Captain Jan Gray took a refreshing view on Sandwich Town’s heavy Kent League defeat last weekend.

Town were bowled out for 147 in a seven-wicket Premier Division defeat against Tunbridge Wells.

Gray chose to bat after winning the toss but his side struggled, with James Bazley (36) their top scorer. Wells knocked off the runs in 25.1 overs.

The skipper accepted his side had been well beaten but the result didn’t detract from spending an afternoon in the sunshine with team-mates.

“In some ways it’s easier to take a defeat like that, because at no point were we in the game,” said Gray.

“They would have batted as well, had they won the toss, but in hindsight the pitch probably did a bit more first up.

“It’s always going to be difficult to defend 147 and it became impossible once they came out of the blocks as they did.

“Although I don’t think the pitch ever favoured the bowlers, it was really flat by then. They scored 60 in the first 10 overs and it was going to take a miracle to win.

“In those situations it makes me very glad - and I said this to the team afterwards - to play with people I really like.

“We play hard and we want to win but at the end of the day we’re amateur athletes. It’s not just about the cricket, it’s about spending the weekend with friends.

“The fact of the matter is, even though we got hammered, we spent a lovely afternoon together in the sunshine.

“You still enjoy spending time with each other, even when it’s obvious you are going to lose, and that’s how it should be.

“We’re still a young team - there’s only one player over 30 - but we’ve been together quite a long time.

“People are moving into different stages of their lives - getting partners, marrying, having children. It’s all very different to three or four years ago when we had very few responsibilities in the way we do now.

“Cricket wasn’t designed for the modern day, it was designed for a time when people had more free time.

“The growth of the club depends on people’s willingness to play and if people don’t enjoy their cricket, they won’t play.”

Sandwich returned to action on Sunday with a two-wicket win over Wanstead & Snaresbrook in the Conference Cup for the Bertie Joel Trophy.

Chasing 184, they got home after 39.2 overs with Bazley scoring 58.