BACK TO NEWSLETTER 2005 CONTENTS
In response to widespread public pressure for reform, this year’s Secretary’s
Report will contain fewer jokes and less wit than ever before. To all the loyal
and wildly amused readers of years past, the Secretary can only apologise and
hope that the hole left in your lives does not take too long to heal. Be strong.
It is customary to start the report of the summer’s cricket with a hearty
metaphorical slap on the back, giving everyone the good news that “this was the
best year ever”. Well, the truth is that for the minority whose memories go back
further than their last meal, 2005 really was about as good as it gets. We had
it all: glorious weather, high octane cricket, tight finishes, good humour, new
members, flagons of ale, new fixtures, late nights and bonhomie aplenty. Perhaps
the most promising news for the future is that we had the largest squad for many
years and, consequently, we had the luxury of having to have a selection policy.
Admittedly this was no more advanced than selecting Matt Jones when the
opposition needed to be intimidated and the Secretary when it did not but,
nonetheless, these were heady times.
As is traditional, the week commenced with Canford Cygnets getting a
good-natured drubbing. The Cygnets batted first but succumbed to sustained
pressure from eye-wateringly consistent bowling and – you could tell it was the
first day of the tour – excellent fielding, subsiding to a decidedly limp 137
all out (T Hicks 3-42). Canford may not be to a Clayesmorian’s taste as a school
but their ground really is a lovely place to play cricket, particularly when the
sun is out all day and the temperature is allowing the mercury in the
thermometer to explore the upper reaches of the tube. The Cormorants raced to
140 for 1, principally thanks to a bludgeoning strokeplay masterclass from
Graeme Owton, whose 65* showed where Kevin Pietersen’s inspiration lies. His
attempt to retire at tea was rebuffed and he responded with ever more outrageous
boundaries. And apparently it was his first game of cricket in three years… A
Deighton kept the pitch flat and the bowlers interested with a rock-of-ages 34*.
Tuesday saw the Bryanston Butterflies come to Clayesmore and win. Yes, sorry
about that. The Butterflies amassed 268 for 8 with Elder 112 and Bucknall 47,
with Tom Hicks taking 4 for 69. In reply the Cormorants almost, but not quite,
got there, reaching 238. There were some good performances commensurate to a
high-scoring game, with Tom Hicks adding runs to wickets with 44, Jamie Dike 40
and Graeme Owton continuing his comeback tour with 50.
Wednesday 13 July saw the first of our two new fixtures and the Cormorants
attempt to stage their very own version of On The Buses, with a sweet little
charabanc trip to Seaton to see the play the Free Foresters. They are a
long-established club with a good pedigree and it was quite a coup to secure a
fixture with them (huge thanks to Terry Morgan). It was important to put on a
good show and the side for the day was captained with Vaughan-esque aplomb by
Tom Hicks. The declaration was judged superbly, Cormorants having reached a
highly impressive 271 for 8 on the back of Richard Gulliver 44, Tim Bryson 65
and Graeme Owton 48. The Free Foresters made an ominously good solid start but
their gradual acceleration was checked by some tenacious bowling. Guy Hicks took
3 for 51 and the screw gradually turned, despite Askew’s 57*, with the last
Forester being felled at 251. We were very well hosted and the coach trip back
gave the opportunity to drink some seriously cheap bitter and cider at dizzying
speeds (the drinking that is – our driver liked to keep the faster gears on his
bus for special and as yet unidentified occasions). It was a very enjoyable new
fixture and one we look forward to renewing next year.
The last game of the week was also a new fixture and was definitely the
tightest. We were hosted by Jesters CC during their weeklong tour to Somerset at
their base, the ground of North Perrott CC. The pavilion was near palatial and
the pitch intimidating good, so it would be convenient to put the fact that the
Jesters’ opening batsmen put on nearly 200 as down to stage fright. A tight
match, I hear you say? Well, Jesters declared on 234 for 4 (Garcia 110*, Duttine
95, Tom Hicks 3 for 50) and the Cormorants set about the run chase with gusto.
However, wickets fell regularly and it was the combined might of the Hicks
brothers (Tom 48, Guy 93*) that got us to 232 for 9 with Andrew Merson doing a
great thing by keeping out the last ball. It really is not very often that a
match goes down to the last ball with all three results possible.
An excellent evening at The Cricketers in Shroton rounded off the best pre-Ashes
week of 2005. The team and I would like to thank, as always, the indefatigable
Andrew Beaton for all his hard work and Roger Bayliss for his umpiring services.
And Andrew and I would like to thank the players for wanting to get involved and
making their club a damn great one to be a part of: Bring
on 2006!
The Players in 2005 were:
T Deighton, G Hicks, S Reeves, G Owton, M Jones, T Morgan, T Bryson, M Blant, T Hicks, A Deighton, C Haniff, R Lack, T Lack, N Lack, R Gulliver, M Spraggs, J Dyke, A Merson. (A Dyke was injured but supplied good vibes and collected fees all week.)
Alastair Deighton (83-94)
Secretary.
A View from the Boundary
This looks good from where I sit. Cormorants cricket is on a high. Not only
do we have some very competent and experienced cricketers, but cricketers who
thoroughly enjoy the game, the après too. They fully understand the Cormorants’
ethos.
Our fixture list is changing. Sadly, Dorset Rangers and Strollers are no more,
but new names (for us) replace them: North Mymms, Free Foresters and Jesters.
The team is now all OC’s. They are young and keen, many of them very talented.
They greatly enjoy the week. First day of each year when we all convene is
special. Cormorants (or, perhaps, any team sport?) builds a unique bond.
The School is incredibly supportive. We are loaned the use of Devine House in
the village for our week; without such accommodation, it would not be viable.
Dan, thank you for always making us welcome, despite the occasional
disturbances. If we cannot use the 1st XI ground due to Summer school, we are
made welcome on the Prep School pitch and being there, as the late Hugh
Glazebrook once said to one of our older members whilst fielding in the slips,
is like Heaven.
Ray Norris and his team do wonders, not just on the pitches, but the School
grounds generally. If ever you wish to measure the commitment they give to their
work, go to nearby Shroton cricket ground (established circa 1865), which Eric,
one of Ray’s team, looks after in his spare time. They are true friends.
Following his disorganised predecessor, the Cormorants now have an administrator
par excellence. Alastair is his name, and he is a pretty handy bat, scorer,
military (sorry, naval) medium and team man. He has a very dodgy and
delightfully non PC sense of humour too. Long may it continue!
We have longstanding supporters – Piers Sabine, our current President, Frank
Stones and Charlie Price, all of them on the inaugural Cormorants trip in 1961
to Cornwall, and still showing their faces. Reg Severn, our now retired scorer,
Roger Bayliss, umpire. Many tea ladies too (more welcome!).
The OC Society supports the week. This is much appreciated by us; please keep
that going if you will.
Next year the Cormorants are 45 years old, which is nothing compared to Free
Foresters, who we play at Seaton on 12 July. They will be celebrating their
150th anniversary in 2006. We are privileged to have such fixtures.
Andrew Beaton (64-69)
Clayesmore Cormorants Cricket Club -
2005 Cricket Week Results
11 July v Canford Cygnets (at Canford)
Match won
Cygnets 137 (Harms 33, T Hicks 3 for 42)
Cormorants 140 for 1 (Owton 65 no, A Deighton 34 no)
12 July v Bryanston Butterflies (at Clayesmore)
Match lost
Butterflies 268 for 8 declared (Bucknall 47, Elder 112, T Hicks 4 for 69)
Cormorants 238 (T Hicks 44. J Dike 40, Owton 50, Lamb 4 for 32)
13 July v Free Foresters (Seaton, Devon)
Match won
Cormorants 271 for 8 declared (Gulliver 44, Bryson 65, Owton 48, Dodd 3 for 56)
Free Foresters 251 (C Sandbach 45, E Sandbach 49, Askew 57 no, W Sandbach 33, G
Hicks 3 for 51)
14 July v Jesters (North Perrott, Somerset)
Match drawn
Jesters 234 for 4 declared (Duttine 95, Garcia 110 no, T Hicks 3 for 50)
Cormorants 232 for 9 (T Hicks 48, G Hicks 93 no, Garcia 3 for 70)