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Cormorant Cricket Week
The Cormorant cricket club is alive and kicking. As the summer of 1998 beckons it is hard to believe that the club enters into its 40th season. It only seems like yesterday that a group of Schoolmasters and 1st XI stalwarts journeyed westward to take on the best Cornwall could offer.(Many of us can still remember the number of tyres DJW needed for his famous Austin 10. NZ) It is unlikely that they had ever imagined their spirit of adventure would be maintained for so long as we approach the twenty-first century.
Nowadays, the Cormorants play most of their cricket at the school on the main pitch by the lake field. It is to the credit of Ray Norris, the head grounds man, through his hard work that a really excellent cricket square has been produced. It most certainly reflects the school’s commitment to developing fine young cricketers. Many thanks, Ray.
This year’s matches were hard fought and many were close as usual. The match against Bryanston was an historic victory. Against Canford, the Cormorants went down with all guns blazing. This was followed by another defeat against the Caterham Strollers the next day. The President’s XI, under the leadership of David Watkins, were dispatched in the penultimate over. However the best game of the week was the final one. Chasing 200 plus and with the last Dorset Rangers pair at the wicket needing six to win off the last ball, all four results were possible. Tom Hicks bowled; six into the lake; match lost.
There were many excellent individual contributions to the overall team, inspiringly led by Graeme Owton. Richard Oliver notched a couple of tons, The Morgan twins made handsome half- centuries in difficult circumstances. The pick of the bowlers was Adam Frith with a tally of nine wickets. The quickie, David Spence, managed to bowl a total of fourteen no-balls and twenty one wides in one match alone. It clearly had something to do with the fact he got married only the week before. The lithe Nick Goumas took a catch at cover that defied belief. On the fielding side, Denning Minimus was a revelation.
The Dinner was held a the Talbot. The cuisine was excellent although the host was, to put it mildly, a little eccentric. This year we were fortunate to be spared a speech from Hugh Thompson. The Cormorants cup was presented to Bill Buck for his outstanding contribution over the past thirty-five years.
Finally, the Cormorants would like to send out their thanks to all those who help make the week so wonderful. To the school for providing the facilities once again. To roger Bayliss for umpiring. To Reg for keeping a tidy scorebook. To the Roberts girls for providing the lunch and teas.
We all look forward to 1998, and we hope to see you there.
Fixtures for 1998
13 July Canford Cygnets
14 July Bryanston Butterflies
15 July The President’s XI
16 July Caterham Strollers
17 July Dorset Rangers.
Nick Goumas
Cormorant Cricket Campanology Versus Cricket
Cormorants cricket got off to a terrific start with a
nail-biting match against Canford Cygnets. Chasing a high Canford total, Graeme Owton
(82-88) and the young 1st XI batsman and bowler, Toby Sharpe made an excellent start,
Graeme cruising to an impressive hundred and Toby making a superlative fifty.
Unfortunately the total was too high and the match was drawn.
However, the next match was historic. For the second time in the season Bryanston were
beaten by Clayesmore, first by the school 1st XI by five wickets earlier in the season,
and secondly by a determined Cormorants XI.
As news of the historic victory over the Bryanston Butterflies leaked out of the Talbot in the early hours of the Wednesday morning, the sound of the school bell could be heard clanging away. Four giggling OCs were apprehended in the clock tower by the Gate House tutor. After a severe reprimanding the culprits (including Owton, Frith (85-90), and Hicks (92-95), in a typical OC style, generously helped themselves to the tutor’s drinks cabinet. (It is rumoured this tutor has gone dry and Manor House’s tutor has installed the latest high-tech security locks on his flat!)
The last two games against the Strollers and Dorset Rangers were probably a success too but none of the surviving cormorants seem able to remember a great deal. Many of the more experienced members of the side were seen nursing stiff arms, legs, and some heads, and relying on the athleticism and talents of the younger players such as the Lack brothers, the Denning brothers, and the school 1st XI captain, Gavin Tew.
The players would like to thank the school for the use of the wicket and for the free run of Devine; David Spence (83-86), Graeme Owton, and Andrew Beaton (64-69) for organising the week.
Daniel Rimmer
Can the two reports above really be about the same week? NZ.