The Old Boys bring the uniquely shaped ball forward during their match with the Senior Boys. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0875534)

For a start you would not want to head a Harrow ball, which is shaped like a giant pork pie and is more akin to a medicine ball than one of the modern-day balloons used in Division One in Guernsey and the Barclays Premier League.

Usually the game is played exclusively at the famous English public school, but for the second year running this most unusual of ball games has been taken to the Channel Islands.

Last year, it was Jersey who sampled it for the first time. Guernsey’s turn came courtesy thanks largely due to the efforts of Guernseyman and Old Harrovian Sean Martin.

‘The game was a great success … played in perfect wet conditions,’ said Martin.

‘There was only one serious injury with a Harrow boy having to visit A&E for a knee injury.

‘Us old boys have various bruised ribs, sprained ankles and aching limbs as it is a very physical game with barging and pushing and shoving all part of it.’

For the record, the current Senior Boys beat the Old Boys by three bases (goals) to two.