As we move on to May 7th, let’s have a look at what happened “On This Day” in Calmore Sports history, going through our extensive database and matches uploaded to CricketArchive.
It was 7th May 2016 that started two years of unprecedented success for the club, although it could have been very different but for a superb rearguard which took us over the line in the home game with Fawley which kicked-off the SPCL Division 2 campaign which would ultimately result in the first of the title wins.
The visitors were bowled out for just 135 although recovered slightly from 81-8 as Proudley, Wright, Lavelle (2-8 in 10 overs) and Rose all took a brace of wickets apiece – 15 of Fawley’s 49 overs being maidens. We made a steady start and were comfortable at 85-2, needing just 51 more to win with just over 20 overs to spare. Ben Moss went for 15, Tam Goodrich for a patient 38 followed quickly by Matt Hardy, Ben Perry, James Rose and Mike West, losing 6 for 17 in 10 overs to leave us 102-8. Step forward Tom Pegler (31*) and Paul Proudley (15* off 12 balls), who knocked off the remaining 36 in short order to take us to a two-wicket win.
On the same day in 2016, the 2s travelled to Bashley (Rydal) 3s and returned with a stunning 114 run win on a day that Callum Holloway will remember and maybe forget as well! Batting first, the 2s racked up 232-4 in a slightly shortened 44 overs with Liam Newton hitting 57 not out but the innings was based around Holloway’s boundary strewn innings. 77 balls, 15 fours, 4 sixes – 84 of his runs in boundaries. Must of scored a ton? Caught for 99 … unlucky! Bashley were powerless in response as Allan Hurst (2-16), Paul Henry (2-13), George Woodhall (2-18) joined Callum, who returned 3-22 in 10 overs to remove the hosts for just 118.
The 3s also headed into the Forest and thrashed Pylewell Park 2s by 8 wickets with Jack Nicholson hitting 73* and Kaine Stanton 61* taking us to the comfortable win.
The weather has also had a say on this day too. The opening games in County One in 1977 and 1983 at Paultons as well all the games in the HCL in 1994.
Although the 1s were called off, the 3s got at game at Pylewell Park on 7 May 1983 and won by 40 runs, despite only scoring 91 batting first. We recovered from a precarious 20-6 thanks to Steve Brandes’ 35 and Colin Stuttard with 25 taking us to something a target and it proved far too many for the home side as Dave Morgan (4-22), Peter Wakeford (2-12) and Richard Bailey (2-10) rolled them for just 51.
Our earliest available scorecard on this day was from a trip to Fleming Park to play Eastleigh Corinthians in 1966 but resulted in a 44-run loss. The home side scored just 113 in 49 overs with Vic Doggrell taking 5-36 in 18 overs and Keith Bell 3-17. Maurice Geary’s 24, Tony Archer with 12 and Bell 10 were our only double-figure scorers as we were removed for only 69.
The following year, 1967, we travelled to play a side that has had so many different incarnations but this year were called Botley (Krakatoa). Botley scored 181-6dec with Trevor Lawrence (2-56) and Walter Maton (2-23) the main wicket-takers. We showed little interest in chasing it down with Chick Chandler’s rather surprising 22 batting at 5 and 19s each for Stan Piper and Lawrence saw us close on 89-6.
One very interesting game on this day in 1985 took place in the New Forest Stone Cup Round 1 between Calmore Sports Fourth XI and …. Calmore Sports Third XI! The 4s batted first but were restricted to just 57-5 in their 17 overs – a recovery of sorts from being 19-5 with Paul Brandes and Richard Bailey both reaching 19 not out against some disciplined bowling from Phil Wilkins (2-9) and Iain Bowring’s ridiculous figures in a 17-over game of 5-3-3-1. But the 3s made hard work of the chase, winning off the last ball despite John Ennew’s 33 – Dave Morgan and Paul Willsher both taking 2 wickets each.
Our last one for today came in 1995 and a home match for the Sunday Second XI against regular foes Pylewell Park in a 40-over contest. Batting first, we reached 175-6 thanks to a scintillating, swashbuckling, classy, superb and absolute incredible innings of 54 from Richard Isaacs (who do you think writes this stuff!!!!!) while Matt Procter (31*) and Nigel Hill (29) all adding good runs. The visitors gave it a great shot but were cut short when Neil Dennis got through Pallister’s defences to bowl them out for 171 – Paul Grinham cheerfully took 3-44 but the bowling honours went to flame-haired rugby prop forward Mike ‘Beery’ Lockyer with 3-22 – so called because he didn’t drink!!!
