Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club Handbook 2021

UPPINGHAM ROVERS CRICKET CLUB (Founded 1863)

Handbook 2021

“Solvitur Ambulando”

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

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Committee UPPINGHAM ROVERS 2020

Officers President: D. A. Stewart 8 Victoria Place, Halliday Drive, Walmer, Deal CT14 7FH (M) 07714 458976 davidangusstewart@gmail.com Hon. Secretary: H.S. Stroud 1 Main Road, Uffington, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 4SN (H) 01780 592504 (M) 07860 676724 hedley.stroud@btinternet.com Hon. Treasurer:

Hon. Match Secretary Alex Collins (M) 07786 244112 alex.collins@live.co.uk uppinghamroverscc@gmail.com

Match v The School

Cricketer Cup Captain

Uppingham

283 for 6

T Kennedy 129, H Judd 90

Henry Hughes (M) 07825 160908 hhughes@behrens.co.uk

Haddon CC

287 for 7

C Symes 2-42, S Charlton 2-69

249 all out

The School

226 for 6

Match drawn Match v Haddon CC

Haddon won by 3 wkts

Cricketer Cup Manager Ed Fowler (M) 07855 353427 e.fowler1971@outlook.com Ordinary Members

R.G. Hargreaves 14 Winterbrook Road, London, SE24 9JA (M) 07900 917769 robin.hargreaves@gmail.com

C Bennett Baggs A.G.W. Lewin J.N. Beaumont S.W.Peters

Keeper of the Books:

Matches Played 1864–2020

D.A. Ashworth 34 Hillbrow, Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6BY (M) 07785 775077 david.ashworth34@btinternet.com

Rovers

E.R. Fowler C.R.J. Timm T.J. Kennedy

Committee Meeting 2020

Played Won Drawn Tied Lost 1095 461 363 5 266 Rovers colours can be obtained direct from the Hon. Treasurer or Hon. Match Secretary.

Teamwear is available from Masuri: https://teamwear.nxt-sports.com/shop/ uppingham-rovers-cc

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Introduction to The Handbook 2021 put out an OUs side against the school on the same weekend in September.

All being well and protected with ‘jabbed arms’ our intention is to make the very most of 2021 and do what we can to relaunch the Rovers. We want to celebrate good cricket and good fellowship in the special way that our club does things. Our 1st Round Cricketer Cup draw on Sunday 13 June is against familiar rivals Haileybury Hermits and it will be a great opportunity to come and support and catch up with old friends around the boundary over a glass or two of something chilled. Good luck to First and foremost I hope all Rovers have been keeping well and that you have avoided the virus. And as we all look ahead and try to guess when there may be a return to some semblance of normality it is ironic to think that our motto ‘solvitur ambulando’ is one that Covid19 itself seems to have borrowed to maximise its longevity and survival!

Henry Hughes as he takes over the reins of captaincy from Chris Bennett-Baggs and we wish him and his squad all the best of luck in this year’s campaign.

However, the best way of banishing the Covid blues would be if as many Rovers and partners as possible could make the journey to Eastbourne for a night or two on tour. We would like the black tie dinner (don’t forget your favours!) on

2020 was a year that will be difficult to

the Thursday 8 July evening to be as big

forget and I fear it will be etched into our

an occasion as possible. There is nothing

memories forever. After all the Rovers

quite like a Rovers evening when there is

toured in 1919-20 when the Spanish Flu

a comprehensive mix of the generations

was at its height and when an estimated

and lots of partners in attendance. During

50 million perished worldwide. Thanks

the day there will be golf for as many

to the ingenuity and generosity of the

who would like to play and cricket to

Kennedy Family the Rovers did play a

watch on College Field against the Old

game against East Haddon CC and we did

Eastbournians. Rovers re-union parties

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are always enormous fun and it would be great to see as many of you as possible.

As Rovers I hope you agree that we should do what we can to encourage and support the development of cricket at the school. The Headman is keen to develop a national cricketing reputation and please introduce yourself to Andy Siddall the new Director of Cricket if you are in Uppingham. With this in mind I am presenting a cup to the school which will be awarded annually and which will hopefully create a tangible link or focus between the Rovers and the school.

The cup will be called the TGL Ballance Uppingham Rovers Cup for Cricket. Tris Ballance was captain of cricket in 1934, a Rover of course, won two ‘blues’ at Oxford and played many times for Norfolk. He was also the best man at my mother and father’s wedding in 1942 and was killed in action in the early days of the Battle of Monte Cassino in December 1943. He was the reason three Stewart boys ended up at Uppingham.

the world and they are too precious to be kept in the boot of a car or left out in the rain when on tour. It is with this in mind that there will be a historical feature or article included in our annual handbooks in future.

Finally, and by no means least, thanks to our excellent committee who look after the club’s interests. Apart from your President everyone has been very comfortable at our Zoom meetings. We are in good hands and our financial position is healthy. However please do not be slow in coming forward if you would like to volunteer and serve on the committee – many hands make light work etc. Rules and regulations allowing I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Founders Day or at Haileybury or on tour.

‘Floreat the Rovers’.

DA Stewart President

With so much spare room in this year’s handbook you will see in this edition some snippets from the past and in particular the Cricketer Cup. We hope it jogs your memories! Our thanks to David Ashworth and Andrew Lewin whose initiative this is and who have put the pieces together.

You may not know that our beautiful leather bound volumes of the ‘Doings of the Uppingham Rovers’ are now kept in the school’s archives. I suspect they are an unrivalled record of any cricket club in 5

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Uppingham Cricket Uppingham Cricket has had a few turbulent years with regard to its changing leadership.

Thankfully however, there has been one consistent rock in place who has always had the pupils, and the programme’s best interests at heart, Trevor Ward. During his 18 years as the school’s Cricket Professional he has seen it all, and given how many cricket balls I have seen him throw during my short time at the school, if Trevor had a pound for every cricket ball he has thrown to a batsman over the years he would be a very wealthy man!

Since joining in October 2019, I can honestly say that without the support of Trevor and his vast knowledge, it would have been far harder to make the positive strides forward that we have in such a short space of time. I am most grateful to him and certainly recognise his invaluable contribution to Uppingham Cricket.

Additionally, the support of our Headmaster has been critical in developing the programme resulting in a product that will help us attract higher quality cricketing talent to Uppingham.

It is unquestionable how important ‘time on task’ is in order to become excellent at anything. Thankfully, with the clearance from Dr Maloney, talented cricketers within the school are now able to access one to one and specialist coaching within their academic timetable, allowing us to deliver those critical hours upon hours of time on task required.

Given my previous role as Academy Director at Leicestershire County Cricket Club, I have absolutely no doubt that this change allowed Pip Jackson (Lorne House) the relevant development contact time resulting in him signing an academy contract with Leicestershire CCC upon leaving school. It is our hope to attract highly talented cricketers to Uppingham 6

by being able to offer them a minimum of 6-8 hours specific cricket contact time per week all year round.

Covid-19 played a serious part in what could be achieved during the year as no fixtures were possible due to the National Lockdown in the summer term. However, this didn’t stop us analysing the school’s cricket programme and culture, then start to put in place some fundamental principles to guide us over the coming years. Starting off, and in alignment with the Headmaster, we set out a clear, bold, and highly ambitious vision.

“To become a powerhouse of independent schools cricket, contributing to the development of future professional cricketers but also instilling a lifelong love of the game for all the Uppingham community.”

To achieve this there are 7 pillars of attention.

Obviously, some will naturally have more focus and attention at various times over the years, but all will play an important part in us taking Uppingham Cricket to where we should be.

Oracle’ was formerly Head Groundsman at Glamorgan and prior to this spent 18 years as Head Groundsman at Oakham school during a period when their cricket pitches were outstanding.

1. Recruitment 2. Facilities 3. Coaching & Contact 4. Staffing 5. Competition & Match Play 6. The Uppingham Cricket Community 7. Commercial Ventures & External Partners

Additionally, it is our intention in the next 12 to 18 months to grow the professional coaching provision and begin to host County and Prep School cricket festivals. Coaching wise our aim is to provide additional specialist coaching by ex-professional cricketers with a coaching pedigree for pace, spin and wicket keeping to work alongside Trevor Ward who naturally leads the batting. Whereas in regards festivals, our intention is to ensure the facilities at Uppingham are experienced by the very best Prep School and junior County cricketers in the country to showcase Uppingham.

Our current reality is that we only have a handful of pupils who play county representative cricket, so forming strong links with the First Class Counties in the Midlands and the nearby National Counties (formerly known as Minor Counties) will be priceless.

In regard to facility development, unfortunately we have lost the battle in gaining planning permission to extend the pavilion. Therefore, the decision has been made to restore it to its former glory and create a space for spectators and dining. With our intention then being to build a stand-alone players and officials pavilion plus indoor cricket centre on the opposite side of the ground.

Obviously, this will all be subject to planning permission, but we are hopeful to develop The Upper into a top quality venue aiming to host First Class cricket in the coming years.

To add to this ambition, we have been fortunate to acquire the services of Alex Exton as our new Grounds Manager. Alex has joined us from Witham Hall Prep School where he produced the best surfaces I have seen outside professional cricket for a long time. Alex is one of the best and most ambitious young groundsman in the country and without doubt his appointment is going to be critical in our success in the coming years. Along with Alex’s skills and experience in the art of groundsmanship we will benefit, and already have, from the vast experience of Alex’s father, Keith. Keith Exton, who Alex refers to as ‘The

Finally, whilst disappointed to have not been able to meet many of The Rovers due to Covid-19, I sincerely intend to ensure that the healthy relationship between the school and the Club continues to grow in strength.

I respect that this great school is steeped in history and I’m very proud to be able to look after Uppingham Cricket during this time. Like anybody in a position such as this, I certainly intend for cricket to be in a stronger position than when I arrived whenever the time comes to hand over the reins. I love and respect this game, so we at Uppingham will continue to do our part in upholding the game’s spirit, traditions and values whilst embracing the demands of the modern era. Respect and trust are earnt, so I hope that my actions over the forthcoming years will earn both and that you as Uppinghamians can feel confident that cricket at Uppingham is in safe hands.

We look forward to welcoming you back to The Upper whenever your travels allow.

Andy Siddall Director of Cricket January 2021 7

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

Uppingham Rovers v Uppingham School The Upper, September 12th 2020 ‘Covid-19 affects virtually nobody!’ A quote from the most powerful man on earth Donald Trump rung through the Rovers ears in February post their final net session before the eagerly anticipated overseas tour to Argentina. Two days later the tour was off and the world was going into lockdown for the foreseeable future....no sport...no cricket....no Blacks nightclub in Buenos Aires!

Roll on 7 months to 12th September and we had the first cricket of the season. With a ban on amateur rugby still in place the school were playing cricket during the autumn term which meant a fixture could be organised against a Rovers team, chomping at the bit to chase some leather around a field.

An eager and youthful side captained by ‘TK’ turned up at the Upper on time and in some cases early. It was clear ‘Lockdown’ was wearing thin and everyone was keen to get out of the house and dust off their whites.

With only two games in the diary no one wanted to go home with a duck and have to wait a full year to redeem themselves. With that in mind the full squad wandered down to the nets to see if they could remember which end to hold the bat. Andy Siddall the new Director of Cricket at Uppingham had a youthful side ready to play and the readers must remember that the leavers of last year were not present and so the oldest boys in the team were only in their first week as U6th.

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uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com Sam ‘Turbo’ Turberville-Smith, the only captain in Uppingham history to not play a single game as captain, opened-up against his old squad. Alongside him, the wise old owl of the team, Billy Beaumont. The boys got off to a classical start, similar to that of the early 2000’s and Australian pairing of Langer and Hayden. The left-hand, right-hand partnership doing wonders to see off the new ball and the bowling of Cameron Sprott (6-45-0-0) and William Marriage (8-39-0-2). Two seam bowlers to look out for in the future!

All was going swimmingly and the debate on the boundary between Tucker and Collins as to who should go in next to increase their Rovers average was only blocked out by another crunching late cut by the master Billy. His wagon wheel was somewhat special on the day with over 50% of his runs coming behind square on the offside.

A change of bowling was required and the school turned to Harris whose first over had a bit of everything. 12 runs, 3 wides, 1 no ball and then with the final ball a wicket. Turbo departed for a solid 39, an impressive Rovers debut but showing he is still a schoolboy at heart in his dismissal. This bought Collins to the crease who had already eyed up a new target in Andy Siddall to purchase Sativa Shares alongside most of the England Rugby front row. I hope he didn’t!!!!

the schoolboys. More of a ‘Bunny Squad’ with swift entrances and exits and 12 runs between them. BK chipped in with a nice 20 at the end and ‘Soft hands’ Sam Wallis and Otto ‘Weezy’ Esse had a flutter to finish. The captain decided on what was a small boundary and good pitch 249 off 39.2 overs was enough and declared the troops leaving the school 40 overs to chase it down.

A different lunch to usual with no coronation chicken on show ‘Due to Covid’ and instead a brown bag packed lunch all separately distributed in order to keep with in regulations. It seems coincidental that Sam Charlton pulled out of the game on the night before... Maybe he had heard about the menu!

Bowling has not been a strong attribute within Rovers teams of recent years and today was no different. It wasn’t that we had a lack of commitment…9 members put their hand up to bowl….It was the quality and depth that was lacking. The captain decided that to win

the game he would have to think like Brendon McCullum and do something the batsmen weren’t expecting!

The ball was thrown to Otto, our premier Cricketer Cup off-spinner who hopefully would grab an early wicket and start us off well.

Weezy paired with Tucker’s night before callup “Burbidge” (Uppingham’s plummy voiced doppelgänger to Clarke Kent) were going to get the job done and we would move onto Fry’s Farm that evening after a convincing victory. 2 overs later the school were 24-0 with the opening bowlers not only struggling to find their line but also the pitch itself.

Weezy was removed from the attack immediately and on came Ed Clayton, another recent leaver who bowls right-handed at a decent lick. The change worked instantly with ‘Clates’, partnering with Sam TS, taking the wicket of Buchake for 10. Clates bowled a very tidy spell alongside Burbidge and the school’s quick start had been somewhat tempered.

Runs started to come quickly and Collins quickly passed Billy who was somewhat stuck in the mud at one end and reaching 58 taking the score to 170-2. Tucks entered the fray after Collins snicked off and carried on the pace of runs by smashing a monstrous 6 which landed somewhere on the A47. Billy B eyeing up a half century late cut one too many and was caught at gully for a calculated 47.

This bought about the start of the selfproclaimed ‘Murder Squad’ of Baggs and TK who were hoping to take the game away from 9

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What followed can only be described as some of the tastiest “all you can eat buffet bowling” ever seen on the Upper. 9 of the 11 members of the team were rotated in what looked like tactical puppeteering genius. In reality, however, it was more a case of finding enough bowlers to complete the innings.

Tucker bowled some nice seam in all fairness and soft-hand Wallace managed to create two wickets through phenomenal pieces of glove work. He is a pretty good keeper when he isn’t hungover!

With 5 overs to go all looked in the balance with Freddie Read (86*) and Cameron Sprott (39) batting sensibly to give the school a chance in the final overs. The captain still not deterred and sticking to his McCullum mentality turned to his most experienced Rover. It’s just a shame

Uppingham Rovers S T- Smith ct Marriage J Beaumont ct Staveley A Collins ct Marriage F Tucker lbw C B-Baggs T Kennedy lbw B Kennedy S Wallis ct Pumphrey O Esse ct Staveley E Clayton ct Pumphrey G Burbidge not out

39 47 58 19 6 6 20 11 4 5 0 215 Extras 34 Total for all wickets (39.2 overs) 249 1/77 2/170 3/174 4/197 5/200 6/219 7/238 8/240 9/249

Sprott Marriage Harris Pearson Riddington Dutton

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b Harris b Dutton b Riddington b Riddington b Riddington b Marriage b Marriage b Dutton b Dutton b Dutton

6 8 4 6 8 7.2

0 0 0 0 0 0

45 39 42 32 46 37

0 2 1 0 3 4

it was Chris BB, whose grenades had been hit to all areas earlier on in the innings. Luckily for Baggs, Sprott was a school boy and having hit 11 off the over decided to heave once again. A great catch from Sam TS ended the partnership and Baggs went tearing on into the distance in an Imran Tahir shaped arc.

The school were dead and buried and Freddie Read wanted to protect his average so the game ended with a fairly uneventful conclusion. What a pleasure to get a game in on the Upper and in the sun during a summer of no cricket…..Back to the Kennedys where a Curry, Red Wine and Sam Debenham awaited.

Uppingham School A Buchake ct T- Smith W Stavely st Wallis T Pumphrey F Read not out T Burton lbw F Makepeace st Wallis C Sprott ct Wallis F Dutton not out F Riddington dnb A Pearson dnb W Harris dnb

b Clayton b Kennedy T b Clayton b Kennedy T b Beaumont b B- Baggs b b Rogers

215 21 236

Extras Total for 6 wickets (40 overs) 1/26 2/57 3/121 4/121 5/163 6/230 Esse Burbidge Clayton B-Baggs Tucker Kennedy T T- Smith Beaumont Kennedy B

6 5 8 3 4 8 3 2 1

10 47 20 86 0 8 39 5

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

52 36 26 25 14 45 19 6 6

0 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 11

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Uppingham Rovers v Haddon CC

having hit 129 off 78 balls. A very memorable Rovers hundred on his home ground. Well battered. He and Harry’s partnership was 194.

And the score moved to 242 - 4 off 32 overs.

September 13th 2020 Had the summer really come and gone with no cricket of note? No tour, no consommé, no black tie photo, no Eastbourne runs…..well, no Eastbourne runs by a Rover but I am sure plenty for the residents of the town given the age demographic.

Seeing a window of light at the end of the summer and following the fixture against the school (yes in September), the Kennedy family stepped up to host the Rovers of all ages to enjoy an evening of Beaumont Red and an industrial sized curry. What a wonderful idea, though clearly the maths hadn’t been done by those whose tolerance of drinking games seemed to have vanished in the year of lockdown madness.

The aftermath was very apparent the following morning. The house looked like a scene from a blitz, with Rovers spread everywhere in various

forms of consciousness. Thankfully most of the bodies remained intact. The countdown to first ball had started and the timeout clock had already started ticking. Rounding his troops, Tom Kennedy gathered his team and pointed them to the ground of East Haddon which was fortunately a grenade throw from the scene of the bomb the night before.

Self-appointed opening pair Tucker and Bennett-Baggs raced to the crease with the logic being that both hangovers and correlating eyesight would only worsen. With no cricket under his belt, BB played positively to get the Rovers off to a good start by driving the opener Sam O’Neill-Kerr crisply to the boundary off ball one and safely seeing out the most dangerous over of the day. Unfortunately for Tucker, neither his eyesight nor hangover had the chance to brew whilst he was at the crease, due to guiding one off his 5th ball in the second over to 3rd slip.

Harry Judd joined BB at the crease to replace Freddie, who’s value exchange on the day was a little off. Let’s hope Freddie’s career path at Argenyx Foreign Exchange has a better return for his and their customers.

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Juddy played classically and cautiously, as he let his first 12 balls go past for dot balls, respecting the tight bowling of Sean O’Neill-Kerr and James Dawson. BB’s decision to combat his lack of form with brute force paid off a few more times before hitting one a little too well much to his and others surprise, directly to mid-on for a fantastic catch by Richard Whoreton.

With Judd still building, Collins joined him in the middle to settle the ship. 31 for 2, from 5.3 Overs. Collins came and went, c & b Stuart Keeping, claiming he felt ill. Score 34 for 3.

With 8 overs to go, Judd picked up the senior role in the innings and played predominantly legside to keep the scoreboard ticking for the Rovers, before being bowled round his legs

by O’Neill-Kerr. Harry showed he’s a class act on and off the stage by getting near enough a run a ball 90. Billy Beaumont, Ben Kennedy and Chris Symes came into the fold for the final few overs running hard and maneuvering the field to take the Rovers scorecard to 283 from 40 overs. Surely enough to give the Rovers something to bowl at? Pick of the East Haddon bowlers was James Dawson 6 overs, 3 wickets at an economy of 3.67.

Tea was appropriately distanced, sanitized and safe. No tea or scones.

The rumour from the Rovers “analysts’ “ box, that Haddon’s batting line up consisted of a mix of abilities, all of whom on their day

With the last Rovers fixture of the summer of 2020 on his back, and his home club teammates breathing down his neck, Tom Kennedy steadied the ship and showed his patience to the bowling of Stuart Keeping and Charlie Collins. Harry and Tom built from the ground up and soon had the flow and pace of the first innings in control, enjoying each other’s company in the middle as both passed 50 at a similar speed. From here, however, the two Rovers innings took different routes as Harry intelligently rotated the strike to Tom, who’d decided to hit fifth gear from sending almost everything he faced to the boundary .4 . 4 .

464 . 3 6441 . 43 . 4444111 . . 1 . 441W - TK was stumped off the bowling of Chris Plowman, 13

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Floreat and solvitor ambulando

As the target decreased, the belief stayed intact with the Rovers hunting for another breakthrough that would have put them right back in the seat….it’s a funny old game and we’ve all seen it happen before.

On this occasion however, it wasn’t to be. A thriller of a finish where Jack Keeping turned it on when needed and guided his team home finishing 121 not out, from 103. Haddon reached the victory from 38.3 overs with an over and half to spare. Well batted. could play a decent role in response to the Rovers total of 283. Without much club cricket however, who would be able to go at a rate of + 7 an over….perhaps a more challenging question for the reader is who of the Rovers attack could keep the run rate to under 7 an over……?!

Tom Kennedy opted to open the bowling with the dynamic duo of Rovers, Jim Thompson and Chris Symes. Two true soaked pips opted for ends and the second innings commenced….

The crowd didn’t have to wait long for the first wicket with Symes catching the edge of Richard Whorton, who had fortunately directed his bat to the hands of Kennedy T whose eye was still in. Thompson and Symes worked well as a partnership creating opportunities with the new ball.

Symes capitalised on Thompson’s pressure taking his second wicket in the 5th over.

37-2. A solid start from the two seamers. As fitness lagged and the night before leaked through, the captain looked for his next bowling partnership to pick up the pressure.

Sadly, acute to the situation, Haddon’s Jack Keeping and Robbie Povey also saw the drop in energy and capitalised on Sam Charlton’s first over, sending it for 30 with some VERY HUGE hits. Robbie Povey, fresh off the boat from a 14

season playing international rugby for Canada, showed his strength by hitting 12 enormous sixes, contributing to his 107 from 62 balls.

Charlton, Debenham and Kennedy felt the majority of the pain, but did well to contain the Haddon partnership which could have finished the game in the first 30 overs at the rate they were going.

Three quick wickets between the two Sam’s kept Jack Keeping at the other end as the scorecard went from 210-3 to 246-7 in just 10 overs. The runs had dried up and the rate was climbing - 41 required from 5 overs. With Jack Keeping nearing a 100, the Rovers newly formed captain’s committee met in the middle and decided on who and what bowling they had left and the order in which to play the cards.

36th - Sam Charlton, 37th - Sam Debenham, 38th - Sam Charlton, 39th - Jim Thompson, 40th - Sam Charlton. … great plan!

Members of the captain’s committee repeatedly marshalled fielders off the rope, then back again, in on the single then out again, into slip then out again, taking time to get it right….were they playing for the light?

A great evening and a great day’s cricket after a long summer without cricket.

Thank you to those who made it happen.

Floreat and here’s to a successful 2021!

Uppingham Rovers C B-Baggs ct Whorton F Tucker ct Povey H Judd A Collins ct & b T Kennedy st Duddleston J Beaumont ct Keeping B Kennedy not out C Symes not out S Debenham dnb S Charlton dnb J Thompson dnb

b Dawson 17 b Dawson 2 b O'Neill-Kerr 90 Keeping 4 b Plowman 129 b Plowman 13 6 9

270 13 283

Extras Total for 6 wkts (40 overs) 1/11 2/31 3/48 4/242 5/264 6/270 O'Neill-Kerr Dawson Collins Keeping S Button Balliston Keeping J Plowman

6 6 4 4 6 5 3 6

0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

34 22 34 34 44 38 29 45

1 2 0 1 0 0 0 2

Haddon R Whorton S O'Neill-Kerr J Keeping R Povey J Duddleston C Collins D Balliston N Button C Plowman S Keeping J Dawson

ct Kennedy T b Symes b Symes not out b Kennedy T b Debenham ct Kennedy B b Charlton b Charlton run out Charlton not out dnb dnb

Extras Total for 7 wkts 38.3 overs) 1/13 2/37 3/210 4/211 5/224 6/230 7/246 Thompson Symes Kennedy T Charlton Debenham Tucker

6 8 8 7 8 1

0 0 1 1 0 0

43 44 56 69 55 15

6 19 121 107 0 4 5 1 5 3 268 19 287

0 2 1 2 1 0

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The Cricketer Cup Competition 1967 Your scribe has been requested to cast his mind back a lot of years to recollect this much heralded event. This competition had been greeted with great enthusiasm by those fortunate enough to be regarded, by the cricket correspondents of the Cricketer Magazine, to rank in the top 16 best old boy cricket sides amongst the English Public Schools. It is to the great credit of the historically high standard of Uppingham Rover cricket that we were thus regarded. The interest in the competition was enhanced by the agreement that county and test cricketers were entitled to play for their old boys’ sides in this new 55 Overs competition, if available.

following is the account of the match by Tony Winlaw in the Cricketer Magazine:

Your scribe does recall rather more clearly the admonishment he received over the telephone from the Rovers’ Captain, David Leppington, when he declined David’s request to play against Radley Rangers, on Sunday, 4 June 1967. Your scribe attempted to explain that he had not played cricket at Oxford that summer, because he was revising for his degree. He was due to sit the first exam of his Finals on the morning after the Cricketer Cup match and intended to spend the day of the match reading his notes. These were very clearly not regarded as reasonable excuses by the Captain!

The scoreboard at lunch put Radley – in one or two opinions – as sitting there with a double handful, after a magnificent start by their opening batsmen, Finn and Heywood. These two put on 101 for the first wicket, and the interval came with Radley at 173 for 2. The scoreboard was sharp enough and the position even stronger, as the two not out batsmen were none other than Dexter and Walton, the former Oxford captain and Middlesex player.

The first round of this competition was something of a tactical test for the amateur captains amongst the 16 teams. The only limited overs cricket competition, at that time, was the Gillette Cup for County sides. This was first played at Lord’s in 1963 and won by Sussex, who were then captained by a Radley Ranger, Ted Dexter.

Thus, it was that David Leppington found himself walking out to call the toss with the former Captain of England, who was still playing first-class cricket for Sussex. The Rovers lost the toss, which was probably an omen. The 16

“One of the personal attractions of The Cricketer Cup in its first-ever year is the combination of some of the leading “amateur” cricketers with the top Club and Wandering cricketers. Peter May and Ted Dexter are two especially famous names taking part in this novice Competition, and Radley Rangers most engagingly played their part by putting the former England Captain, E.R.D., as captain of their team against Uppingham Rovers on June 4. A successful move it was, too, for in front of a large crowd at Radley College, Radley won a match which was full of interest.

Uppingham can hardly have felt confident over lunch, but suddenly afterwards they produced their best play by having Dexter caught at the wicket, followed by Walton being nicely held from a strong hit at mid-off. The successful Rover was Robson, who got both Dexter and Walton in succession and who finished with four for 41. Radley, however, were still in a healthy state.

They had a total of 236, and after Dexter had the two important first Uppingham wickets of Purves and Leppington, Radley became almost certain winners. Before the end though there was some really top-class spin bowling by the Oxford Blue, Duff, who off his 12 overs finished with 4 for 30.”

Tony Winlaw failed to mention that the Rovers had three first class cricketers in their XI. Brian Boobbyer (who played forty first class cricket matches for Oxford University, between 1949 and 1952, and rugby 9 times for England), Jimmy Purves (Essex CCC) and Garth Wheatley (Surrey CCC and an Oxford Blue).

Radley Rangers went on to reach the first Final, in which they lost to the Repton Pilgrims by 96 runs. Richard Hutton made 96 not out for the Pilgrims and Ted Dexter made 80 for the Rangers.

David Ashworth

The two teams – back row (left to right): J H Purves, H C Wrigley, R F Elliot, C K R Vartan, P W M Rice, C E P Carter, M J K Robson, R J Heywood, T W Morkill. Middle row: A R G James, R G M Finn, R W Venables, S R Bielby, T J G Everatt, A R Duff, C G Comins, R S A Thomas, B Boobbyer. Front row: G A Wheatley, E R Dexter (Radley captain), W D Leppington (Uppinham captain), A C Walton.

Radley Rangers R J Heywood R G M Finn *E R Dexter A C Walton S R Bielby A R Duff T W Morkill C G Comins R S A Thomas C E P Carter R F Elliot

55 65 37 31 24 3 2 3 6 16 1 223 Extras 13 Total for 9 wickets 236 Fall of Wickets: 1-101, 2-113, 2-173, 4-174, 5-189, 6-202, 7-203,8-206, 9-230 Wrigley Purves Robson Rice Venables James Everatt

b Robson ct Robson b Venables ct Wheatley b Robson ct Leppington b Robson b Robson ct Boobbyer b Everatt ct Wheatley b Wrigley run out not out ct Wrigley b Everatt not out

9 6 12 3 7 7 11

1 0 3 0 1 1 0

27 39 41 3 25 45 43

1 0 4 0 1 0 2

Uppingham Rovers *W D Leppington ct Finn J H Purves ct Carter B Boobbyer ct Carter P W M Rice ct Heywood C K R Vartan ct Carter R W Venables M J K Robson not out T J G Everatt ct Duff A R G James ct Bielby G A Wheatley H C Wrigley run out

b Dexter b Dexter b Duff b Duff b Duff b Morkill b Duff b Morkill b Bielby

Extras Total Fall of Wickets: 1-22, 2-29, 3-38, 4-90, 5-91, 6-92, 7-92, 8-107, 9-138, 10-141 Elliot Dexter Duff Morkill Bielby Comins

11 7 12 10 4 2.2

2 1 2 1 0 0

28 20 30 27 20 10

16 9 4 32 26 1 28 0 8 9 2 135 6 141

0 2 4 2 1 0 17

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com Templars were 4 for 16, I wanted some of our other bowlers to get in a bit of match practice, so I took Tony and Jonathan off. The latter could not see the point of this and was not best pleased. When the Templars reached 110 for 8, I re-called Jonathan, who immediately despatched their highest scorer for 32 and, shortly thereafter, the Templars were all out for 122. Not long after this game, Jonathan badly damaged his back while bowling for Leicester CCC, and, although he recovered, and subsequently played again for Leicestershire and then for England he never played for the Rovers again.

The Cricketer Cup 1979 A Captain’s Recollections of the Road to the Final Round 1 v Hailebury Hermits on The Upper on Sunday, 3 June A day which involved several firsts. Mine as Captain of the CC side. Jonathan Agnew’s first game for the Rovers, fresh from his Guinness scholarship to Australia, which was not about how to drink large quantities of the dark stuff but was for top-class coaching in the art of seriously fast bowling of which he was very capable. It was the Rovers’ first home fixture in this competition for 6 years. We batted first on a rather damp wicket, although I cannot recall who won the toss. Undoubtedly, the most important of these many “firsts” applied to David Stewart, who opened and was dropped at slip off the first ball he faced. He duly went on to make his first ton in the competition, in the final over of our innings. Jonathan Agnew got his first wicket for the Rovers in his second spell but his only one in the match.

Two minor county openers took rather a liking to Jonathan Agnew’s short-pitched deliveries, when he opened the bowling. Our ship was steadied by a fine spell from Rod Marlow (4 for 23 off 9.5) and the Hermits were all out for 160.

Round 2 v Stowe Templars on the Upper on Sunday, 17 June

Jonathan Agnew, bowling downhill and with a breeze, was clearly determined to make up for his somewhat inglorious debut in the first round. He bowled very fast and aggressively.

Jonathan broke two fingers of one opener (retired 0), he had another caught for 1 and a third batsman out for 3, after he stepped backwards through his wicket trying to avoid a bouncer. Anthony Howeson, at the other end, also took 2 quick wickets. When the 18

Semi-Final v Old Brightonians on The Brighton College Ground on Sunday, 5 August After losing home advantage, when the first attempt to hold this semi-final on The Upper was rained off on 29 July, we found ourselves in hot sunshine at Brighton College. Much to the relief of our bowlers, I won the toss and we batted. David Stewart got us off to a good start with 58, helped by Ian Simkin 40. I was then joined by Rod Marlow and then Hedley Stroud as, together, we made our way to a total of 216 for 7 in our allotted overs. Now it was down to our bowlers and they did us proud.

Tim Aspell was the only other Rover to make a reasonable score and the Rovers were 169 for 9 at the end of their 55 Overs.

On an untypically warm June day, in what had been a very wet early summer, we were presented with a good firm track. I won the toss and we batted. Given how much early cricket had been rained-off, we made an acceptable total of 222 for 8, with Tim Aspell (59) and Ian Simpkin (66) being the pick of our batsman.

We got off to the worst possible start, when Nick Cosh had his revenge. He caught, at the wicket, both of our openers, David Stewart and James Watson. We then lost another wicket to a run-out, and I found myself out in the middle, with Rod Marlow, and the Rovers at 4 for 16. Rod and I dug in. Slowly (and much to the aggravation of our opponents) we ground our way to the target and the Rovers were victors on 97 for 4.

Quarter-Final v Old Alleynians at Dulwich on Sunday, 8 July We gathered at Dulwich on a warm and humid day. We won the toss and inserted the Alleynians. Anthony Howeson set us off to a great start. Their best batsman was Nick Cosh (a former Cambridge Blue, who also played for Surrey CCC). He was bowled by Anthony’s daisy cutter for 4. All our bowlers did well, and Rod Marlow finished with 8.3-1-27-5. The opposition finished on 96 for 9 after 55 overs, on what had proved to be a tricky wicket.

19

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com fielding generally). Unfortunately, Mark was struck on the eyebrow, when an OT padded up to a ball. Mark had to retire to his car where, as a veterinary surgeon, he stitched his own face without anaesthetic, using his rear-view mirror to see what he was doing.

Back row – JKA, MSE, PDH, CRJM, DAS, IRHS, HSS, RCB. Front row – ACH, TIA, DAA, TGE, BAM.

We got off to a great start. Anthony Howeson bowled a maiden over and then Paddy Hay bowled the other opener for 0 with his first ball of our second over. The remaining opener, Watkins, became a thorn in our side and at tea the OBs were 58 for 1 off 15 overs. Fortunately, his batting partner, Bailey, was putting his own side under pressure. At one stage he scored 1 run in forty minutes. This was mainly thanks to a great spell by Ben Marsh who, bowling both sides of the tea interval, conceded only 10 runs in his 8 overs.

Ben Marsh’s first ball after tea removed Bailey and he then had the next batsman caught behind for 1. The OBs were 92 for 4. It was now the turn of our senior bowler, Terry Everatt, to shine. He removed the OB captain, Peter Hayes (a Cambridge Blue), and the next batsman for 0. The OBs were then 104 for 6 and in big trouble. Paddy Hay returned to claim two more wickets and they were finally all out for 122.

The Rovers were on their way to their first final. There was much celebration over dinner in Brighton that evening, followed by some midnight bathing in the moonlit sea, where the men were joined by some glamorous Rover ladies, who were equally under-dressed!

20

The Final On Sunday, 19 August, we gathered at Burton Court in the heart of Chelsea, after a night of rain. It was damp and overcast. Burton Court was, then, the home ground of the Household Cavalry. The band of the Life Guards played on one side of the ground throughout most of the match, which was a bit distracting.

I still, from time-to-time, wonder what I might have been able to do, as Captain, to have made that tiny difference (apart from making more runs myself). What if we had not lost Mark’s vital presence for several overs? What if I had not taken one bowler off after 11 of his twelve overs, and then brought him back, at the death, to bowl one slightly expensive over, when he was stiff?

Then there was the final over of our innings, with 7 to win and 2 wickets left. In fact, six runs and a tie would have seen us victorious, if we were not all out. So, if Ben Marsh’s hearty blow to long-on, off the first ball, had been a foot higher, it would have been a six and we

would, almost certainly, have won. Instead, Tim Chandler, the most athletic player in the OT side, sprinted along the boundary, leapt and caught a remarkable one-handed catch.

The result will always haunt me, but I will always be so proud of the way our team performed on the day and the spirit with which they took defeat in such a closely fought match.

For us there was to be no weekend in Epernay for the winning players and their partners, curtesy of the co-sponsors, Moet & Chandon.

However, in true Rovers’ style, the team, plus wives and girlfriends, plus a number of our supporters, adjourned to a very hospitable Italian restaurant in South Kensington, where all our sorrows were duly drowned.

David Ashworth

Our opposition were the Old Tonbridgians.

They had reached the final five times, in the ten-year period since the competition was expanded in 1969, so as to accommodate 32 schools’ old boy sides. This included winning 3 years on the trot. In their side were Chris Cowdrey and Richard Ellison, who were both playing regularly for Kent CCC (which had no Sunday League match this day, otherwise they would not have been able to play). They both went on to play for England, Chris as Captain.

We won the toss and inserted the OTs. The details are set out in the match reports below.

Our bowlers were all outstanding. The run out of David Stewart for 71 (the highest score in the match) was outrageous. His bat was past the popping crease and halfway to the line of the stumps and the Umpire was running away from the direction of the throw. Mark Gardiner was brilliant behind the stumps (as was our 21

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Cricketer Cup 1996

Cricketer Cup Final 1996

The route to the final

As a junior Rover, I was certainly schooled, around the dinner table at the Hydro, on tales of daring deeds in the Cricketer Cup. Myths, legends and the never-ending quest to win the Competition. It was against this backdrop, and a disastrous defeat at Repton in the 1st Round the year before, that my efforts, as captain, were redoubled to claim our seemingly rightful place amongst the cricketing elite (or at least to do our potential a bit more justice).

The draw did not appear kind with the route to the Final fraught with away fixtures with nothing on the Upper (mind you the square there had begun to deteriorate somewhat and wasn’t necessarily the flat batting wicket of yester year).

1st Round: v Old Wellingtonians at Wellington College (2 June) – Not an easy place to start, with the OWs full of former and budding county stars. We won the toss and inserted the OWs (controversially because myth deemed that the Rovers only won by batting first). The OWs were all out for 213 (Ben Helps 5 for 28 off 8.4 Overs). The Rovers managed 214 for 7, with Ben Helps (later to be known as Golden Ba**s) and Sam Debenham scoring 16 off the last 2 overs to win, after Hedley Stroud 55 and Andrew Lewin 41 had set some sort of a platform.

2nd Round: v Old Cholmeleians at Highgate School (23 June) – The alma mater of the fortunately absent Phil Tufnell, the toss was won again, and the OCs were restricted to 125 for 8 off their (as was back then) 55 overs (Andrew Lewin managing a miserly 12-7-8-1).

The Rovers reply immediately stuttered with the loss of 3 wickets for 13 runs, but Duncan Kennedy (71) and Simon Smith (31) knocked off the runs (URCC scoring 126 for 3).

22

Bank of England Sports Ground, Roehampton on 4th August 1996 Quarter Final: v Felsted Robins at Felsted School (7 July) - on what was the first Sunday of the Rovers’ Tour, the Rovers headed for Felsted and the prospect of Derek Pringle (once of England and then a cricket journalist). This time the weather wasn’t great and the toss (won again) was crucial and the Robins were inserted! They were bowled out for 149 (Ben Helps 11-2-37-5). The Rovers reply, without too many alarms, reached 152 for 3 (Derek Pringle got only 1 wicket and looked a little past his absolute best). David Stewart made 41 not out, helped by Hedley Stroud (36) and Ed Fowler (25) but the second highest scorer was “Extras” with 37.

Semi-Final: v Lancing Rovers at Lancing School (21 July) – And so to the South coast to meet a rather more able looking Lancing side than the one encountered during the Tour. By this time, the Rovers had a settled side and memory fails me as to how the toss went but we ended up batting! The Rovers posted a pretty reasonable score on a dry pitch, making 238 for 5 (David Stewart 54 and Duncan Kennedy 69) in their 55 overs. The game was there to be won but it was by no means a forgone conclusion. The bowling attack did, by now, contain not ‘Spin Twins’ but ‘Spin Triplets’ (Jason Scott, Sam Debenham and Chris Agnew). However, it was the tried and tested opening pair of Chris Timm (12-0-48-3) and Andrew Lewin (12-0-43-3) that exerted a squeeze from which the Lancing Rovers were unable to escape ending on 221 for 9.

Overjoyed to reach the Final, the rest is history…

Andrew Lewin

Back row – ERJF, JWJS, CAN, RLP, BPA, SDS, EWRH, SCD, RWKB. Front row – CRJT, DAS, AGWL, HSS, DJK.

This was the second occasion that the Rovers had reached the final of the Cricketer Cup the previous time being 1979 when the Rovers lost narrowly to the old Tonbridgians at Burton Court. So this was a new venue for the Rovers and an opportunity for both sides to win the competition for the first time in its 30 year history. The contest took place in glorious weather in front of a crowd of more than 1000 spectators, thought to be a record for any match at this fine ground with its excellent facilities.

replied Nicholas when asked who won the toss! He chose to bat and a few minutes later walked out to open the innings with Stuart Seymour. On a wicket offering assistance to seamers and spinners alike, they made slow Progress against an accurate Rovers attack led

by Chris Timm, who opened the bowling with captain Andrew Lewin.

With both sides burning to win the cup for the first time, this was never likely to be a spectacular encounter, and so it proved.

Each team lacked key players. The Rovers were without Ben Helps, the most successful bowler in this year’s competition, and opening batsman Ed Fowler, the only player with firstclass experience. Bradfield Waifs missed Will Kendall, otherwise engaged with Hampshire in the Sunday League at Taunton. As things turned out, the Rovers probably suffered the greater handicap. ‘Hampsh… sorry, the Waifs’, 23

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club Seymour was first to fall in the 13th over.

Having struck Timm for six and a four in his previous over, he cut uppishly at the same bowler to be spectacularly caught by Ed Hill at point with the Waifs score on 40.

Two overs later Nicholas joined the swelling crowd of spectators, caught at the wicket

by Simon Smith off Timm from a ball which bounced extravagantly. Both Timm and Lewin had admirably restricted the former Hampshire captain, who had been confined to seven scoring strokes from the 41 balls he received in 64 minutes.

Rupert Cox and Peter Came started together at 47 for 2 and patiently built a stand which was worth a further 47 runs when lunch was taken after 30 overs. Their hope of extending this platform well into the second session was dashed with the third ball after the resumption when Cox was easily stumped by Smith after failing to connect with a sweep off Jason Scott.

Steve Bridgman joined Came, He might have been caught and bowled first ball had Scott not flown in overnight from Atlanta to play.

As it was the chance passed and Bridgman played a supporting role to Came in a 33-run partnership until driving half-volley straight back down the wicket which brushed the tips of Scotts’ fingers to leave Came unluckily run out for 41 at 128 for 4.

Bridgman and Nigel Ward took the score to 158 when Ward drove over the top of a

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com straight one from Lewin. Bridgman then shared a 41-run partnership with Hugo Norman, who had made 18 when he got a leading edge driving at Lewin, the bowler taking the skied catch in the area of forward short leg at the second attempt.

Bridgman’s anchor role, interspersed with powerful drives and pulls, ended when he was well caught for 40 on the long-on boundary by Robert Perkins, substituting for a lame Hedley Stroud, to give Lewin his third success at 213 for 7 in the 54th over. The batsmen had crossed and James Kendall took two off the last ball of the over.

There followed a remarkable sequence of runouts in the final over bowled by Chris Timm.

His first ball was a wide. Then Will Oscroft hit the second for four and the third for two.

Kendall was run out off the fourth. Richard Graham followed, run out attempting a second run off the fifth. Greg Nice struck the sixth ball for two and was run out off the seventh, also attempting a second run.

In all, the over produced three wickets for the Rovers while boosting the score by 11 runs, taking their total to 226. It was a target that Lewin would have happily settled for after losing the toss.

The profusion of run-outs left only 6 wickets to the credit of Uppingham bowlers of whom Jason Scott, 1 for 40, and Sam Debenham, wicketless for the same number of runs, were the most economical. Chris Timm’s figures of 2 for 28 were spoilt in the frenzy of the last four.

Kennedy reached his 50 from 90 balls and whilst he was still in, the result was in the balance. Sam Debenham was run out at 183 for 7 in the 48th over Nicholas then made an inspired bowling change, recalling Oscroft for one over which brought about the immediate the downfall of Kennedy, who skied the first ball to be caught by Came at mid-wicket, thus effectively ending Rovers hopes.

24

In the following over Nice bowled Chris Agnew. Nicholas then replaced Oscroft to wrap up proceedings by trapping Jason Scott lbw with the third ball of the 52nd over.

After such an excellent 1996 campaign, this was bitter disappointment for the Rovers who played some fine cricket in every round under Andrew Lewin’s hard working leadership. The final is always a fraught and highly-charged occasion and congratulations go to the Waifs for winning their first Cricketer Cup under the very professional captaincy of Mark Nicholas.

With all his experience, even he was moved to say that this was the most nerve-racking game of cricket he had played in.

Support for the Rovers in the final was magnificent. The team were greatly encouraged by a large number of good-luck letters and cards which arrived before the game and overwhelmed by the support of a throng of Rovers, O.U.’s and families who came to cheer on the day.

Bradfield Waifs M C J Nicholas S A Seymour R M F Cox P R C Came S P Bridgman N E Ward H J Norman J T C Kendall W A Oscroft R M Graham G M Nice

ct Smith ct Hill st Smith run out ct sub

b Timm b Timm b Scott

11 26 32 41 40 20 18 10 6 1 3 208 18 226

b Lewin b Lewin b Lewin

ct Lewin run out

not out run out run out

Extras Total for 10 wickets (55 overs) 1-40, 2-47, 3-96, 4-128, 5-158, 6-199, 7-213, 8-222, 10-226

Timm Lewin Debenham Scott Agnew

12 12 12 12 7

1 2 3 1 0

45 59 40 40 37

Uppingham Rovers H S Stroud ct Norman E W R Hill ct Came D A Stewart ct Cox S D Smith ct Norman D J Kennedy ct Came A G W Lewin ct Kendall J W J Sly ct Oscroft S C Debenham run out C N Agnew ct Bielby C R J Timm J E R Scott lbw

b Nice b Oscroft b Kendall b Came b Oscroft b Graham b Nicholas b Nice not out b Nicholas

Extras Total for 10 wickets (51.3 overs)

1 18 14 27 62 12 26 8 1 11 2 182 21 203

1-5, 2-28, 3-54, 4-94, 5-112, 6-156, 7-183, 8-183, 9-200, 10-203

2 3 0 1 0

Nice Oscroft Kendall Nicholas Graham Came

12 11 4 10.3 10 4

1 0 0 3 0 0

46 36 26 26 43 17

2 2 1 2 1 1 25

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

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Cricketer Cup Reflections

the hutch. The other Cup debutant that day was Andrew Lewin and coming in to join our experienced captain David Stewart the next 2 hours was a batting masterclass – a partnership of 230 for the third wicket was a record at that time and both “tonned-up” – DAS 141 and AGWL 102 combining in a total winning score of 301 for 4. It is no surprise that these two talented players are our top run-scorers in the Cup.

Of The Hon. Secretary

Including abandoned matches the Club has played 108 matches in the 52 years since the competition started back in 1967 with the very first game against Ted Dexter’s Radley Rangers and we thought it would be appropriate to pick out that first match and the two finals we have played in this unusual 2021 Rovers Handbook.

Colin is one of 32 Test players (8 captains) that have played in the competition which just shows what a good competition it has been since its inception.

As a Club we currently sit 14th in the Order of Merit of the 36 Clubs that have taken part in the competition since its inception but it’s not the statistics (which are shown below) that are important it’s the memories of travelling long distances on a Sunday morning (Shrewsbury and Ampleforth spring to mind) and playing some highly enjoyable games of cricket at schools across the breadth of the country.

I have picked out some personal memories from playing and watching our matches over the last 44 years (blimey!)

Obviously, there have been disappointments along the way but its great to reflect on a few other high “moments” that stick in the mind.

The first was a 1st Round match back in 1990 when the Old Westminsters visited the Upper and 20 year-old Phil Spencer on debut took the new ball with Chris Timm. He certainly “located” the right areas with virtually unplayable and controlled swing bowling – I remember fielding at second or third slip where there was an expectation that an edge was coming every ball – Phil finished with 7 for 31 off his 12 overs and the OW’s were bowled out for just 117. Phil went on to play 7 more cup games but never repeated anything like this memorable spell.

Although, it wasn’t my first Cup game I remember playing at Tonbridge in the 2nd round in 1978 and having the privilege of playing against my childhood hero Colin Cowdrey. I managed to scratch around for 54 and then got run out before a typical Rovers collapse from 172 for 5 to 179 for 9 put us on the back foot. Ben Marsh hit a quick 16 and we finished on 191 all out which was a little below par but something to bowl with. An early Marsh wicket got us off to a good start and we continue to chip away and at 93 for 3 the “master” came in, this became 111 for 4 and we were well in the game. However, all I really remember of the next hour and a half was fielding in the covers and MCC just placing the ball to the left and right of me wherever I moved. Anthony Howeson will I’m sure remember that he clean bowled Colin for 52 but by that that time the games was lost.

At the time Phil’s figures were the best by a Rover in a Cup game but an amazing match at St. Edwards in Oxford the following year sticks in the memory for several reasons. The Rovers batted first on a hot day scoring an impressive 282 for 3 in the 55 overs. It wasn’t my Cup best 138* that I remember but what happened in the chase is still talked about on a late night at the Hydro. Despite a miserly spell from Chris Timm (6 overs for just 7) “Teddies” then began to tee off and were in the box seat at 130 for 0 with plenty of time left. No-one seemed to want to bowl so senior-pro Ashworth steppedup and it was soon obvious that opener Smith had no respect for non-spinning slow bowling but soon departed to a good catch in the deep by Chris Timm. A plan was hatched and a couple of balls later the other opener TalbotWilliams (on 66) momentarily left his crease as Ashworth deliberately fired it down the

26

leg-side. Even in those days it was a wide but Mark Gardiner behind the stumps brilliantly whipped the bails off with a singular but loud appeal – both umpires stretched their arms – one signalling a wide and the other for a stumping. The batsman, obviously not knowing the laws, objected but was cordially sent on his way! Amazingly, the Edwardians put up the “white flag” and in a surrender to beat all surrenders they were bowled out for 191 but more amazingly David finished with 8 for 42 off 11.4 overs, figures which still stand right at the top of the overall Cup records much to the chagrin of what I would call some “proper” bowlers.

On the batting front two memorable performances stand out for me. Firstly, batting at number 5 against Whitgift back in 1987 the pads were hurriedly put on when we had a dodgy start being 35 for 2 with debutant Richard Brown and Cliff Clark both back in

Secondly, I was spectating at the first round match in 2008, the Oundle Rovers came to the Upper full of confidence having lost in the final the previous year. Our bowlers did a great job as they struggled to 66 for 6 and 119 for 7 but runs from Pilch (61*), Howarth (38) and the current Cup Chairman Tim Elliot (38*) got them upto a very competitive 238 for 8. A similar start from the Rovers and we were 20 for 3 and when Lewin departed for 26 we were struggling. However, Ben Aspell with a hard hitting and quick 70 got us back in the game but still plenty to do when he was out with over a 100 still needed. During Ben’s innings Duncan Kennedy, wearing his Zimbabwe blue sun-hat, was more than happy to play second fiddle but when Ben was out went through several gear changes. As well as winding-up the Oundelians with his headgear and some very unorthodox play he, combining with skipper Nick Pont (23), took the score to 180 but still 59 runs needed. Support came from an unlikely source in Will Hodson (12*) as the Oundelians became more and more frustrated at some very unorthodox batting.

DJK finished on a fantastic 86 not out and with 9 balls to spare the game was won.

I’m sure everyone who has played in the competition have their own special moments – there is just one outstanding item to tick off the list and that must be to witness the Rovers winning the competition for the first time.

Let’s do it !

Hedley Stroud 27

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Cricketer Cup Statistics - 1967 to 2020 Batting (Qualificn 300 runs) Innings

Not outs

Runs

Highest

Average

AGW Lewin

2

1273

143*

37.44

36

DJ Kennedy

32

5

989

86*

36.63

DA Stewart

54

8

1634

141

35.52 29.08

HS Stroud

42

5

1076

138*

C Bennett Baggs

20

4

435

59

27.19

ERF Fowler

30

1

774

122*

26.69

JH Purves

17

1

413

52

25.81

RWK Brown

18

1

414

117

24.35

BP Aspell

19

4

352

70

23.47

IRH Simpkin

18

0

376

66

20.89

WD Leppington

17

1

337

52

21.06

DA Ashworth

37

5

600

59

18.75

RW Venables

22

4

331

56*

18.39

TI Aspell

29

1

459

59

16.39

Bowling (Qualificn 10 wkts)

Overs

Maidens

Runs

Wkts

Average

RPO

SR

TG Everatt

216

41

685

56

12.23

3.17

23.14

MJK Robson

76

18

208

13

16.00

2.74

35.08

BA Marsh

225

50

639

36

17.75

2.84

37.50

O Esse

68

9

284

16

17.75

4.18

25.50

AGW Lewin

348.6

69

1083

60

18.05

3.11

34.86

AC Howeson

261

58

836

46

18.17

3.20

34.04

P Spencer

80

16

203

11

18.45

2.54

43.64

DA Ashworth

139

30

467

25

18.68

3.36

33.36

W Hodson

128

19

454

22

20.64

3.55

34.91

B Helps

78.6

7

328

15

21.87

4.17

31.44

J Purves

80

15

285

13

21.92

3.56

36.92

CRJ Marlow

260

40

824

36

22.89

3.17

43.33

CRJ Timm

405.3

71

1314

57

23.05

3.24

42.66

TJ Kennedy

57

7

254

11

23.09

4.46

31.09

D Wood

85.1

12

339

14

24.21

3.98

36.47

NDW Pull

92.1

15

347

14

24.79

3.77

39.47

NJ Pont

141

24

553

22

25.14

3.92

38.45

A Barton

76

12

307

12

25.58

4.04

38.00

M Worrall

105

19

456

16

28.50

4.34

39.38

RW Venables

135.2

16

489

16

30.56

3.62

50.70

BP Aspell

147.2

16

642

21

30.57

4.36

42.06

PD Hay

161.3

32

427

13

32.85

2.65

74.45

SC Debenham

159

26

589

17

34.65

3.70

56.12

M Bird

101.4

15

467

13

35.92

4.61

46.80

28

A History of The Rovers Genesis to the Coming of Age

The year is 1863. The great Edward Thring is in his eleventh year as Headmaster of Uppingham Grammar School, as Uppingham was then known. The School’s year is divided into two “Halves” and the total number of pupils is less than 300.

members of the School XI. The three friends elected themselves as the “original members”.

The promotors expressed their aim as being to keep up a good standard of cricket, to foster esprit de corps, and to form a tie between past and present Uppingham cricketers.

Two close friends, Charles Green and A Knowles, who were members of the School 1st XI and both from Brooklands, decided, as they walked back to their house, that they should form a cricket club. That evening, in the study of Green, he, Knowles and another member of the XI, R Fitz-Herbert, held the first meeting of the “Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club”. The Minutes began: “This Club was formed on the evening of (no matter when) in the year 1863“.

It was resolved that, initially, the Club would play in the summer months, between the Halves, and would comprise past and present

Thring, inadvertently, provided the Uppingham Rovers with their motto. He asked his VI form class to construe the Greek quotation “Solvitur Ambulando”. This phrase was coined to refer to the occasion when Diogenes solved Zeno’s paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise by “getting up and walking about”. Charles Green, whose academic abilities did not match his considerable sporting prowess, was struggling with this task. Then he astonished Thring by announcing “Roving does it”. “The very thing” said Thring, “could not be better”.

29

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com era when young gentlemen of means were able to enjoy hours of leisure, most of which they appear to have spent playing cricket in the summer and hunting and shooting in the winter.

Green arrived at Uppingham in 1858 and was in the XI for 6 years. He played for Cambridge for 4 years and was Captain in his last year. He played for Middlesex and for the Gentlemen v Players at Lord’s.

On 24 August 1864 the Present played the Past on The Upper. The Past was an entire XI of Rovers. After that match the first members of the Club’s committee were formally appointed, and 66 past members of the School 1st XI were elected as Rovers. This meeting was presided over by the first President of the Club, the Reverend John Bell, who had been at Uppingham, as a boy, for nearly 12 years. He played his cricket there in the reign of William IV. Presidents then were not “perpetual” but became so, under new Rules in 1875, and the Reverend held that office perpetually, until his death in 1883.

The Rovers were truly on their way but, sadly, there is no record of the reason behind the choice of the Rovers’ colours.

There was no cricket played by the Rovers in the year of the club’s formation, because Knowles, as the “Promoter”, failed to arrange any matches. It is no surprise that he was not a member of that first committee of the club.

30

The first recorded Rovers’ match, played by a team comprising Rovers and current members of the School, took place on 24 June 1864 at Rugby against the Rugby Cricket Club. When stumps were drawn, the Rovers needed four to win with one wicket in hand. This was followed by a tour to Essex, in July, where two innings matches were played against The Cricket Company and against West Essex. Later that month the Rovers played against Midland Diamonds at The Trent Bridge Ground in Nottingham.

The strength of the School XIs in the late 1860s was such that even Edward Thring, who was not a cricket fan, was moved to allow the construction of a rather ugly cricket pavilion on the Upper (see photograph below). It was on the west side of the ground, adjacent to the Seaton Road. The site of the current pavilion, in the north-west corner of the Upper, was not owned then by the school and continued to house unsightly farm buildings until 1919.

Charles Green’s greatest impact on the standard of cricket of Uppingham School and, thus, of the Rovers, was made when

he persuaded Edward Thring to employ a permanent school cricket coach. The famous H H Stephenson arrived at Uppingham in 1872.

His lodgings and first year’s salary were paid for by Charles Green, being the only basis on which Thring agreed to this trial appointment.

“H H”, as Stephenson was called, had been a renowned professional cricketer and then a Test Umpire. He played for Surrey and for the first professional England XI to tour Canada in 1859. Two years later he captained the first England professional XI to tour Australia.

When he retired from cricket HH became the Master of Hounds for the Duke D’Aumald of the Orleans royal family, who were exiled form France. Historians amongst you will recall that the reason for their exile was that the French nation had been revolting. “Plus ça change”.

HH became well acquainted with members of both the French and English royal families.

HH coached every aspect of cricket, throughout the school, and had an immediate impact.

Uppingham began to produce a galaxy of fine cricketers. In those days, the Oxford and

At that first committee meeting of the Rovers in 1864, John H Green, the brother of Charles Green, was elected Captain and Walter Earle as Secretary., together with 7 other committee members.

Charles Green was the moving spirit behind the formation of and the early years of the Uppingham Rovers. He was a commanding individual, who exuded the confidence which comes from being the member of a wealthy and influential family. His father owned the Orient Shipping Line and Charles lived in an

The Uppingham School Cricket Pavilion 1884

31

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com and aged 17, played at The Oval for Surrey CCC and also against the MCC, when he made 136.

He won 4 cricket blues for Cambridge and then played county cricket for Surrey, Middlesex and Essex (as Captain). He went on to play for England 8 times, including 5 tests in Australia.

This was in the days when test matches were few and far between.

Cambridge XIs were regarded as two of the best cricket sides in England, and it is to HH’s credit that six Rover cricketers won, between them, 16 cricket blues in the 1870s.

In 1876 there were four Rovers in the Cambridge XI. Luddington and Patterson took 16 wickets in the Varsity Match and they, along with the other two Rovers, together made 225 runs, with Patterson scoring 105 in his only innings.

In 1877 Cambridge, captained by Patterson, fielded five Rovers against Oxford. Patterson and Luddington took 10 wickets between them.

Amongst these illustrious Rover cricketers produced by HH, were AP (“Bunny”) Lucas and S S Schultz. Bunny, while still at Uppingham

Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Essex, Bedfordshire, as well as to East and West Sussex. Some of these trips were for as long as three or even four weeks, although much time was spent travelling.

In the late 1870s so many renowned Rovers were playing cricket for their counties and in the annual Gentlemen v Players match at Lords, as well as for England (2), their reputation was second to none amongst the old boy cricket teams.

The Rovers amassed 238 runs in 2 hours and a few minutes for no wicket against Tooting in 1875 (A P Lucas 130 and W S Patterson 93, plus 15 extras). Charles Green amassed 4,391 runs and AP Lucas made 4,062. It was Lucas who had the highest individual innings of 203, scored against Derbyshire in 1881. There were several other century makers, some on more than one occasion. However, Lucas scored as many centuries as the rest of the Rovers put together.

The biggest hit by any Rover batsman was made by Charles Green in 1874, against the Military Academy at its ground on Woolwich Common. His straight drive went so far that he was able to run 10. It could have been more, but his batting partner ran out of puff.

In this era most travel was by coach and horses and few train lines had been constructed. In these circumstances it is astonishing how many matches and how far and wide the Rovers travelled for their games in the first two decades of the club’s life.

When the Rovers celebrated their 21st season, in 1884, the same year as Uppingham School celebrated its own bicentenary, the Rovers had played, on a fairly regular basis, against no less than 48 different sides, including seven county XIs. The leisurely lifestyle of affluent young men enabled the Rovers to have as many as two or three tours a year. These included trips to Cheshire, Lancashire and

in one innings was 504 against Stamford at Burghley Park in 1875 and they made over 400 on five other occasions.

The strength of the Rover XIs was such that a member of the press association covered all their games and newspapers across the country ran match reports under the banner “The Doings of the Uppingham Rovers”. Hence, the title on the front of all six volumes of our Club’s record books.

On 12 occasions the Rovers dismissed their opponents for 40 or less. Perhaps, not surprising when there were so many big wicket takers. Rotherham took 408, followed by Lucas with 292, Schultz 217, P Kidd 199, Riddell 132, Patterson 123 and C Green 119. In 1866, J Beevor took a hat trick twice in one innings in a match against the Butterflies.

The summary of the Doings for the first twenty-one years finishes as follows:

A record of the “Doings” at the end of the 21st season of the Rovers, states that they had played 178 matches, won 87 and lost 32. One match was tied and 58 were unfinished. Draws were not recognised because there were no declarations. In a two day match it was possible for one side to bat for the whole of both days, if they were not bowled out! Two games were rained off. The highest score by the Rovers 32

33

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com Circus on the first day of the Varsity Match at Lord’s, whence they would take their own coach to watch the match and be cheered into the ground. This is not surprising given the large crowds that would gather to watch them play and the coverage their games received in the national press. Below is the dinner menu for 1874 – not for the faint hearted or vegetarians.

2020 Draw on Zoom

“The foregoing facts and figures speak for themselves, and show that the Rover Club fairly deserves the reputation which it enjoys, of being the strongest wandering Club in the kingdom.”

UPPINGHAM ROVERS 200+ CLUB The 200+ Club is our main fund-raising initiative which goes a long way to helping our young players play for the Club by subsidising their cricket and accommodation bills when they come on tour or play in the Cricketer Cup.

The Rovers certainly appeared to enjoy themselves when on their tours and they held an annual dinner at The Criterion in Piccadilly

There was a rhyming Rover, whose poems and songs, which were sung at the dinners to the tune of a popular ditty, are scattered throughout Volume I of the Doings. There was also a dedicated “Chronicler” who wrote very amusing match reports. Photographers were, then, few and far between. Consequently, the few photographs in the earliest of our books, are augmented with fine ink sketches and then, later, with water-coloured paintings.

A few of these are set out here and you will see that photographs of players were displayed in an aptly drawn picture related to their names or nicknames, particularly that of S D Maul.

David Ashworth 34

The cost of purchasing a number in the draw is just £10 and if you would like to be in the draw please do one of the following :1. Send a cheque made out to Uppingham Rovers CC for £10 per entry to Robin Hargreaves our Treasurer at 14 Winterbrook Road, London SE24 9JA 2. Put £10 per entry into the Uppingham Rovers CC Bank Account, don’t forget to put your name on the remittance – perhaps also drop Robin an email to confirm robin.hargreaves@ gmail.com

The 2021 draw will take place at the Dinner on Tour, Thursday July 8th and winners will be notified soon afterwards. If you can’t be there may be an opportunity to watch it on zoom!

2020 Winners Thank you to all the members and family who subscribed in 2020 and the winners were: 1. £650 – Freddie Lewis 2. £500 – Ray Peters 3. £500 – George Burrough 4. £200 – Ben Helps 5. £100- Angus Stewart 6. £50 – Martin Mendelssohn

a. sort code 20-63-66

7. £10 - Ben Crowder

b. account number 10903590

8. Case of Corona (donated) – Frankie Astle 35

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com

Publisher, Captain, Gentleman Extraordinaire Royal St George’s Tim Dickson Is A Man For This Age This article first appeared in Global Golf Post, by John Hopkins on 23 February 2021

Yet perhaps the greatest claim to make on Dickson’s behalf, because he is certainly far too modest to make it himself, is his role in starting and continuing to edit a distinctive golf magazine, Golf Quarterly, that has withstood the worst economic recession in modern times and continues. Golf Quarterly is little bigger than a hip flask and as welcome as a nip of brandy on a bitter winter’s day, a magazine that circulates among aficionados as much by word of mouth as anything and has done for more than 10 years. Its 39th issue will appear next month [note: March 2021].

Many of the game’s prominent figures are subscribers – Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, for example; Donald Steel, the golf course architect; John Paramor, the recently retired rules expert at the European Tour; Sir Bob Charles, the New Zealander who won the Open in 1963; and Rodger Davis, the Australian professional notable for nearly always wearing plus fours.

“The human side of golf is what interests us.

The social side. That sort of thing. Not the stuff that is served up in most golf magazines.” – Jolyon Connell

He is not someone who would stand out at the bar of a golf club by virtue of height or the power of his voice, though it is inarguable that few men in their seventh decade have such a striking head of hair. Nor does he express his views with that sense of unquestionable certainty as do so many people who are untroubled by doubt. His manner is selfeffacing. It would be difficult to get an opinion from him about, say, rangefinders, driver length or ball or club speed unless he was asked.

Why then is Tim Dickson of interest to us?

Dickson, 66 – who was born in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, the son of a man who ran a linen business and was a member of Royal Portrush – is unusual for being a member of 36

four royal golf clubs (and no others). They are the Royal & Ancient at St Andrews in Scotland, Royal Portrush, site of the 2019 Open, Royal Wimbledon, near the venue of the annual tennis tournament in south-west London, and Royal St George’s, Sandwich, Kent, where the Open Championship will be staged in July.

Not only that, he is one of very few men to have captained two royal golf clubs – Royal Wimbledon and Royal St George’s, and done so moreover within the past 10 years. As there are only 64 royal golf clubs in the world, the number of those elected captain is small and those who have captained two royal golf clubs is far smaller.

“I have been a reader and occasional contributor to Golf Quarterly from the beginning and what I love about Tim’s publication is its distinctly amateur ethos” David Normoyle, the golf historian, said.

“In size, shape, design, the nature of the contributors and rather home-spun feel, it feels like a publication made by golfers for golfers, not made by a corporation for consumers, nor made by influencers for their followers. In that absence of guile and overt brand positioning, Golf Quarterly is refreshingly ‘authentic,’ ironically the very thing the other publications so desperately seek. Fortunately for us, Golf Quarterly is the real thing. Tim’s editorial gaze wanders to the obscure, the urbane, the quirky and the unusual corners and characters that make golf a game worth devoting one’s life to,

rather than being a mere transactional prop for the ‘good life.’ It’s the story that’s the thing.”

GQ began with a conversation in a wine bar in central London between Dickson and Jolyon Connell, his longstanding friend, fellow journalist and keen golfer who shared a joint determination to publish a golf magazine.

“We were not sure what we were going to fill it with,” Dickson said. “But we were sure we would focus primarily on amateur golf.”

“We feel that being quarterly is a good rhythm for golf,” said Connell, GQ’s publisher. “Once a week would be too often.”

Almost from the start it was an Arabian bazaar of unusual golf stories, nearly all about amateurs. The more offbeat the story the better. “Tim has an eye for good stories and good anecdotes and he has a good network of contacts,” Connell said. “The human side of golf is what interests us. The social side. That sort of thing. Not the stuff that is served up in most golf magazines.”

GQ is a haven for writers. Were he still alive, P.G. Wodehouse would be at ease among its pages. So would Patric Dickinson and Patrick Campbell and probably George Houghton as well as Peter Dobereiner and our own James Dodson.

Perhaps even more it is a godsend for golf nerds, the people who can remember the name, time and date when someone holedin-one on the same hole on successive days or for people who like to read about colourful characters such as Archie Compston, once the pro at Coombe Hill on the south west rim of London, who finished second in the 1925 Open and held a one-stroke lead with one round remaining at the 1930 Open, eventually won by Bobby Jones as part of his Impregnable Quadrilateral. Among Compston’s achievements during an eventful career are beating Walter Hagen 18 & 17 over a 72-hole challenge match in 1928 for which the prize 37

Uppingham Rovers Cricket Club

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com

money was £750, 10 times the cheque of that year’s Open champion.

said. “People like him, and they want to write for him.”

To say GQ is eclectic is like saying a golf ball is round. The first story in the current issue is by a diplomat who was caught in an African warzone one weekend and had to shelter under his bed from mortar fire. Not having eaten for two days, he was saved by discovering that his nearby golf bag contained not only tees and balls but snacks. Another story argues the case against baseball caps and beanies on golf courses. An article entitled “A Golf Lesson for Boris?” explained how in 1920 a rather tired David Lloyd George, the British prime minister, was due to meet the prime minister of France and Marshal Foch, commander of the Allied forces during the closing months of the first world war, but sneaked off instead for a game of golf. On his return, an observer noted, there had been a transformation. “Instead of the tired, heavywith-care, overworked looking man of an hour earlier the prime minister had changed completely into a bright and jovial personality equal to any task. Anyone around him who had regard for his health should encourage him to play golf once or twice or even three times a week.”

Bryan Jenkins, a surgeon at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and a member and past captain at Royal Porthcawl, is one such.

He first wrote for GQ in spring 2012 and has appeared in every issue, bar one, since – 29 in all. “I saw a flier for it and thought it looked interesting and so I subscribed,” Jenkins said.

“I enjoyed it, the format, the stories and thought ‘maybe I’ll give it a punt.’ It gives me something to do. I write in longhand with a fountain pen and then I get it typed out. When one edition with a piece of mine in it has come out, I try and have something ready for the next issue within a few weeks of publication.

I used to write medical stuff so it is another avenue for my writing. I get a kick out of seeing it in print and if it’s not showing off to say so, I quite like it when I meet people who say they have just read a piece of mine.”

Random some of these articles may be; fascinating they certainly are.

Roughly 2,000 people pay £25 plus postage annually to read this characterful magazine, one that has an influence far in excess of its circulation. It exists only in hard copy form and makes little or no money. “It washes its face,” Connell said. “I put £2,000 in at the start and nothing since.” There is little or no advertising and Dickson pays nothing other than an occasional consignment of wine for contributions, though contributors are invited to parties at his house in southwest London.

“Tim has a nice sense of humour and he doesn’t take himself too seriously,” Connell 38

GQ is never going to make Dickson and Connell any money. But it gives them a buzz to produce it and it gives a great deal of pleasure to its readers. For these two men that is reward enough. Long may they and it continue.

Dickson is also interesting and topical because he is the current captain of Royal St George’s golf club and, subject to confirmation by members at the annual general meeting, will serve another term of office starting this April.

Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond books, was captain-elect at the time of his death in 1964. For Dickson, becoming captain again means that in five months, when the Open that should have been held there in July 2020 returns, he will have an important role as the figurehead of that famous and doughty Kent links where 13 previous Opens have been staged and past winners include J.H. Taylor, Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Bill Rogers, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman and Darren Clarke.

“I wouldn’t say it (his time as captain) has been hectic because so much has been done sitting in armchairs in front of screens on Zoom, but I would say it has been very disappointing and at time disheartening with all the events and excitement that had been planned and are always planned in any annual cycle of a golf club,” said Dickson, a member of Royal St George’s for 41 years. “Seeing it progressively postponed and then cancelled and the level of activity reduced to a very small percentage of what it normally is. It wasn’t a crisis but it was a sharp interruption in business as usual.

15 times, maybe as much as 20 including those times when you are asked ‘to say a few words.’

I reckon in the past year I will probably have been on my feet for 3½ minutes.

“We’ve tried to get on with it and make the best of what has been possible,” Dickson continued. “There were weeks and even months when plenty of golf was possible but most of the matches, dinners and Society meetings that are normally the lifeblood of the club have had to be cancelled. Like many golf club captains around the country, I was not able to visit Royal St George’s for long periods due to travel and playing restrictions. Indeed, I’ve not been there since late October.

“I am sure that clubs over the country will have learned something from this (pandemic). There are probably some committees and some issues in future can be discussed at short notice and over Zoom. It has proved to be an invaluable tool for keeping everybody in touch with what’s going on. We are all heartily sick of it and desperately want to get back to meeting in person but I think Zoom will have its place in the future.

“I didn’t calculate how many dinners and outings there would have been but I would have thought I might have been on my feet

“There have been one or two lovely events – the golden anniversary celebration of the steward and his wife and the Open championship that we ran for members. That was stunning, three perfect days, poignant for what might have been had the real Open taken place and more than 200 members participating. It was a real festival of golf.

“The prospect of staging a great Open this year, of course, has kept everyone going and we, as much as the R&A, hope that this will lift spirits right across the golf world.”

39

Rules

Individual Records

1. The object of the Club shall be the promotion of good cricket and good fellowship.

Rovers who have (a) played 100 innings or (b) made 2000 runs or (c) taken 100 wickets

2. The Committee shall elect the Members of the Club from Old Uppinghamians recognized as being good cricketers.

3. The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held in the cricket pavilion at Uppingham on the day of the Old Boys match.

4. The Committee shall meet, immediately prior, thereto, in the cricket pavilion at Uppingham. The Committee may also meet on any other occasion it considers appropriate.

5. No Member upon any occasion can play as an opponent to the Rovers.

6. Each Member, on being elected, shall pay an entrance fee of £50 to the Treasurer.

If the entrance fee be not paid within three months, the election shall be void, unless a reason for the delay be shown which is satisfactory to the Committee.

7. The Committee may elect Honorary Members of the Club.

8. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by the Committee.

9. The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Club and such a number of ordinary members as may from time to time be decided upon at the Annual General Meeting.

10. The Officers of the Club shall be the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Match Secretary.

11. The Officers of the Club and the ordinary members of the Committee shall be elected each year by the Club at the Annual General Meeting and shall remain in office until the next succeeding Annual General Meeting. Outgoing Officers and Committee members shall be eligible for re-election.

12. No President of the Club shall hold office for more than 5 years.

13. The Cricketer Cup Selection Committee will consist of: the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Match Secretary (ex officio); one senior Rover to be elected at the AGM, and shall have the power to co-opt the potential Cricketer Cup Captain if he is not already a member.

40

S.S. Storey (Schultz) DA Stewart DA Ashworth CE Green H Rotherham GA Wheatley LC Dorman EJ Thornley-Taylor AP Lucas FE Street HS Stroud HB Steel DJ Kennedy AGW Lewin WF Whitwell WRF Chamberlain TI Aspell LM Castle J Leigh WD Leppington ER Fowler FB Whitfield RW Venables JC Christopherson CS Hurst IRH Simpkin H Willey DD Carter JM Watson J Carr C Bennett-Baggs B Woodcock AC Howeson JA Turner FR Eiloart P Kidd CRJ Timm TG Everatt RJB Leney DV Brims MC Layton SC Debenham MF Hurdle WS Patterson HS Thompson CR Terras RH Bulley

Innings Runs 232 5,070 202 6,770 197 6,313 186 3,903 185 2,122 181 4,235 175 4,538 163 3,580 161 6,070 152 2,431 151 4,618 146 4,098 142 4,105 141 4,908 127 1,762 124 2,528 121 2,964 117 2,043 108 2,478 101 2,900 101 3,567 95 2,007 94 2,109 87 3,919 87 2,945 87 2,792 85 2,008 83 1,276 81 2,263 81 1,261 76 2,246 73 2,257 71 511 70 1,330 65 372 60 896 56 452 53 801 52 1,194 42 383 42 186 43 566 38 322 37 801 37 153 25 157 24 111

Wickets 257 166 170 107 649 – 62 164 371 52 34 10 164 676 32 6 3 3 2 36 7 71 58 70 44 67 108 6 176 2 – 218 136 123 187 149 164 147 129 154 147 144 110 122 127 103 41

uppinghamrovers.play-cricket.com

Current Player Statistics

I No Runs Av Wkts

I No Runs Av Wkts

Fixtures and Events 2021

DJ Kennedy

142

19 4105

33.31 10

W Barrow

9

0

57

6.33

4

All of the following are subject to confirmation

AGW Lewin

141

33 4908

45.44 164

S Snoxall

8

0

90

11.25

1

Uppingham Weekend

ER Fowler

101

15 3567

41.48 36

H Preston

8

0 106

13.25

3

BP Aspell

80

16 1872

29.25 90

B Harris

8

0 198

24.75 10

Friday May 28th Saturday May 29th

C Bennett-Baggs 76

10 2246

34.03

2

B Crowder

7

1 146

24.33 10

Herbalife Cricketer Cup

SD Smith

11 1368

22.80

9

J Thompson

7

2

12.40 10

Sunday 13th June

Sunday 28th June Sunday 11th July Sunday 25th July Sunday 8th August

71

CRJ Timm

56

23 452

S Peters

55

JN Beaumont

62

13.70 149

W Crowder

7

3

45

11.25 15

8 1195

25.43

8

H Lascelles

7

2

35

7.00 15

44

3 1126

27.46

2

F Tucker

8

2 266

44.33

0

SC Debenham

43

19 566

23.58 148

L Frankel

6

2 169

42.25

4

MRW Worrall

42

13 372

12.83 80

C Hunter Jones

6

0

72

12.00

7

TJ Kennedy

37

5 1173

36.65 28

R Barrow

6

2

53

13.25

6

M Bird

25

6 307

16.16 56

J Over

5

0 182

36.40

3

WG Hodson

24

7 299

17.59 64

W Rogers

5

0 100

20.00

7

DC Wood

23

4 468

24.63 54

J Staniforth

4

0

57

14.25

9

ADJ Dawe

23

1 425

19.32

0

G Weller

4

1

48

16.00

7

A Collins

23

4 955

50.26

4

T Ballard

3

0

37

12.33

0

BG Helps

22

6 437

27.31 45

A Salloway

3

1

0

0.00

4

J Sharrock

19

2 300

17.65 24

S Wallis

3

0 105

35.00

0

O Esse

19

2 401

23.59 33

H Glatman

3

0

15.00

0

A Barton

18

2 415

25.94 23

S Thakor

3

1 229 114.50

45

2

C Paxton

18

4 222

15.86 28

G Loyd

2

1

17

17.00

3

H Hughes

18

0 519

28.83

0

B Stewart

2

0

41

20.50

0

CC Stevens

17

3 271

19.36

0

D Astle

2

0

30

15.00

5

RC Hodson

16

6 139

13.90 20

D Patel

2

1

0

0.00

2

J Barnett

16

0 473

29.56

3

H Judd

2

0 128

64.00

0

B Kennedy

16

3 397

30.54

4

R Sale

1

0

25.00

2

25

C Symes

14

3 156

14.89 19

H Polehill

1

1

1

-

2

A Stroud

13

0 139

10.69 12

J Hopkins

1

0

14

14.00

0

RL Perkins

11

3

89

11.12 19

T Regis

1

0

15

15.00

0

S Charlton

10

0 119

11.90 16

T Staveley

1

0

19

19.00

1

22.22

H Funnel

1

0

14

14.00

1

HA Barton

9

0 200

E Prior

9

4

42

36

1

v OUGS at Luffenham Heath v Uppingham School

Match/Event Manager

Anthony Howeson Tom Kennedy

v Haileybury Hermits (Away)

Ed Fowler

Dates for future rounds if required

v Downside Wanderers or Old Cheltonians (Home) 3rd round (Away) Semi-final (Home) Final at Arundel

The Tour Sunday 4th July Monday 5th July Tuesday 6th July Wednesday 7th July Thursday 8th July Friday 9th July

Charterhouse Friars at Charterhouse Lancing Rovers at Lancing College Old Eastbournians Waldron CC at Waldron Old Eastbournians at College Field, Eastbourne Oundle Rovers at Firle

Please contact Alex Collins with your availability for any of our matches Tel – 07786-244112 or email:- uppinghamroverscc@gmail.com Golf Day Thursday 8th July

URCC golf at East Sussex National GC

David Ashworth

7.20 22 43