Simon Ward batting against the Old Blundellians

Besides the huge crowd gathered in the warm sunshine on OC/Speech Day this year, the 1980 School match had three of the most important ingredients for high entertainment value: a run rate of approximately one per minute, an over rate of twenty per hour and a sporting declaration. Masterful stroke making from David Bugge (55) and Richard Marks (31) set the Old Cranleighans along the road towards their projected total of 200 runs. Before tossing the coin, the two captains had inspected the pitch and pronounced the Jubilee a good batting wicket capable of producing high scores.

Two School wickets fell in the first couple of overs and so, fearing a whitewash which would have disappointed the assembled multitude, Shelley replaced his opening pacemen John Wells and David Bugge, with spinners, a move relished by the School batsmen.

The outstanding performance of the day came from schoolboy wicketkeeper/batsman James Bennett. Following an almost faultless demonstration behind the stumps he scored 101 runs, reaching the boundary with grace and power on twenty occasions. This effort not only brought victory to the School side, but also won him the CFE Latham Cup.

The OCs beat Cranleigh Village for the first time in many years. Rodney Turrell was absent from the Village side and statistics would suggest this might have been a contributing factor. The youngest side fielded by the OCs for many years (it included two members of the current School team, Andrew Staples, their captain, and Adam Lax, a very promising pace bowler) first set a total of 168 then took just 32 overs to dismiss the Village. Despite a number of false starts, the game against Reigate Pilgrims was eventually abandoned to the weather.

The fixture against Headley is always memorable and this year was no exception. Eleven-year-old Andrew White striding manfully onto the field between his father and Nigel Paul. The elderly gentleman spectator twice forced to topple gracefully out of his deckchair to avoid a well struck missile. Balls ricocheting off car roofs into the undergrowth. True village cricket.

John McDermott (54), Richard Kennedy Hawkes (46) and Richard Marks (42) all batted well and laid a solid foundation for the Old Cranleighan innings. The OCs also bowled well, John Cooke taking 4 for 48, but Headley always had the game under control while Cooper remained at the wicket and his 78 contributed greatly to their victory.

The game against Merrow was nicely poised when the weather intervened. James Bennett (40) was top scorer. Reading the pitch carefully, playing well forward in defence, picking gaps in the ring of fielders, he plays with power and a straight bat. Another impressive newcomer is David Westcott (27). The Old Cranleighan total of 148 seemed hardly enough, however, and it would have been interesting if the game had run its full course.

Miles Taylor bowling against Lancing

Excellent hospitality in beautiful surroundings, best summarizes the Old Cranleighans' first visit to Ardingly since the majority of the game was played in a miserable drizzle. The start was delayed for half an hour because the pitch had already absorbed a great deal of rain, but another large crowd gathered and when play began, eight runs went up on the board without a ball being bowled — there were five wides in the first over and one of these went for 4. David Bugge and Simon Ward seemed less troubled than most by the rain and hit a partnership 70. The match was abandoned at 4.15 after consultation with the groundsman.

The games against Uppingham and the Old Walcountians were washed out. The match against the Baltic Exchange resulted in a tie. These are uncommon enough, but to have an example where both sides are all out for exactly the same score is most unusual. On a fast drying pitch the OCs set 141, with David Bugg' (37) and Richard Cooke (33) making the major contributions. Adrian Thomas put down three difficult catching chances when the Old Cranleighans took the field but made up for it by taking 5 wickets. John Cooke bowled well, as always, taking 4 for 44. With two overs to go the scores were level and the OCs needed one more wicket. Seven balls later Thomas removed No. 11’s leg stump without addition to the score.

Brian O'Gorman is as much a feature of Old Georgians cricket as Nigel Paul is for the Old Cranleighans, or Ted Crowe the Old Blundellians, so the OC's were pleased to see him dismissed for a modest 28. David Bradford took up the cudgels however and had scored 67 before falling leg before to Bob Fell. The Old Georgians set a massive total of 228 and a required run rate of approximately six an over. In his first appearance as captain of an Old Cranleighan side, David Bugge produced the type of performance we have come to expect of him. At one point, when John Carr was with him at the crease, an OC victory looked a possibility. He gave just one sharp chance in an unbeaten 80 and when Carr fell for 44 directed the rearguard action which resulted in a draw.

In sharp contrast to OCs earlier safari into the wilds of Sussex, the weather was warm and sunny for the return home fixture with Ardingly. Fielding just nine men, including one substitute, the Old Ardinians relied heavily upon their captain, John Hall, who took 5 for 46 in an OC total of 129 and followed this with a faultless 72. A tribute to Sussex ales in every respect.

John McDermott found vintage form, and the boundary 14 times, when he scored 82 for the OCs against the Old Blundellians. Martin Williamson, from the anonymous ranks of the School's 2nd XI, scored 47 and Bob Jones and Adrian Thomas built a substantial partnership in the Old Cranleighan total of 235 for 8 declared. The OCs only faced 50 overs, so time was in the opposition's favour and Young Langdon grasped the opportunity. He reached 50 in 43 minutes and 100 in 68 minutes. It looked easy, though this was his first ever century, (and he was dropped four times). With eleven men the Old Blundellians might have come closer than 168, as it was, discounting Langdon's contribution, just 53 runs were scored off the bat.

The match against the Nomads resulted in a draw. David Bugge took the wicket of Whiteway — who made 108 last year — in the second over. The relief was short lived however. A second wicket partnership of 135 between Kershaw and Symondson, and a big hitting innings from Penn formed the backbone of the Nomad total. The OCs lost three quick wickets in reply, but David Bugge (52) and Simon Ward (42) settled down and established a victorious prospect, until time ran out.

Lancing Rovers were contained to a scoring rate of 2.5 an over by the Old Cranleighan bowlers, notably Miles Taylor bowling to three slips and two gullies, and their top scorer was J. Younghusband, coming in at No. 9, who made a spirited 44 not out. Unfortunately, lady luck was not supporting the home team on this occasion and the OCs were bowled out for just 78 runs, mainly by M. Mildred who took 6 for 39.

A convincing victory by the OCs over Esher made a fitting climax to the season. Many regular Esher players were recruited by the Old Cranleighans and performed with great credit, notably Chris Barnes who took five Esher wickets for 45 runs. Set a target of 165, the OCs exploited a perfect batting wicket to the full. Top scorer was Nigel Paul, another regular in the Esher side, with 59, ably supported by Simon Ward (35) Richard Wells (34 not out) and Colin White (34 not out), the latter having performed expertly behind the stump in the first innings.

It was encouraging to see many new faces in the teams this season and without doubt they enjoyed their cricket as much as the regulars.