 9 overs to go when in fact there were 11 (he couldn’t find two 1’s to make up the number 11 so put up number 9 on the basis that it would be correct in two overs’ time). This proves to be the first in a series of affairs involving Fleming over the next few years that make the headlines for the wrong reason – they become known as “Flem Incidents”.

May 31: Before the game against West End Warriors, while discussing with his team-mates what to do if the toss is won, Huw Williams utters his immortal line “I’d stick ‘em in and make the bastards bat in the heat”.

June 7: One of the most notorious on-field controversies ever to involve the Trappers occurs in the game against St David’s. Whilst umpiring, James Broadbent is punched on the nose by St Davids’ George Cannonier over a disputed run-out, the only time a Leg Trapper has been physically assaulted on the field of play. The next day Major David Napier writes a formal letter of protest to St David’s on behalf of the Leg Trappers, and receives a reply stating that Mr Cannonier had been banned for two games (it is later discovered that Mr Cannonier was on holiday for the two games and would have missed them anyway).

June 14: Graham Strange hits 104 against North Village, the second Leg Trapper century. This is followed by an inspired piece of bowling by Noel Capewell who rips through the North Village line-up to finish with 14.2-3-33-8, the best ever bowling analysis by a Leg Trapper.

June 28: The third Leg Trapper century is scored by Ian Smith who makes 102 not out against Forties.

July 19: Another Flem Incident: chasing a total of just 55 to beat the Bus Drivers, the Trappers reach 35 without loss when Fleming is controversially given out caught behind and reacts by hurling his bat across the outfield. At the club disciplinary hearing he escapes with a severe reprimand and a one match ban.

August 9: In an extraordinary two over spell by Peter Norris against West End Warriors, his first over includes two wickets courtesy of two catches by Ian Smith in the slips, plus two wides which are also taken by Ian Smith in the slips. His second over contains six wides (a Leg Trapper record), the last of which results in a run-out as Ian Smith throws down the stumps with a direct hit as the batsmen attempt a quick single.

August 26: Justin Freisenbruch appears as a model in the first of a series of clothing adverts for Tommy Hilfiger in the Royal Gazette.

September 6: Leg Trappers defeat Forties by 3 wickets and win the Commercial League Championship at only their second attempt, beating Jamaican Association by two points. At the post match celebrations in the Robin Hood, Ian Smith leaves early, apparently unhappy that his team is not boisterous enough.

September 27: Graham Strange hits his second century for the club in the Cup semi-final against Forties but the Leg Trappers lose the game as remarkably the rest of the team score just 42 runs between them.

October 3: At the annual Leg Trapper Awards Dinner James Broadbent retains his Reebok Moment of the Year Award (this time for being punched in the face) while the batting and bowling awards go to Graham Strange and David Outtrim respectively. Gordy Benson is presented with a Commemorative Plaque for scoring his first ever run. The evening is soured when Tim Calveley deliberately pours red wine over Jeremy Franklin’s shirt (causing bad feelings between the two that had still not healed when Franklin left the island two years later).


1999

April 13: Leg Trappers learn that Hemisphere have cancelled their sponsorship of the club. A replacement cannot be found, so the team-name reverts simply to “Leg Trappers” and the club begins a season without a sponsor for the first time. With Dave Wright having left the island and Peter Norris retired from cricket, James Broadbent and Graham Strange share the captaincy between them.

May 2: Another Flem Incident: in the opening game of the season against Sandy’s Community Youth Club, Fleming is run out at the non-striker’s end as he backs up too far and the bowler takes the bails off before bowling. Fleming tries to argue that is not the gentlemanly thing to do – he is unsuccessful.

May 9: Australian Luke Slater, in only his second game for the Trappers, plays what is considered to be the worst ever shot by a Leg Trapper as he takes an enormous, hideous swipe first ball at a decent delivery and is bowled. He never plays another innings for the Trappers again so shares a record with Dave Roberts of having been dismissed first ball in his only innings for the club.

May 23: Major David Napier plays his last game for the Trappers against Devonshire Stars at Nationals. In the same game Justin Freisenbruch and James Swan combine for a record unbroken seventh wicket partnership of 75.

June 12: Justin Freisenbruch appears as a model in the Royal Gazette under the excruciatingly embarrassing Father’s Day headline “When I think of my Dad I remember very special times”.

June 13: Damion Henderson and Graham Strange combine for a record unbroken third wicket partnership of 152 against West Indian Association. Later Nigel Wood, a chef at Robin Hood, becomes the second Leg Trapper to take a wicket with his first ball on his debut. It is also the first ball of the innings, the only time a debutant has achieved this feat.

June 20: Nick Roberts’ debut for the Leg Trappers against Forties makes history as being the first time someone younger than Justin Freisenbruch has represented the club.

June 27: Another Flem Incident: an appeal for a catch behind is turned down against the Jamaicans and Fleming (the wicketkeeper) throws the ball away in disgust. This causes some bad blood between Fleming and the Jamaicans that will come to the boil a few weeks later.

July 4: Gary Knight brings a slab of cheese for the team tea.

July 18: With Watford at 60-1, seemingly cruising to a target of 104, Doctor Roddy Moore is brought on to bowl and with a stunning spell of 5 for 22 knocks the heart out of Watford’s batting order and Leg Trappers escape with a losing draw. A year later at the Commercial League Millenium Awards, this nine over spell is voted as the best Commercial League bowling performance of all time.

August 29: The most notorious Flem Incident of them all: whilst umpiring against the Jamaicans, Fleming turns down a vociferous lbw appeal. The Jamaicans demand that he is replaced but as Fleming’s stint is about to end one ball later anyway, he stays. At the end of the over the bowler walks away, not hearing Fleming calling him as he attempts to return his cap. Fleming therefore places the cap on the ground which sets the Jamaicans off in a wild frenzy as they interpret this as a huge insult. Stumps are kicked down, and what amount to virtual death threats are made against Fleming as he returns to the pavilion. This Flem Incident overshadows the Leg Trappers victory that brings them their second successive Commercial League Championship.

Sep 19: The Leg Trappers thrash Watford by 95 runs at Sea Breeze Oval to win their first Knock Out Cup and complete a famous Double.

Oct 23: James Swan is presented with a special prize at the Awards Dinner for taking 41 wickets in a season, a Leg Trapper record.


2000

Apr 20: David Hosier marries Bermudian socialite Louise Robinson at Christ Church in Warwick. The ceremony includes a performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu” by a group of singers that includes James Broadbent. The reception is held at the Royal Yacht Club. Various Leg Trappers attend but several are absent, most notably Graham Strange. Hosier refuses to reveal whether they were invited or deliberately snubbed.

Apr 30: Only three people turn up to a pre-season practice session at Royal Naval Field: James Broadbent and Graham Strange plus newly-arrived builder Colin Scaife, who does enough to impress the skippers with his fast bowling that he is selected for the following week’s game.

May 7: Leg Trappers open their 2000 campaign against new team “Allied Blues”, made up mainly of bus drivers and postal workers. Only eight of them show up and Leg Trappers complete a ten wicket victory. The game is notable for Ian Brookes becoming the third Leg Trapper to take a wicket with his first ball on his debut. This is the final wicket of the innings, and Brookes never plays another game for the Trappers, so Brookes has a unique record of taking a wicket with his only ball for the club.

May 14: Barry Emmerton makes his debut for the Trappers against North Village. In the same game Tim Calveley follows up his four wicket haul the previous week by taking 4 for 15 and becomes the only Leg Trapper to take four wickets in the first two games of a season. Meanwhile Jason Flaxbeard follows up Ian Brookes’ feat from the previous game by taking a wicket with his only delivery of the innings.

June 25: Tim Calveley drops out of the game against Watford just hours before the start of play, citing an injury to his foot picked up the night before as he attempted to climb to his bed in the attic after his “Ladder of Love” was hidden by guests at his barbeque.

July 7: Tim Calveley declares himself still unable to play cricket due to his foot injury, but the next evening is spotted on the dance floor in Oasis Nightclub.

July 10: Graham Strange is described by his girlfriend as “very romantic”.

July 29: Barry Emmerton hosts a barbeque. Colin Scaife is the first to arrive and nearly injures his back after being asked by Barry to help move a cement mixer out of his garden.

July 30: Barry Emmerton turns up for the game against Devonshire Stars five hours late, having spent the afternoon on a boat.

August 10: Another Flem Incident: Fleming leaves Oasis nightclub and drives his bike without a helmet down Front Street at 3am. He is caught by the police and banned from driving for a year.

August 27: David Hosier and Colin Scaife put on 25 for the last wicket against Forties, a Leg Trapper record. However the Trappers lose the game and finish the season in 5th place in the league, their lowest ever placing.

Sep 3: In an ugly incident in the first round Cup tie against West Indian Association, a disputed run out results in David Hosier eyeballing West Indian Randy Liverpool and calling him a “f*** c***”. At the end of the game Liverpool, a policeman, threatens to arrest Hosier but this is fortunately not carried through after Hosier sneaks out of a back entrance.

Sep 16: Leg Trappers are bowled out for 48, their lowest ever total, as they crash out of the Cup to Forties.

Oct 23: At the end of season Awards Dinner, the Leg Trappers’ poor season is reflected by the fact that, in one of the biggest shocks ever, Tim Calveley and David Hosier win the bowling and fielding prizes respectively.

2001

Jan 10: In a special Commercial League Millenium gala dinner, two Leg Trappers walk away with awards: Doctor Roddy Moore wins the Bowling Performance Award for his match-saving spell of 9-0-22-5 against Watford in 1999, while Graham Strange overwhelmingly wins the Sportswriters Player of the Century Award.

Jan 18: James Broadbent meets with Graham Strange and Justin Freisenbruch in the Pickled Onion to discuss his future. His batting average the previous year was an embarrassing 8.15 and he is seriously considering giving up cricket. Also he has learned that the Nationals ground has been sold to Montessori School and will no longer be available for the Trappers to use as their home ground, which will mean the majority of the games being played on the poor quality astro-turf wickets at Garrison Field and Shelly Bay. However Strange convinces Broadbent that form is temporary but class is permanent, he is still young (Mark and Steve Waugh are older than him) and his presence in the dressing room alone provides a major boost to team spirit. Freisenbruch points out that not so long ago in 1998 his own batting average had been a dismal 8.38 but he had persevered to become the prodigy he is today. Broadbent agrees to continue.

Feb 15: James Broadbent attends a ball at Southampton Princess and during the evening makes the highest bid at the charity auction for a year’s supply of dog food. As he does not own a dog the organisers arrange for the prize to be swapped for the equivalent value of groceries and Broadbent ends up with a variety of goods including 66 cans of baked beans, 30 packets of corn flakes, 25 packets of spaghetti and 20 bottles of tomato ketchup. Broadbent agrees to donate one bottle of ketchup a week to the Leg Trappers to act as the Man of the Match prize.

May 2: Chris Fleming sits next to Forties’ Oscar Andrade on a flight back to Bermuda from the USA.

May 6: Leg Trappers easily beat West Indian Association in the opening game of the season. Afterwards at North Rock pub, Graham Strange breaks into David Hosier’s car for a prank and moves it to another spot in the car park. He leaves the lights on by mistake and later Hosier is unable to start the car and has to wait over an hour for his wife to arrive with some jump leads. Originally intended as a good-natured joke, Strange’s actions only deepen the rift between him and Hosier.

May 20: Marc Wetherhill, a Bermudian lawyer whom James Broadbent has recently met on a golf trip to Myrtle Beach (describing him as the worst golfer he has ever played with) makes his debut for the Trappers.

May 27: Another Flem Incident: Fleming appeals for a stumping on the last ball of Devonshire Stars’ innings at Garrison Field. It is given not out and Fleming reacts by hurling the ball in the direction of the square leg umpire, who promptly picks it up and hurls it back at Fleming (but fortunately misses). Fleming later tries to deny he meant to throw the ball at all.

June 3: Four players make their debut for the Trappers against Jamaican Association: Andy Trinder, Neil Carroll, Nick Marshall and David Milligan (a Canadian friend of Graham Strange called up as a last-minute replacement). Trinder displays his obvious fielding ability by taking three excellent catches and wins the Man of the Match award, but leaves his prize (a bottle of ketchup) in the pub.

June 10: Leg Trappers hold on for a losing draw against Watford in a game notorious for the amount of sledging between the Leg Trapper fielders and Watford’s Terry Ward. The atmosphere is thankfully lightened during one of the drinks breaks when a dog steals one of Ward’s batting gloves and carries it into the nearby bushes.

June 12: An anonymous e-mail is sent to James Broadbent referring him to a 1998 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine which includes an interview with new Leg Trapper Nick Marshall, in which he states he would never have sex on a first date. When confronted with this, Marshall admits it was indeed him giving the interview. He refuses to say whether he was telling the truth.

June 24: Graham Strange and Jonathan Hughes put on 144 for the fourth wicket against North Village, a Leg Trapper record. Later in the match David Thompson bowls a one over spell of 1-0-24-0 which no Trapper has ever worsened.

July 1: In one of the best games of the season, Leg Trappers are bowled out for 144 by West Indian Association at Police Field which includes an undefeated knock of 79 by opener Chris Fleming. Andy Trinder, who makes 10, is the only other batsman to make it into double figures. Fleming’s innings becomes an instant classic but he is denied the honour of becoming the first Leg Trapper to carry his bat as the Trappers only field ten men in the game. Marc Wetherhill then bowls an inspired spell of 9-3-30-5 as the West Indians are skittled out for 103 as Leg Trappers complete a memorable victory.

July 8: Forties pile up 252-8, the highest total ever conceded by the Trappers, thanks in part to a horrific 7 over spell by David Hosier which goes for 68 runs. The Trappers manage to hang on for a losing draw.

July 10: Trish Lorimer (Colin Scaife’s girlfriend) agrees to become the Leg Trappers’ full-time scorer.

July 29: David Hosier makes his highest score for the Trappers, 93, against Watford before being run out by partner Graham Strange. James Broadbent makes 41 and the Royal Gazette reports two days later that “Broadbent returned to his best form with a series of flashing boundaries”.

Sep 2: In the Cup semi-final against St David’s, Jonathan Hughes equals Peter Norris’s record of bowling 6 wides in one over. Leg Trappers lose the game which condemns them to a second consecutive season without a trophy.


2002

May 4: James Broadbent completes the 25 mile End to End walk.

May 5: Jason Roberts makes his debut for the Trappers and takes 3 for 18 which will prove to be easily his best ever bowling analysis.

June 19: An article appears in the Royal Gazette which quotes Barry Richards, the West Indian Association captain, as saying he is “desperate to beat the Leg Trappers and beat them bad” and wants the Trappers to “show them more respect”. This is evidently in response to an article written two weeks earlier by chief cricket correspondent Ivan Clifford in which James Broadbent had reportedly boasted that the Leg Trappers were the Commercial League “dream team” and nobody would beat them in 2002.

June 30: Tom Henderson makes his one and only appearance for the Trappers against North Village. He is out for a duck but takes three wickets. Another unlikely wicket, as John Uprichard takes a catch off Jason Flaxbeard’s bowling, becomes an overnight sensation and becomes known as the “Caught Skiller Bowled Pirate” wicket.

July 14: James Swan becomes the first Leg Trapper to take 100 career wickets during the game against Forties at Royal Naval Field.

July 23: Marc Wetherhill, aged 30, finally leaves home and moves into his own place on Verdmont Valley View.

Aug 11: Australian Andy Harris makes his debut for the Trappers. He only scores 7 but his class is immediately apparent.

Aug 18: Chasing a small total of 114 against North Village, skipper James Broadbent rearranges the batting order which almost proves to be a disaster as the Trappers sink to 72-8. Graham Strange and Chris Fleming, batting in the unusual positions of 9 and 10 respectively, spare the blushes by seeing the Trappers home in a record unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 44.

Aug 21: Andy Trinder is voted as the “Sexiest Leg Trapper Alive” by the female partners and friends of the players.

Aug 25: The final league game of the season against Devonshire Stars turns out to be a bad-tempered affair with Graham Strange being labelled a “redneck” by one of the opposing players. Jason Roberts bowls the worst two over spell on record as he is belted for 26 runs, but all this is quickly overshadowed by an extraordinary unbroken opening partnership of 175 by Gary Knight and David Hosier that carries the Leg Trappers to an overwhelming ten wicket victory. Later, whilst congregated in Henry VIII pub, the Trappers learn that Forties have lost their game by one run at Shelly Bay which means that the Trappers pip them to win the Commercial League title by a single point. It is their third title in six attempts, and they become the first team to go through a whole season undefeated.

Aug 29: James Broadbent is quoted in the Royal Gazette: “This just proves what I’ve been saying all along, we are the dream team. We never came close to losing a match”.

Sep 8: St David’s only field 8 men against the Trappers in the Cup semi-final at Southampton Oval and Gary Knight takes advantage to score 106, the highest innings by a Leg Trapper. The game is also notable for the number 3, 4, 5 and 6 Leg Trapper batsmen all being run out.

Sep 29: Leg Trappers miss out on the Double as they lose the Cup Final to Jamaican Association by four wickets, not helped by a spell of 7-0-58-0 by Marc Wetherhill.

Oct 23: With their experience of Commercial League cricket having reached a nadir when St David’s showed up with only 8 men for the Cup semi-final, a poll of Leg Trapper members is taken asking whether the club should apply to join the Bermuda Cricket League. The overwhelming response is in the positive. However the more experienced members are still not convinced they can be competitive

2003

Jan 27: James Broadbent receives a call from David Hosier. A mutual friend, Pete “Shagger” Hughes, had just told Hosier that an acquaintance of his, a certain Jonathon Atkinson, would soon be arriving on the island. This in itself was unremarkable news until it was pointed out that Atkinson is mentioned in Michael Atherton’s autobiography. Broadbent, who owns a copy of the book, checks this and discovers that almost two pages are devoted to Atherton heaping praise on his former Cambridge University team-mate. The news spreads like wildfire amongst the Leg Trappers.

Mar 5: Atkinson meets with a few Trappers in the Pickled Onion. James Broadbent buys him a drink, a pint of Carlsberg.

Mar 7: Atkinson signs up for the Trappers. All doubts about being competitive are immediately erased, and the talk switches to being promoted to the Premier Division and becoming the best team in Bermuda.

Mar 9: The Leg Trappers officially join the Bermuda Cricket League

Apr 15: A sponsorship deal is agreed with International Financial Planning, and the team is renamed the IFP Leg Trappers.

May 10: The IFP Leg Trappers play their first game in Division 1 of the Bermuda Cricket League against Flatts. James Broadbent hits the first six by a Leg Trapper in the league but the Trappers are defeated by 5 wickets.

May 11: A large crowd descends on Police Field as Jonathon Atkinson (already dubbed “The Legend”) makes his debut for the Trappers. He comes into bat at number 4 and not-out opener Chris Fleming reassures him that the bowler is not swinging the ball and the pitch is flat. Inspired by the sight of a superstar playing against him, Police bowler Neon Steede charges in and produces a nasty inswinger which explodes off the pitch and crashes into the stumps. The Legend is dismissed first ball and walks off glaring at Fleming. An extraordinary debut later becomes even more legendary when Police bat as Atkinson takes a wicket with his first ball and gains revenge on Neon Steede who hits a slow looping full toss straight to John Birch at mid on. Atkinson takes three more wickets as Leg Trappers win by 30 runs. Despite consistent press speculation that another comeback is imminent, it has proved to be the only appearance that Atkinson ever made for the Leg Trappers.

May 18: John Birch scores a dashing 58 in a victory over Warwick.

May 25: Andy Harris scores his first half century for the club as the Trappers easily defeat Somerset Bridge.

Jun 7: In an extraordinary cup tie against Warwick at Southampton Oval, the Trappers compile a record total of 305-7 from 50 overs helped by a blistering unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 94 between Justin Freisenbruch and James Swan to close the innings. Warwick also concede a whopping 70 wides. The Trappers dismiss Warwick for 240 to win by 65 runs.

Jun 8: The Trappers come back to earth as they are dismissed for 103 by Bailey’s Bay and lose by nine wickets. The game is notable for James Broadbent’s innings of 6 lasting 85 minutes and Marc Wetherhill being hit for an amazing six over long off from an apparent defensive prod.

Jun 22: One of the darkest days in Leg Trapper history as they are bowled out for 36 by Flatts, their lowest ever score. James Kent’s optimism when coming in to bat at 28-6 (“They’re beginning to look rattled Yorkshire, if we can hang in for a few overs we might have a chance”) proves to be misguided.

Jul 6: Luke O’Conner’s recent slump of 48 runs in 8 innings is ended in spectacular fashion as he strokes a glorious century against Social Club and his second wicket partnership of 130 with David Outtrim is a new Leg Trapper record. Outtrim comes close to a maiden half-century but exhaustion and dehydration take over and he is out for 48 and has to spend the rest of the innings on an intravenous drip. The game is also notable for The Trappers fielding an American citizen for the first time, “Boston” Bob Saunders.

Jul 20: David Hosier and Graham Strange score undefeated half centuries in an easy victory over Warwick. This proves to be the last notable contribution that Hosier makes for the Trappers as his next eight innings are spread over two and a half years and he fails to reach double figures in any of them.

Aug 3: The Trappers lose an exciting game against Devonshire Rec who manage to chase down their target of 245. The game is in the balance until skipper Graham Strange turns to James Broadbent’s off-spin and his only over goes for 23, not helped by Ross “Master” Bateman dropping a crucial catch at long off after losing the ball in the sun.

Aug 10: James Broadbent famously scores his first half century at his 72nd attempt as he makes 58 against Bailey’s Bay. He expertly marshals the tail and shares an eighth wicket partnership of 41 with Neil “NNN” Carroll with Carroll contributing just one run. James Kent later describes Broadbent’s innings as one of the greatest he has ever seen as the Trappers recover from 92-6 to 196-9. Earlier Marc Wetherhill had shared a partnership of 17 with Broadbent but he had inexplicably ducked into a yorker and injured his foot in the process. He is later only able to bowl three overs which go for 26 and the Trappers’ stretched bowling resources are just unable to contain Bailey’s Bay who gain a hard-fought three wicket victory.
Aug 17: The Trappers defeat Flatts in the Cup semi-final, memorable for Graham Strange’s extraordinary leaping catch at mid on which James Kent describes as the best he has ever seen.

Aug 24: The greatest day in the Leg Trappers’ history to date as they defeat Devonshire Rec in the Cup Final at Southampton Oval. James Kent’s 3 for 23 helps limit Rec to 184-7 and in reply Luke O’Connor hits an assured 49 as the Trappers win comfortably by three wickets with 14 overs to spare. James Kent describes the day as the best of his cricketing career, but he is unfortunately unable to join the team for the post match celebrations as he has to go to a client dinner. The rest of the team form a convoy of cars and bikes and parade the trophy up Middle Road and into town with horns blaring, but as it is a Sunday evening and the weather has turned showery, the only people that see them are a couple of bemused workers at the gas station on East Broadway.

Aug 25: President James Broadbent and joint Man-of-the-Match winners James Kent and Luke O’Connor go to ZBM studios to record a TV interview for the evening news. Kent is wearing the Leg Trapper Green Jacket but unfortunately ZBM choose not to show his interview but instead concentrate on Broadbent and O’Connor. At the end of the interviews a video is shown of the three men with the trophy….and also a beaming Marc Wetherhill, much to the surprise of watching club members who had been advised by Wetherhill that ZBM were unable to include any other Trappers in their coverage and they shouldn’t show up.

2004

May 16: One of the longest streaks in sport comes to an end as Graham Strange is dismissed for a duck for the first time in 96 innings. It is not without controversy as Strange is run out while he is wandering around out of his crease, apparently thinking the ball is dead.

May 22: The Leg Trappers play their first ever two day game against Warwick. Despite 5-45 from Marc Wetherhill in the first innings and half centuries from Gary Knight, Luke O’Connor and Andy Harris in the second innings, the Trappers are defeated by nine wickets.

Jun 5: The Trappers’ second two day game becomes their most infamous. An extraordinary 195 from Glenn Blakeney helps Social Club to 308-3 off just 38 overs. Included in the mayhem is Luke O’Connor being hit for 3 consecutive sixes by Dwayne “Streaker” Adams and David Outtrim suffering the horrendous figures of 3-0-49-0. In reply the Trappers are skittled for 156 and 93 to lose by an innings and 59 runs.

Jun 13: Spirits are restored as Colin Scaife takes a career best 7 for 19 as the Trappers thrash Somerset Bridge. Rich Boud plays his only game for the Leg Trappers but does not bat or bowl.

Jun 22: The Trappers include guest players Lionel Cann and Del Hollis in the team as they play against a touring Lloyd’s XI at the National Stadium.

Jul 25: A thrilling game against Social Club sees Chris Fleming score 95 to help the Trappers to 264-4 but in reply Social Club manage to reach the target for the loss of 8 wickets. Marc Wetherhill takes the prized scalp of Charlie Marshall but his five overs go for 41 runs at a crucial stage of the innings.

Aug 12: An anti-climactic end to the season as the Trappers are dumped from the Cup in a 103 run defeat to Flatts.

Aug 30: James Broadbent, Graham Strange and Luke O’Connor play a round of golf with Brian Lara at Port Royal (Lara is in Bermuda with the touring West Indian team). On the second hole Broadbent drives his ball into the rough. The other players help him look for it and Lara finds a ball. Broadbent thanks him profusely (although he subsequently admitted to friends it wasn’t his ball – he was playing a Pinnacle but Lara found a Callaway). Halfway through the round Broadbent buys Lara a hot-dog and refuses Lara’s offer to pay. Meanwhile Strange addresses Lara as “Bri” throughout the round.

Nov 26: The Leg Trappers take part in the Sarasota International Six-A-Side Tournament. The trip is a great success but the time-honoured maxim of “What Goes On Tour, Stays On Tour” prevents further elaboration here.

2005

May 22: After an encouraging start to the season, the Trappers suddenly find themselves without most of their first team for various reasons and have to call up John Uprichard, Neil Carroll, Jonathan Hughes and Rob Dalton for the Cup tie against Social Club. Marc Wetherhill has to bat at number 7 and Jonathan Hughes is first change bowler. Not surprisingly, the Trappers are thrashed.

Jun 4: Stephen Drake displays his raw power in brutal innings of 75 and 66 in the two day game against Police.

Jun 18: Drake’s golden spell continues as he scores his first century against Somerset. His 5th wicket partnership of 156 with Andy Harris (75) is a Leg Trapper record.

Jul 2: Luke O’Connor scores a sublime undefeated century against Cleveland.

Jul 17: The Leg Trappers’ Year of the Bat continues as Chris Fleming (110 not out) and Graham Strange (93) share a 3rd wicket partnership of 210 against Somerset Bridge. Fleming’s innings is the highest ever by a Trapper. Strange’s return to form convinces him to continue training for Bermuda (but this later ends in disappointment in a trip with the national team to Canada which sees him dismissed for 0 and 2 in his only game, and he decides to retire from international cricket and his first class career ends with a batting average of 1).

Aug 21: A stunning spell of 7-1-36-5 by Marc Wetherhill destroys Warwick in the Cup semi-final as they are skittled for 93 and the Trappers win by nine wickets.

Aug 28: The Cup Final ends in disappointment for the Trappers as after scoring 194 against Somerset, rain arrives and the match is abandoned. The match is decided on a toss of a coin and Luke O’Connor calls incorrectly.

Sep 4: A glorious end to the season for the Leg Trappers as they defeat Warwick in the two-day play-off by 10 wickets, helped by James Swan’s 8 for 52 in the second innings.

Sep 26: Kian Wookey ends months of speculation by announcing he will be returning to play for the Trappers in 2006.

Nov 19: The Trappers hold their first Swingers Party at Mariners Club which is a big success. BroadersBand appear live on stage to rave reviews. A girl is sick on Andy Harris’ shirt.

Nov 26: The second trip to Sarasota.

2006

Feb 2: Chris Fleming and Damion Henderson are appointed joint skippers of the team. With several newcomers to the squad, hopes are high for the 2006 season………