It is Saturday 16th May 2020, we are due to be away at Totton and Eling for the 1s, the 2s were expecting Old Netley and Highfield at Loperwood Park, the 3s were down the Old Ground playing Cadnam 2s and the 4s away at Southampton Travellers 2s. Sadly – it was not to be. So, instead we look back at events on this day in Calmore history.
In many ways, this is a day that is tinged with some sadness as it was saw the end of a burgeoning career at just 22 years of age with a horrific recurrence of a knee injury which had already seen him sit out the majority of three seasons from 2012 to 2014. Returning to fitness and playing an active part in the early part of 2015, his shot for four to bring up his ton in the home game with Follands would be his final action on a cricket field on this day five years ago.
Luke Gould joined Calmore Sports from Paultons in 2010 but, towards the end of his first season whilst playing against Nomansland on 14th August 2010, would suffer a season ending knee dislocation whilst on 24 not out. He was carried off as the rain fell but managed to return the next season. He took the majority of three seasons away but, feeling fit and ready, he returned to action in 2015 and the highlight was this superb century. But, mid shot, his knee dislocated once again and, as he lay in agony on the ground, the ball hit the boundary rope to bring up his century. He was carried off – retired hurt 101 the scorecard reads. With this being his third dislocation in five years – he suffered his second ahead of the 2012 season – Luke retired from the game, such a shame for a player so highly regarded and a serious talent.
The 2s won this game thanks to Luke’s 101 and, not to be forgotten 112 by Tam Goodrich in our 255-3. Storm Anning’s 4-17 and Tom Pattison with 3-16 coupled with Paul Henry 2-15 knocked Follands out for 127 to win by 128 runs. But the game won’t be remembered for the scoreline.
On the road, the difficult 2015 SPCL Division One season continued as we were sunk at Hook and Newnham Basics by six wickets. Electing to bat first, the highlight was a first-wicket stand of 24 between skipper Mark Lavelle (10) and Darren Vann (16). But for the rest of the side, except Callum Holloway, who stood alone on 33 not out, totalled just two runs between the eight of them. George Woodhall and James Rose scored one run each as we were bowled out for 74, which Hook knocked off in 15.5 overs. I won’t mention Ben Thane scored 43 not out.
At the Old Ground, the 3s thrashed New Milton 3s by 9 wickets as 16-year-old Harry Morgan returned outstanding figures of 10-5-18-4 and well supported by Keith Woodhall (3-46) and singles for Ryan Lomax and Kaine Stanton removed them for just 104. Skipper Daniel Croft hit an unbeaten 40 and Dave Brandes 45 not out as we won with ease. And the 4s went to Winchester to play Oakmount in Regional 4 South and Central and won by 7 wickets, bowling the 9-men opposition for 76 (Owen Fee 3-9, Oliver Lysandrides 2-31) before Luke Worrow’s 42 not out took us to the win.
Let’s move away from 2015 and head back to 2009 when we headed down to Fawley to play in County One and we made it two wins from two but only thanks to the tail waging with the bat and the fifth and sixth bowlers with the ball. Put in, we soon found ourselves 80-6 and 115-8. Number 8 Mark Lavelle hit 26 and Keith Woodhall at 10 making a fine 34 which took us to 171 all out. Paul Proudley removed both openers with his figures of 10-4-12-2 but it was left to Michael Cook (3-29) and Luke Johnson (3-24) ensuring the hosts didn’t get close and were bowled out for 143.
It is incredible to see that, back at Loperwood, the 2s were at home to United Services Portsmouth …. Third XI! Just 11 years later, US Portsmouth 1st XI are now in the same division as our 2s. This match in 2009 we would win by just 8 runs and almost didn’t! Skipper Mike Cotton top scored with 41 and Ben Perry hit 28 as we made just 131 before the visitors found themselves 48-8 and 66-9 as Darren Challis (10-5-15-4), Roy Walton (10-5-15-2) and Paul Henry (2-31) ran through them. Number 11 Gareth Toms had other ideas as he plundered a 26-ball 48 with five sixes. He put on 57 with David Bartlett (16*) before Garth Nicol finally got one through Tom’s defences and bowled them out for 123.
We had Cross Solent League action back in 1999 and it was across the Solent we went – to Ventnor but we came home beaten by 3 wickets. Martin Kellaway, batting at number 8, led the way with 62 with Mark Boston (27) and Gary Stinson (20) helping us to a decent 205-9. Billy Sims took 3-37 and Tim Lumsden 2-48 but the home side won with just under six overs to spare.
Our ‘oh so nearly’ season of 1998 could not have happened had we not won this particular game at Loperwood. At home to Winchester KS, we were bowled out for 156, crashing from 121-3. Hampshire all-rounder Paul Whitaker hit 61, Paul Draper 21 and Rob Budd 24 led the way but none of the bottom six reached double figures. Winchester made steady progress with John Barnard (29), Jimmy Taylor (28) and Keith Dampier (32) took them to 106-2 in the chase. Excellent bowling from Whitaker (3-49), Steve Brandes (2-27) and Draper (2-41) pulled them in and when Martin Taylor was run out by Martin Kellaway off the last ball, they finished 155-9, one run short.
The 1987 season continued with a second win from two. Having beaten all-star Road Sea last week, we received Hartley Wintney to Loperwood and won by 5 wickets thanks mainly to a 16-year-old bowler and a lot of support from his 40-year-old wicket-keeper! The visitors batted first and were bowled out for just 90 as Adam Carty claimed 6-21, including three stumpings for Terry Chilcott (the only instance of three stumpings off one bowler in an innings for the club). Richard Newman took 3-31 as they were skittled while Rob Budd hit 42 and Gary Stinson 21 in the easy win.
The 4th team were up at the Sports Centre playing Deanery 2s and even 73 from former Hampshire player Don Cartridge – who was 53-year-old at the time – couldn’t prevent a nine-wicket victory for us but that was in no small part to Dave Rouse’s brutal 85 not out.
Our earliest recorded match was in the old County Ground knock-out in 1958 against a team called Alma. Stan Piper’s excellent 57 not out alongside Vic Sevier (31) took us to 137-6 but it wasn’t to be enough despite P. O’Leary’s 2-40 and a wicket each for Montrose and Vic Loveless.
