Today is 10th May, so it’s time to look back through the annuls of Calmore Sports Club history to check out what happened ‘On This Day’ … by the looks of things, lots of rain but also some very good wins too … and some interesting finishes!
I think we should start in 2008 and the opening match of the Hampshire League Division One season at home to Lymington Second XI. Inserted to bat by skipper James Rose, Lymington were indebted to Dave Griffiths who played a classy innings of 95 from 112 balls which was the backbone of their 190 all out with Michael Cook taking 5-27 and a couple of wickets each for Rose and Mark Boston. Things didn’t start well in the chase as we found ourselves 41-5 before Boston, with a steady but often attacking 58 from 77 balls and Tom Pegler 35 from 51 pulled us back into the game.
At 155-6, we were firmly back on course needing 36 more to win with Boston and Peter Clark going well. However, Boston was dismissed lbw, Clark followed 20 runs later lbw and Roy Walton was caught off Peter Tapper. Still needing 15, Cook (14*) and Nigel Hill (11) batted nicely and took us within two of victory before the latter was dismissed …. lbw! Three lbws in the last four dismissals – all from the same end – to see the visitors win by one run. Now, I have asked a few of the players who played in this match and there seems to be a general consensus (of those who could remember!). I could put the comments here … but this is the official club website so better not!
It was the start of the SPCL Division One season at Loperwood Park in 2003 and we welcomed Hampshire Academy for a rain-affected game that we won by 7 wickets having had the better run rate in the game but one man’s performance sparked an interest which would see him become a fully fledged professional cricketer.
When James Hibberd removed Martin Bushell first ball and followed it up by removing Kevin Latouf, it left Tony Middleton’s side 9-2. Alex Richardson (32) and Peter Hammond (50) brought them back on an even keel before Paul Cass ran through the middle order with 4-40 and only David Griffiths (24*) and former Calmore youngster Matt Metcalfe (16) improved their precarious 144-8 to 190-9 – Hibberd trapping Metcalfe lbw to complete a good day with the ball of 3-36.
The Isle of Wight quick Griffiths, who went on to enjoy an eight-year career with Hampshire before moving to Kent, trapped Cass and Rose lbw to leave us 16-2 before Hibberd bludgeoned 53 in a third-wicket stand of 62 with Mark Boston – before he was tit-for-tat lbw to Metcalfe – and then the rains came soon after and we were awarded the win.
But the Academy captain and coach Middleton was impressed with the 22-year-old all-rounder and, despite having spent the 2003 pre-season with Kent, he was to join Hampshire for a couple of years including a first XI debut in 2004 where he scored 33 runs and took 7 wickets in the match against Cardiff UCCE which, unfortunately for James, wasn’t deemed to be first-class.
On this day in 2011 saw the first round of the Border League Cup and a trip to Mottisfont ‘A’, which we won by 7 wickets. The home side won the toss and batted first but you have to wonder if they questioned the decision when skipper Mark Lavelle decided to open the bowling with himself and proceeded to take 4-2-6-5 to leave the hosts 18-7! They ‘recovered’ to 40 all out – Paul Galbraith taking 2-11 – and we fairly comfortably knocked off the 41 needed with Mark Archer hitting 32* – but we lost three wickets along the way.
Our second season in the league system started in 1975 with a narrow win over Portsmouth-based Moneyfields in a low scoring game in Copnor. The home side were bowled out for just 68 thanks to Roy Matthews’ 4-9 and a couple of wickets apiece for Tufty Taylor and D. Baldwin. It wasn’t plain sailing to get to the target – 20 from Terry Chilcott and 21 from Baldwin kept the chase on track and we got home with just three wickets in hand.
And then in 1980 – our last season of first XI cricket at King George V Ground, we started the campaign with a comprehensive 62 run win over Paultons in a game where Steve Brandes was the star. His 28 batting at number nine – cruelly ended with a run out with Chick Chandler at the other end (whose fault???) – helped us reach 129 and then he shared the new ball with the Old Ground master Ray Hurst and both picked up four wickets – Ray 4-36 and Steve 4-28 as Paultons were skittled for just 67.
This was the first time that Steve would score 25+ runs and take 4+ wickets in a first XI league game – only 10 players in our history have done it twice or more – Draper, Sims, Lavelle, Rose, Donaldson, D Newman, Hibberd, West, Cass and …….. yes, Mr President, it is you! Bona-fide all-rounder status confirmed.
The whole programme on 10th May 2014 was washed out as was the home HCL1 game with Road Sea in 1986 and the away trip in County One in 1997 to Romsey.
While the first XI game was off in 1986, the 2s were still on at Hyde and came home with a four-wicket victory in a very low scoring game. Hyde were bowled out for 80 with Pete Tudberry 3-17 and Jimmy Gill 3-11 the main wicket-takers while D. Mattey (2-40) and Michael Newman (2-6) doing the rest. 27 from C. Cooper and an unbeaten 24 from Michael Newman eased us to the win with time to spare.
