Day one of the Pears Bears derby had a bit of everything
It's a glorious day in Worcester, perfect for County Championship cricket. New Road, pleasantly populated, might be the home of the Bears' rivals, but it must be said that it's a wonderful venue to sit and spectate, particularly on days like this where everything is in place.
Well, almost everything. This is my first visit back to this ground, on the banks of the River Severn, since our revered and loved colleague John Curtis passed away, just prior to the new cricket season beginning.
John, JC, was very much the voice of New Road, as the club have described him, the first face you'd meet in the press box. If there was an issue with the coffee machine, JC would be called upon. When lunch landed, JC was distributor in chief.
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They were just the roles he took upon himself to ensure any visitor was comfortable and welcome, never mind the years of service he gave to the club at every level and the brilliant fashion in which he wrote match reports, stories and interview features on Worcestershire's behalf.
The Pears have done wonderfully by JC to commemorate him; before he passed, at the end of last season, the press box here was renamed the Curtis, Oldnall and Beddow Lounge, to recognise the contribution of JC, Chris Oldnall and Mike Beddow as local reporters who had covered the club for decades between them.
Even now, the familiar seat which John would take up on each morning there was cricket being played is reserved. There is a plaque at his desk, which reads 'J.C. The scoreboard may stop ticking, but your stories will always live on'. The club's gilet he wore proudly is draped over the back of his seat. You're sorely missed, JC.
On the cricket itself, Worcestershire bowled superbly early on after Warwickshire had elected to bat, having won the toss. Tom Taylor removed the out of sorts Rob Yates for just 3, and then Matthew Waite removed captain and Yates' opening partner Alex Davies, trapping him LBW, for 21.
Overseas Tom Latham and the reliable Sam Hain - who admittedly has experienced an indifferent start to the County Championship season - rebuilt the innings with patience and punishment.
They played with conviction, with small amounts of fortune along the way, to put on 109 - although the Pears did fight back just before the tea interval when they removed both Latham and number five Beau Webster, and former Pear Ed Barnard for a 12-ball duck, to leave the game before the final session in a tantalising place.
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