In a brand new feature, we look back at what happened “On This Day” across Calmore Sports history. Using the information uploaded to CricketArchive from the library of old club scorebooks and scoresheets and also within the club’s statistical database, we can look back through the years to see what happened in our history. Today is May 2.
Maybe rather surprisingly, we have only played one first XI league fixture on this day in history and it is not a match steeped with great memories either – and it marked the start of a season to forget too.
At home to New Milton in 2015, the Forest side ran out 111 run victors despite only scoring 172-7 in their 50 overs having been put in by Mark Lavelle on his debut as first XI captain. James Park’s 66 not out guided his side to their moderate total but only Lavelle, with 31 from 83 balls, reached double figures as Nick Gargaro ripped through the Calmore batting order with 5-16 along with George Watts (3-4 in 7 overs) to dismiss us for just 61.
The Fourth XI, however, did start their season early in the old New Forest League days and had an interesting start in New Forest Division Four against Michelmersh and Timsbury 2s in 1987. Batting first, the 4s were bowled out for just 102 with Graeme Lyon, batting at 4, top scoring with 18 as Barnes claimed 6-30. But M&T were flattened for just 39 in 18.5 overs, with seven batsmen out for 0 as Iain Bowring took 4-13 and Paul Wilkins 6-22 to grab an unlikely 63 run win.
But it was normally just friendlies this early in the season with one in 1970 at Romsey where the home side clung on for a draw. Calmore scored 145-8dec in 46 overs with Vic Sevier (34) and Reg Oliver (24) top scoring despite Frank Green taking 6-24 for the hosts. They made little effort in chasing the target down with John Smart (26) and F. Clarke (10) the only players to reach double figures and closed 71-9 from 38 overs – Mike Newman (3-11), Trevor Lawrence (2-17), Martin Newman (2-9) plus a single each for Keith Bell and Tufty Taylor taking the wickets.
In 1976 at Coronation Field at Farley, it was a low scoring epic with the home side winning by 14 runs after being skittled by Ray Hurst’s 6-21 for just 98. Martin Newman with 27 and Ben Lyon 18 stood up but Spayes 6-38 and Lewis 3-19 rushed through the lower order to remove us for only 84.
A similar match in the very early days of Loperwood Park in 1982 saw the Seconds take on Pylewell Park and lose by 28 runs – in a game were only one batsman on both sides made double figures! Pylewell’s S. Ashby hit 15 as his side has no answer to Matt Procter (5-20) and Steve Lock (3-29) bowled them out for 56. But Bell (6-10) and Noonan (4-17) rushed us out for only 28 in 26.2 overs – Pete Wakeford and ‘Locky’ top scoring with just 7!
A home friendly in 1994 against Hyde lives in the memory as Simon Williams (111*) and Rob Budd (87*) pummeled the hapless Foresters for 221-0 in 43 overs! The visitors had no interest in chasing the target and settled for the draw at 111-5 in 37 overs – Williams’ brother Paul taking 2-14, Paul Draper 2-0 in 4 overs and even Gavin Hopgood grabbed a scalp.
Again, it was a pre-season friendly in 2015 at the ‘Old Ground’ for the Fourth XI taking on the 12-men of Totton & Eling 4s but they weren’t ready for inspired performances from Callum Stanton and Jack Stuttard. Callum’s 72 opening the batting took us to 218-7 with Owen Fee (33) and Shawn Kitcher (36*) providing great support. And then Jack piled through the top order with 4-15 in 6 overs to knock the local rivals over for just 164 and a 54-run win.
