The side continued to build on the successes both on and off the field reported in the last Cranleighan and, just as importantly, the young players continue to be attracted to the cavalier style of cricket engineered by the veteran captain Michael Chetwode. In the words of the philosopher Homer Simpson ‘...when participating in sporting events, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how drunk you get’.

The season began on Speech Day when for the first time it was agreed that the game would be of the limited overs type; 38 for the Old Cranleighans, 42 for the School. Whilst this was unwelcomed by the die-hard conservatives in the Club (i.e. the President), the decision was made in an effort to ‘spice-up’ a game which has had a tendency to meander to a draw in recent years. The OCs experience of league cricket proved decisive, particularly in their running between the wickets and Johnson (44) and Chase (43) both added quick runs. To their credit the School chased from the start, and at one point looked well in command with 69 required off 18 overs with eight wickets in hand. Not for the first time Mike Chetwode (3-29) took quick wickets, and with Henry Watkinson (2-27) and Mike Chase (2-11) all but extinguished the School’s hopes; by the time Johnson removed the last man with a direct hit from 25 yards the game was already settled.

The Headley game saw the OCs underperform yet again; this fixture seemingly brings out the worst in us. Only Will Stephens (67*) mastered a poor bowling attack and too many players were out to crass shots. Chasing a very gettable 197 on the small ground the home side were cruising before two quick wickets from Stephens appeared to undermine the batsmen’s confidence. The match came down to the last ball when, needing two to win, Ashby declined a second quite realistic run leaving his partner stranded and the game a draw with the scores level. A rare event occurred during the afternoon when Chetwode was rendered speechless in response to a passing comment from one of the teenage opposition, to the effect that if this was the best side the Old Cranleighans could raise then it was a pretty sad state of affairs. One or two of our better players may be included in the 1997 game.

With the Lancing fixture cancelled due to their involvement in The Cricketer Cup, it was on to the Week. The start was the worst possible when only 14 overs were able to be bowled against Uppingham Rovers before the ground disappeared under a blanket of water. To be quite honest the deluge saved us from possible embarrassment as the side fielded by the OCs was very weak. With most of our regulars participating in league cricket (Cranleigh Village 1st XI have contained up to seven OCs this summer) the whole question of whether the start of the Week can continue to be on a Saturday will be examined as a matter of urgency.

Merrow, who field several OCs amongst their ranks, were far too weak and despite some friendly bowling could only muster 112. Williamson (36*) and Porter (32*) scored with ease and the match was over before 6 o’clock. The Butterflies were unable to cope with the pace of Peter Hobbs (3-30), the guile of Chetwode (3-22) and the sheer uncertainty of where Stephens (3-52) was going to pitch the ball. Chasing a modest 199 to win this year’s School captain Ed Copleston stroked a splendid 70 and helped by brother Simon (49*) and Steve Bailey (40) saw the OCs to a seven wicket win. Tuesday brought down new visitors, Old Hurstjohnians, who included a sprinkling of Durham University men with no link to either St. Johns or Hurstpierpoint. The OC bowlers never came to grips with the batsmen as the OHs cruised to 222-6, although Stephens (3-65) stuck to his task well. The batsmen chased from the start but the lack of experience showed and we ended up 22 runs short. Scott Nye, who left Cranleigh this summer and played all his games for the 2nd XI, scored 40 but it was the manner that he accumulated the runs that most impressed. Very strong on the front foot he played some classical drives and was not afraid to get in line when the bowling was quick. Another newcomer, albeit a slightly more experienced one, in the form of Peter Hobbs made 53 and showed that he could hit the ball hard as well as bowl fast.

The Old Georgians match on the Wednesday produced a low scoring but quite thrilling contest; this appears to have been the case for the past five or six years. Up to the over before tea the OCs were never in the contest. Bowled out for 150 ( a recovery from 79-7) after Richard Seeckts had set out on a mission to run out all his colleagues, the home side were coasting at 60-1. Chetwode then switched to bowling off-spin, with the occasional leg-break that could have been picked by a blind man, and on the dusty wicket took 5 quick wickets as the OGs slumped to 134-8. With the ball turning square the OG tail decided to hit their way out of trouble and amidst high drama they deservedly won by two wickets.

Fettes-Lorretto paid us the compliment of fielding their strongest side and although they amassed 266-5 were unable to bowl us out on a pitch which provided little help to the bowlers, even though the OCs did slump to 136-6. Williamson (37*) and Stephens (36*) played out the final hour for the draw. On the Friday Frogs scored 230-9 with Chetwode (5-36) the pick of the bowlers. On another good track Simon Copleston (115*) hit his second century for the Club, in just over two hours, and showed a fine range of attacking shots in the process. Simon had had a superb season for his other assortment of clubs and it was pleasing to see him come good for the OCs. The Ardinians cried off for the second successive year and so the Surrey Cryptics match was hurriedly switched to the Sunday. As had been the case in previous meetings, the visitors bowling was never going to be able to trouble the OCs. Henry Watkinson (119*) hit his maiden century for the Club having been dropped on 14; he would admit that it was not one of his finest innings. Rick Johnson smashed (quite literally) a brisk 68 before yet again failing to go on to the make the big score of which he must be capable. Steve Bailey (52) played with an embarrassing immaturity and his attempted reverse sweep which felled the wicket-keeper was a low point. Chasing 260 to win the Cryptics came within 18 runs thanks to some generous bowling and 92 from on-loan Ed Copleston.

The Eton Ramblers game was lost but probably the less said about it the better. One of the aims of Michael Chetwode when he acceded to the captaincy was to defeat the Old Wellingtonians. As at the start of the season this remained unfulfilled, indeed we had been convincingly thrashed by them quite regularly. A strong OC side restricted the OWs to 214, with Watkinson (4-54) and Chetwode (3-50) leading the way. After two overs of the reply Chetwode must have felt it was not to be, with the score 1-2. Then Mike Chase, who hit 159 in the same fixture in 1995, with 81 and Ed Copleston (48) calmed the nerves before Nick Read (45*) saw us home for the first win in the ninth meeting of the sides. The season ended with a convincing seven wicket win against Surrey Championship winners Esher. Tight OC bowling restricted the home side to 196-5 in 66 overs and the match was as good as settled by a whirlwind 69 by opener Stephens. High entertainment was provided by Simon Copleston (30) who played Esher’s professional Barbados paceman in an entirely original manner before Ed Copleston (30*) and Steve Bailey (40*) saw us home.

Of the individuals, Will Stephens must be singled out as having made the most significant improvement to his game over the past twelve months. His batting became reliable and the range of his strokeplay was outstanding; in particular he seemed able to pick the right ball to hit, whereas in the past he had attempted to hit everything. In addition, the lack of bowling in the side meant that his own inimitable medium swing bowling was called upon in increasing doses and he rose to the challenge. Simon Copleston continued to amass a large quantity of runs although his OC season was not up to his usual high standards, only once passing 50; he more than made amends with a personally successful season for Cranleigh Village. Ed Copleston, in his first season for the Club, batted with maturity and grace and although the big score evaded him there is no doubt that he will accumulate many runs in the years to come. Rick Johnson was unable to play more than a handful of games because he forgot when the cricket week was - those of you who know Rick will not be in the least bit surprised by this revelation. When he did play he scored runs with indecent ease and, unlike his off the field persona, was very tidy behind the stumps. Stephen Bailey had a good season and was happy to continue in his role as a valuable utility player; opening one day, number eleven the next, wicket-keeper and (very occasionally) bowler. He is one of those players who slowly accumulates runs, often at important times, without drawing attention to himself. His novel way of playing quick bowling will be tested in the Antigua tour. Mike Chase continued to show that you can improve with age and scored runs with an ease that his contemporaries of 1979 would refuse to believe. Michael’s success shows that it is never too late to improve and learn. Scott Nye, who left School this summer without having made a 1st XI appearance, batted with courage and impressed all with his strokeplay; he was rewarded with a century for Cranleigh Village later in the season. Nick Dunnett, again from the prestigious ranks of the School 2nd XI, slotted into the OC way of life with little effort and despite the coaching of his puritanical father.

It goes without saying that the pick of the bowlers was, again, Michael Chetwode. His 27 wickets took him to a total of 380 and during the season he passed John McDermott’s record of 171 appearances for the Club. For a man who has never knowingly undertaken any form of physical exercise other than actually playing cricket he remains obscenely fit and can still bowl 20 plus overs unchanged on the hottest day. His batting this season was not up to the high level of recent years as highlighted against the Fettessian-Lorrettonians when Michael decided to put himself up the order. The official reason was that he wanted to boost the scoring rate; the real reason was that he saw the sign that the opening quick bowler was coming off and he fancied cheap runs off the spinners. Unfortunately, the change bowler was even quicker and the mighty Chetwode was bowled third ball as he took guard several feet outside leg stump. Henry Watkinson, who was so unfairly described in last years Cranleighan as inconsistent, managed only 5 appearances due to other commitments but was very consistent when he did play. With Chetwode now in his mid 30s the burden of spearheading the bowling will soon pass to Henry. Unfortunately, he seems to have contracted the illness affecting Chetwode, namely the belief that if fast bowling fails then you should become a spinner. Peter Hobbs, fresh from Southampton University proved capable of being the fastest bowler in the Club in short spells and his batting was a welcome bonus.

As ever, the OCCC would not be able to function without the hard work which goes on behind the scenes. Apart from the considerable efforts of the Captain it is only right to thank the following; Simon Copleston for his splendid first season as Fixtures Secretary; Tim McConnell Wood for making our stay at Cranleigh so easy; the Headmaster and Bursar for allowing us to use what remains one of the finest grounds in the south of England; Peter Woodhead for his time in preparing consistently balanced pitches; and finally, with apologies to any individual omitted from the list, the umpires Brian Adams, John McDermott and Peter ‘Grizzly’ Adams. The latter, in his first season for the Club, blended in perfectly and the players realised he was one of us when at Wellington he gave an OC star batsman out lbw. As he admitted, the player was not technically out but he had to go as he "was farting around and batting far too slowly".

The Hon. Secretary is aware that we have lost touch with several former players. If any OC would like to be included on the mailing list, or has stopped receiving letters, please contact the Hon. Secretary at the above address.

Finally, in April 1997 the OCCC embarks on its first tour and not wishing to do things by halves is setting out for Antigua under the umbrella of Rick Johnson Travel Limited. A lavish(ish) tour booklet will be produced to coincide with the Tour and this will be sent to all members of the OCCC early next year. If any other person would like a copy please send a large stamped addressed envelope to the Hon. Secretary.