The Cadogan Tate cricket team has now returned from its successful week end tour to the South France where it played in the Siddalls Entrecasteaux Cricket Sevens on Saturday and against Riviera Cricket Club on Sunday.  After a bright opening match at Entrecasteaux which Cadogan Tate won, mostly due to Simon Waymouth’s (Group Risk Manager) destructive 42 not out in approximately 15 balls, the second game saw the team narrowly miss out to Beausoeil who had travelled from Monaco to participate.  Cadogan Tate suffered from some minor slips in the final two overs which allowed Beausoeil a narrow victory.  With a finals place now impossible Tom Wilson, tournament captain, rang the changes in the final pool match swapping the batting line up.  Unfortunately Cadogan Tate ran out of steam in a low run chase giving our opponents once again a narrow victory. Earlier Ed Walters had taken two wickets with his final two balls leaving an anxious overnight wait for his hat trick ball.
Dinner and a presentation ceremony followed in the village hall.  Cadogan Tate presented tournament best Bowler, Batsman and Fielding awards, and enjoyed a thoroughly sociable evening with our hosts and opponents.  Simon Eveleigh from tournament sponsors Siddalls Wealth Management thanked Cadogan Tate CC for making the trip from London and for contributing to the good spirit of the event.
The next morning Cadogan Tate travelled up mountain to the picturesque ground of Riviera Cricket Club just beyond the perfume capital of Grasse.  Simon Waymouth, Cadogan Tate Sunday Captain, lost the toss, on a pleasant afternoon, and was duly asked to field.  Riviera got off to a racing start and looked to post an imposing total in the 35 over contest, until Stuart Ashe was introduced with his slow right arm off spin.  Stuart, General Manager of Cadogan Tate’s Auction House Services, ended up returning figures of 5 for 21 taking his fifth wicket with his very last ball.  There were also useful contributions with the ball from Simon Fleming, Tom Vickery and latterly Joe Banks.  Ed Walters succumbed to nerves with his hat trick ball, much to the disappointment (and hilarity) of his team mates.
Set 225 to win Cadogan Tate got off to a steady start but lost wickets at critical moments.  Only Tom Wilson showed any fluency with the bat and on his dismissal for 75 Cadogan Tate’s fate was soon sealed with Riviera running out winners by 53 runs.  In thanking Riviera Simon Waymouth presented their players with Cadogan Tate cricket caps and the club with a new score book for their next season.  Riviera announced Tom Wilson as Man of the Match and presented him with a Riviera tie.    
The Cadogan Tate squad collectively felt privileged to have made the tour and to have played at such beautifully scenic venues.  Thank you to our hosts.