Brewers Cup is no more

A meeting of the Brewers Cup committee on October 12 took the reluctant decision to bring and end to the competition after 34 years. A full explanation will follow shortly, but a lack of volunteers to replace the outgoing chairman and secretary, together with the marked rise in the number of sides scratching, were the fundamental reasons.

Brewers Cup is ours again ... just!

We won the Brewers Cup for the third time in a nail-biting two-wicket win over Denstone at Milton Keynes. Click here for the full report and photos.

Copleston upbeat about cup

Eds Copleston has announced his side for the first round of this year’s Brewers Cup campaign and has made a number of changes from last year’s side which suffered a heavy defeat to Bruton in the final.

He has rested bowling legend Mike Chetwode and left Ed Henderson out of the squad to ensure he is fit for subsequent rounds should the OCs win their first game against Bloxham on Sunday June 25.

"Having won the competition in 2002 and 2004, I felt last year we were simply going through the motions. No player has a given right to play in the Brewers Cup and my selection should demonstrate I am prepared to reward form players with a place in the side."

Allrounder Nick Read has been recalled having not played in the cup competition since 2002. "Reado gives me some solidiity in the lower middle order and has bowled well in the trial games against Winchester and Old Spots.

Copleston also brought in 16-year-old opening batsman Seren Waters who will partner Johnny Gates. "Seren is playing well for the school and is hungry for runs. I am excited about the boy’s future with the club."

The bowling will be spearheaded by ageing seamer Henry Watkinson & the surprise of last year's campaign Alex Craven. Copleston boasted: "England paceman Stuart Meaker was unavailable for this round but should join the squad if we manage to progress."

The spin department is bolstered with the inclusion of Ian Houston. "Ian will give us control in the spin department while Graeme Brown and Abeed Janmohamed offer variation. First-class wicketkeeper Will Howard retains the keeping gloves and Copleston is confident this could be Will's year with the bat. "Will shows a lot of promise with the bat. He hasn’t won us a match yet however, but I think as he matures he should become a special player and I would love to see him win man of the match one day."

In conclusion Copleston pointed out this year's campaign must be taken more seriously. "I think last year we all went through the motions believing we deserved to raise the cup. I’m afraid that won’t happen again with application and concentration. The dream is alive of three cups in five years, its time to let our cricket do the talking."

OCCC 1 Seren Waters, 2 Johnny Gates, 3 Eds Copleston (capt), 4 Will Howard (wk), 5 Abeed Janmohamed, 6 Graeme Brown, 7 Nick Read, 8 Matt Crump, 9 Henry Watkinson, 10 Ian Houston, 11 Alex Craven

Craven gets beaten up

OCs of all generations rallied behind Alex Craven after he took a right hook to the face in a desperate attempt to prevent the Brewers Cup being stolen.

It is unclear what the cup was actually doing at Cowdray Park, but Craven, celebrating his Man-of-the-Match award in Sunday's nine-wicket quarter-final win over Old Edmundians, was flattened by "an oik from Eastbourne" during an unprovoked attack. In scenes frighteningly reminiscent of Ed Copleston's ejection from a Sydney nightclub in 2003, the assailant was thrown out of the building.

Craven spent much of the night in A&E where he received six stitches to the wound above his right eye. In true dedicated reporting style, Ed Henderson snatched a photo before going to his colleague's aid.

Worringly, the cup later went missing all on its own, although it was found on the floor of another OCs' car the following morning.

This is not the first time the trophy has caused problems for the club. In 2002, hours after the final, the cup had to be fished out of the Thames after victory celebrations got out of hand, and in recent months Copleston admitted that he had been using it as a home for Playboy, his pet rabbit.

Brewers Cup final player reports

Eds Copleston 9/10 Superb organisation before the game, captained well on the field and led by example. His innings, all the better given his medicocre form throughout the season, was vital to the win as it calmed nerves after the loss of an early wicket

Simon Copleston 8/10 Often criticised for slow scoring, he overcame his own scratchy form to grind out an absoluely vital innings in the context of the match, his partnership with his brother proving the match-winner.

Richard Hume 6/10 Unfortunate to play on after becoming slightly bogged down, he provided one of the moments of the day. After snicking the ball into his pads and from there straight to a close fielder, he sneered at the resulting appeal for lbw, exclaiming "How could that be out, I hit it". The umpire ignored the fact that it had been caught and the fielders were left amazed at Skippy's stupidity.

Mike Chase 7/10 The old man of the side fielded well and then resisted his natural urge to try and hit the cover off the ball, happily grinding out the runs needed to win. Only later did he admit that his average for the season is over 100 and he "wasn't going to throw away that for anyone".

Abeed Janmohammed 8/10 Bowled well after a shaky start which saw 10 come off his first over and, as ever, fielded quite superbly. Coming in at 94 for 3, he batted with great maturity and ensured that a mini-collapse didn't become a crisis.

Graeme Brown 6/10 Struggled to find his line and length with the ball, although did get turn. Fielded well but spilt what would have been an oustanding catch near the end.

Will Howard 8/10 Kept very well and stood up to all bowlers which put considerable pressure on the bastmen.

Nick Read 7/10 Overcame a nervous start (24 off his first four overs) to bowl with control, grabbing two wickets. Solid in the field, and amazingly got through the game without pulling any muscles.

Michael Chetwode 8/10 Despite a 24-hour drinking binge the day before (and resulting lecture from his captain) he bowled with his usual parsimony after a wobbly start, conceding just 11 runs in nine overs. Fielded like a man with a hangover.

Ed Henderson 8/10 Bowled with excellent control and, aided by Will Howard standing up to him, proved hard to get away. Took wickets as soon as he came on both times. Fielded well and almost took an brilliant catch.

Tim Evans 9/10 His medium-paced gentle outswing completely bamboozled the opposition, and he got the game off to a flier by taking a wicket with the first ball of the match. His return of 11-5-22-2 was by far his best for the club.

Supporters 10/10 Great turnout from the great and the good, with ages ranging from Viv Cox (84) down to the youngest member of the Chetwode clan at a few months. John McDermott so enjoyed the day that he briefly abandoned being rude to all and sundry. The free bar and food helped make for a great day.

Watkinson to miss Brewers Cup final?

Eds Copleston has announced his side for the final of the Brewers Cup against Old Herefordians at Milton Keynes on Sunday, September 1.

He has stuck by the players who guided us to our first limited-overs final, with the only surprise the omission of former captain Henry Watkinson. Two years ago Henry would have been one of the first names on the teamsheet, but he returned from a year in Australia massively overweight and unfit. Although a vigorous cabbage soup diet helped him shed much of his belly, his fitness remained a problem, a point stressed by Copleston. “He isnt fully fit or bowling as he needs to be to book a seat on the player's bus. I have the utmost respect for Henry- on top form he'd get into any side I picked. He's had an unlucky injury just before the last round that has wrecked his chances of being involved this year. I know him, he will come back stronger next year and I look forward to that.”

The only change from the side which beat Old Dunstonians in the semi-final was the return of veteran Mike Chetwode in place of schoolboy Johnny Gates. Gates played a crucial part in the win, and batted with great confidence at Blackheath, but Chetwode had to be accommodated. “Having to drop Johnny was not an easy decision,” admitted Copleston. “He had a fantastic day in the field and looks like a star in the making with the bat."

The OC batsmen are all in form which bodes well for the match, and the seam bowlers have all shown that they have adjusted well to the limited-overs format. Graeme Brown is the sole spinner, although the emergence of Abeed Janmohamed as an offspinner in the last season has given Copleston the luxury of a more than able sixth bowler.

Our opponents probably go into the match as favourites, having reached the final last season. Like us, they did their best to throw away the semi-final with a dramatic batting collapse, slumping from 102-0 to 113-5 chasing 120 to win. Strong batting, tempered with a propensity to collapse. It promises to be a good day out.

1. Richard Hume
2. Simon Copleston
3. Eds Copleston (c)
4. Mike Chase
5. Abeed Janmohammed
6. Graeme Brown
7. Will Howard (wk)
8. Nick Read
9. Mike Chetwode
10. Ed joHenderson
11. Tim Evans
12th man – Johnny Gates

Side announced for Brewers Cup debut

Eds Copleston, who captained the OCCC to victory on Speech Day and will lead the side in the Brewers Cup first round match against Old Hurstjohnians in three weeks time, has named his squad for the game.

Having applied unsuccessfully over a number of years for admission to the Brewers Cup, effectively the second-stream Cricketer Cup, the club have been included this year for the first time. The only previous foray in competitive cricket was in the Cricket World Trophy which we entered between 1990 and 1997, with our best performance coming in the first year when we reached the semi-finals.

"In the view of both myself and the committee as a whole it is essential we do as well in this tournament as we should," said Copleston. "The OC Cricket Club can only grow and attract new talent in the long term if it makes itself successful in the short term. Our progress in the Brewers Cup, perhaps a long Cup run, could publicize the club in an extremely beneficial way."

There are two high-profile absences in the squad. Club captain Steve Bailey, who took over from Henry Watkinson at the end of the Kenyan tour is missing as is the powerful hitter Rick Johnson.

Bailey's omission, whilst unfortunate, is explained by his lack of form - his last four innings have produced just 12 runs - and his tendency to catch the ball like a girl. "He is suffering a lack of form," reflected Copleston. "However, I believe like all great captains who have suffered in this manner he is strong enough to bounce back."

Johnson on the other hand can consider himself hard done by, especially given that his ability to score quick runs could be extremely useful in the limited overs format of the Brewers Cup.

But Copleston denied that the decision was down to anything other than cricketing ability. "He confirmed to me with his performance on Speech Day that he is not Brewers Cup material. I need players with genuine skill and a desire to extract victory at all costs.

"Nicknaming me Hitler for the severity with which I continuously told him to behave or placed him intermittently at long leg will not have improved his previously bleak chances," added Copleston.

The match takes place on Sunday 24th June at Hurstpierpoint and starts at 11.30am.

OCCC side to play Old Hurstjohnians (from); E Copleston (cap), S Copleston, S Watkinson, G Brown, R Gutteridge, W Howard (wkt), A Janmohamed, N Read, T Hufton, M Chetwode. 12th Man: L Moorby

'I'm the man' - Copleston

Simon Copleston launched a broadside at the OCCC's lacklustre management in recent seasons following the announcement that the club had been admitted to the Brewers Cup.

"Finally the OCCC is going to play some competitive cricket again," said the Cranleigh Village star. "Gone are the lazy days of friendly matches; Watkinson throwing up grenades; Chetwode coming on to mop up the tail; hat-tricks from Euan Briggs; everyone on the boundary to give them the single; centuries from Eds (Copleston) against Blackheath. Next year the OCs are going back to what they do best - winning!"

The OCCC will play old rivals the Old Hurstjohnians in the first round of the Cup, and Copleston is in no doubt that new blood is needed for this venture…and he has an idea who might best fit this role.

"Who better than me? I can promise you controlled aggression; dedication to winning, teamwork; flamboyance and gritty determination all rolled into one. I've got a wealth of competitive captaincy experience.

"Steve Bailey has promised to be my vice captain," added the clearly deranged left-hander. "The campaign will be getting into full swing on my return from an intrepid cricket tour of India, where I intend to visit the Gavaskar school of captaincy."

Former prospect Nick Read added: "Copleston would make a far better Fixture Secretary, as proven at school when he failed to beat Messrs Johnson and Watkinson to the higher echelons of the CCC."

He droned on: "I assume that these Brewer games will be abroad as I only play my cricket on foreign soils nowadays. However, as a direct contrast to Mr Bergkamp, I can always change my mode of transport from plane to car, if the price is right (and I am now extremely cheap).