Success at cricket week

Old Cranleighans 252 for 8 dec lost to Woodpeckers 253 for 7 by three wickets
After the Woodpeckers, a wandering team whose roots lie the the Fleet Street press but are now based in and around the Alma pub in Wandsworth, stepped in to replace the Eton Ramblers at the last minute, there was just one talking point ... Alan Cope.

At Eds Copleston's wedding the night before, Ed Henderson had received a message from the opposition captain pleading for the OC's to provide one cricketer, one capable of opening the bowling no less. He heard that Cope was keen to play and lined him up. On the morning the of the match Henderson tried hard to persuade one of his less important players, notably Henry Watkinson, to switch sides but without success. Meanwhile the opposition kept in his ear that they needed a good cricketer to make a game of it and that Cope was probably the man.

It didn't look like it was going to be a costly decision as all four times Cope induced an edge from Jumbo Jupp, Morgan Fletcher and Tom Garland, they were put down. Jupp went on to compile a good looking 129 with others chipping in so that the OC's were able to declare at the halfway point.

Elliot Hannah bowled a good new ball spell removing one opener whilst Henderson at the other end had the other opener dropped at point and he went on to make 50. Cope entered the fray at 4 and set about putting together a fine 91 including a six into the pavilion of Henderson. A difficult chance was dropped by Starling which, had it been taken, would have changed the outcome of the match as a late flurry of wickets revealing a weak tail showed. In the end, Cope had done enough and the Woodpeckers scraped home with an over to spare and Henderson learnt a lesson he will not be allowed to forget.

Old Milfieldians 120 all out lost to Old Cranleighans 121 for 6
A relatively weak OM side was bowled out in a clinical performace on a scorching day by a typically miserly 4-22 from Mike Chetwode and a clever display of leg spin from Seren Waters (5-25). There were a few scares in the reply as the experienced top order of Brown, Colgate, Watkinson, Copleston S and Worthy mustered little between them against some good bowling. Fortunately with Matt Crump (27*) and Waters (38*)still to come at 7 and 8 there was little chance of a genuine upset and they saw us home.

Old Georgians 122 lost to Old Cranleighans by 5 wkts
Report to follow once we have the full scorecard.

Grasshoppers 262 for 4 dec lost to Old Cranleighans 264 for 6 by four wickets
This was an extraordinary match and must rank as one of the great OC wins in recent years made even more impressive by the inexperienced side and the match winning contributions of debutants and recent leavers.

The Grasshoppers batted for an antisocial 65 overs and in the course of that innings, their Australian number 3 was dropped by Jock Vickers in the 30's. Whether the statement was volunteered by Jock or if the words were shoved into his mouth, an arrangement was made on the pitch that Jock would stump up £1 for every run the Aussie went on to make from there. He ended on 152* leaving Jock with a debt of £120 to the Tim Evans trust. On appeal, after the game this was reduced to £60 taking into consideration the mitigating circumstances that a) Jock is no Jony Rhodes and b) he needs to start saving to look after his forthcoming baby.

To make the events all the more unusual, Mike Chetwode, who has been showing considerable prowess in the catering department alongside Louise, bowled 21 overs without taking a wicket. Debutant Alex Szepietowski bowled nicely and grabbed a couple.

At 22-2 after Vickers and Damien Hill and been and gone, we seemed to be facing an uphill battle especially as we would only get 47 overs back. However, Rob Merry, in the form of his life hit 62 but it was numbers 7 and 8, Morgan Fletcher (73*) and Alex Szepietowski (61*) who turned the game on its head with outstanding, mature knocks to win a great game.

Old Carthusians 202 all out lost to Old Cranleighans 207 for 5 by five wickets
A slow wicket at Charterhouse called for bowlers of the ilk of Mark Ealham, Scott Styris and Chris Harris to bowl full and straight and the OC's found that in Andy Houston (3-21) and Rob Jones (2-23) whilst at the other end, Pullborough left arm spinner Struan Cameron (3-37) bowled beautifully. Cameron could have had 7 wickets were it not for missed catches and stumpings but he carried on plugging away and understood that he needed to take the fielders out of the equation.

In reply, Max Barson was bowled first ball and quickly follwed by Vickers (who had earlier caught a catch) and Will Langmead who hit one to mid on. At the other end Gates was batting stylishly and the onlookers began to wonder if we were going to see the kind of match winning innings from him that he has promised since 2002. He got us a good way there but ran himself out on 49 going for his glorious 50th. Cope (36) was going well at the other end making up for a wayward spell with the ball, until he was stumped off the only ball that the Charterhouse spinner 'had spun all year'.

Charlie Clarence-Smith (62*) then took up the attack batting powerfully and selectively, assisted by the calm Rob Jones (43*) to win us the game in a composed all round performance.

A mixed bag

Ed Henderson looks back on the 2010 OC cricket week

Old Cranleighans 217-6 (Ashton 94*) beat Eton Ramblers 213-7 by three wickets
An earlier-than-usual 10.30am start at the behest of the Etonians because they wanted to be home in time for the World Cup final was rather undermined when only two of the opposition were present at the scheduled beginning, but the game was underway before 11am. A mature 94* from Rich Ashton saw us knock off the Ramblers 214 in the last of the 40 overs. We had put in one of the tidiest OC fielding performances for some time with tight bowling from Ed Henderson, Paddy Harman, Mike Chetwode and Nigel Radbourne interspersed with regular wickets. We kept up with the run rate but no one bedded in to support Ashton despite contributions from Johnny Gates and Simon Copleston and a steady supply of wides.

Old Cranleighans beat Old Millfieldians by three wickets
A talented OC team of both youth and experience played in the first match between the two sides, with this fixture surprisingly being Old Millfieldian’s first venture into the realm of old boy’s cricket. Led by Jonny Gates, we were put into bat first on a flat Jubilee pitch and got off to a poor start, losing early wickets to a decent up front OMs seam attack. Rich Ashton battled for a period taking the home side to 139 for 8. Gatesy provided a gutsy lower order recovery with the help of much under rated Mike Roper but eventually ran out of batting partners just short of a much deserved fifty. With a more defendable total set, we were able to attack from the off in the field, with ‘veteran’ Henry Watkinson taking the wicket of a dangerous looking West Countryman with late swing and deceptive pace. It appeared that Millfield were also keen to get off to the Merry’s BBQ as they failed to provide any sort of spirited fight against tight bowling from Chetwode, Matt Crump and Graeme Brown. We finished the victors with runs and overs to spare, surely putting pain to the match-fixing allegations faced by Chris Preece early in the week!


Old Cranleighans 136 (Ashton 44, Crump T 36) lost to Old Georgians 140 (Crump M 5-34, Waters D 4-43 by four runs
On paper, a thrilling low-scoring match. In reality, a disappointing display by the club as we turned up with eight men despite some lengthy ringing round after a string of high-profile drop-outs the previous day. Several of the eight that did make it were noticeably the worse for attending the Merry BBQ and subsequent night in Guildford. That we kept OGs to such a low score was thanks almost entirely to a hungover Matt Crump (5-34) and a marathon 21-over spell from David Waters (4 for 43). With Crump comatose in the changing room, his team-mates offered little fight as we lost five quick wickets, but Ashton and Tom crump clawed us to within sight of an unlikely win.

Old Cranleighans 298 for 6 beat Grasshoppers 265 by 33 runs
Report to follow

Old Cranleighans v Charterhouse Friars
A disappointing day which was called off purely because the covers had not been put on leaving the pitch exposed to heavy overnight rain.

Old Cranleighans v Old Tonbridgians
Report to follow

Old Cranleighansv Old Douai
For the second year running our opponents failed to raise a side.

Old Cranleighans 295 for 6 (Copleston S 134, Wilson 61, Hill 54) drew with Buccaneers 275 for 8
Another high-scoring game is testament to the wicket and fast outfield on Jubilee. Simon Copleston (134*) and Dave Wilson (61) got us off to a fast start with Wilson hitting powerfully against some average bowling. Copleston started slowly and had only reached 54 by lunch but he knew that his time to cash in was to come and, supported by Damien Hill (54) he pushed on after lunch allowing captain Henderson to declare at 3.30. Copleston, who plays rarely now he is based in Dubai, completed a remarkable week by completing his sixth OC hundred, tying him with Nigel Paul who also made that number for the club. The Buccaneers were in the game to the extent Henderson wanted them to be in it, but dropped catches meant bowling them out was hard. Tom Basset broke the opening stand on the stroke of tea for his first OC wicket. After tea, recent leaver, Andrew Goudie bowled a very long and impressive spell of slow left arm bowling they earned him four deserved wickets. Chetwode produced a fine spell at the other end as the match entered the last 20 overs and wickets began to fall more regularly. However, the dropped catches meant that we were two wickets light of what would have been a fine win.

Roper ensures we finish on a high

Old Cranleighans 252 for 9 dec (Crump T 51, Cowdrey 36, Cope 30, Hannah 24*, Roper M 23) beat Old Tonbridgians 180 (Hedley 40, Crump T 2-11, Crump M 2-16, Langmead 2-19) by 72 runs

A winless cricket week was avoided thanks to a last-day victory over Old Tonbridgians, a result which gave us an atom of revenge for the Cricketer Cup defeat at the end of June. After several captains had huffed and puffed without success, it was the calm head of Mike Roper who resisted the chairman’s moans, declared at the perfect time, and then rotated his bowlers in an almost Brearleyesque way.

Our innings was very much like England’s at Cardiff two day’s before. Most batsmen got started, none went on to play a big innings. Tom Crump scored his second fifty in as many days, Rob Cowdrey, Alan Cope and Roper all looked assured until getting out, but only a tenth-wicket stand of 36 between Matt Crump (demoted to No. 11 after his misdemeanour of 24 hours earlier) and Elliott Hannah enabled us to post a decent score.

Tonbridge had a similar problem – lots of cameos, no substantial knock. They also engineered a comedy run-out and contrive red to play some woeful shots, none worse than the top edge of the rankest of long hops from Chris Porter which accounted for Makepeace just as he appeared set to take our part-time spinners to the cleaners.

Matt Crump, opening the attack, was heard to say as he marked out his run that at least he wouldn’t be treated with as much disrespect as he had been during the Cricketer Cup tie. There was loud tittering as his first delivery disappeared high into Clare’s Oak; the second ball of his next over almost cleared it.

A couple of chances went begging but generally we fielded well. Mike Chetwode bowled well but came in for some tap, Cope bowled some suspect offspin and didn’t. Sam Langmead, sporting sideburns not seen at Cranleigh since Queen Victoria was on the throne, picked up two good wickets with his bustling medium-pacers, and the game ended with the Crumps brothers whirling away with what can loosely be described as spin.

The day finished with the now-traditional Rick Johnson BBQ. While usually a gourmet delight, on this occasion he managed to buy some of sickest burgers and sausages ever produced but once he had charcoaled them, few noticed the difference. Until an unwelcome gurgling stomach woke them at 3am …

Rain blights midweek matches

Old Cranleighans 129 for 7 (Copleston E 32, Rosenfeldt 26, Crump M 20) drew with Old Georgians

Warm and sunny turned to cold and wet, and in end after on an-off day, the match was abandoned at 4pm with the square left sodden by 45 minutes of heavy rain. In the play there was, our batting found conditions hard, with only Eds Copleston (32 off 28 balls) managing to find any touch. Two wickets on the stroke of an early lunch saw us go into the interval on 40 for 4, and our only period on top came after the re-start as Copleston and Tristan Rosenfeldt put on 52 in 28 minutes. But once Copleston went and light rain started, we lost momentum.

Old Cranleighans v Grasshoppers - match abandoned

The rain which caused Tuesday’s abandonment lasted through the night and left the square underwater, and a second shower in the morning ruled out any play before the afternoon. An inspection at 2pm resulted in a 3pm start, but as the teams changed and prepared for the toss, the heavens opened again and that was that.

OCs cling on for a draw

Old Wellingtonians 244 (Jones 60, Allen 3-30, Henderson 2-33, Harman 2-55) drew with Old Cranleighans 130 for 9 (Bailey 32, Barker 4-23)
Click here for match photos

The weather broke shortly after the start of the second game of the week, the temperature dropping and several heavy showers blighting the day, one brutal squall mid-morning causing several ageing OCs to show a turn of speed not seen in years.

Old Wellingtonians never settled before lunch on a pitch which, spruced up by rain, offered far more than it had 24 hours earlier. Paddy Harman and Ed Henderson proved a useful new-ball partnership, and after they had prised out the top order, Duncan Allen came on to make light work of the middle order. At 88 for 6 an early finish was on the cards, but Jones capitalised as the conditions eased, and he steered Wellington to 244.

We started equally unconvincingly, but despite a minor recovery from Simon Copleston and Steve Bailey, we were never in the chase. More rain meant that we were left batting out the final overs, but that provided late drama as we managed to lose wickets every time we appeared safe. Mike Roper was ninth man out in the penultimate over after more than one scare, and it was left to Henry Watkinson to bat out the final over. Even then he gave his captain one last scare, scooping the fourth ball back over the bowler and coming within a diving inch of being caught.

Records tumble in cricket-week opener

Old Cranleighans 358 for 5 (Preece 121, Watkinson 83, Copleston 64*) drew with Eton Ramblers 333 for 8 (J Redmayne 121, Jupp 3-30, Hannah 2-28, Henderson 2-85)Click here for match photos

The cricket week got off to a cracking start with a match against Eton Ramblers that saw more than one century-old record broken. Sadly, it also marked the end of the Wimbledon-long heatwave.

The game itself was drawn, but on a pitch which offered nothing for bowlers, almost 700 runs were scored and the match was in the balance for the last two hours, thanks largely to Eton’s decision to chase a seemingly impossible target from the off. We made a record 358 for 5, 11 more than our record score set in 1907, and Eton finished on 333 for 8. The aggregate of 691 runs smashed the previous record of 601, also set in 1907.

The outfield was baked brown and the pitch a road. Eds Copleston won the toss and we got off to an uncertain start, losing three early wickets, the unluckiest being Simon Copleston, leg-before for 1 despite a thick inside edge, and after flying all the way from Abu Dhabi to play. But the left-handed pair of Chris Preece and Henry Watkinson then set about the second-string bowlers, capitalising on a lightning fast outfield in a fourth-wicket stand of 166 at almost seven an over. Preece drove and pulled with assurance, Watkinson, allowed a rare foray up the order, looked the batsman of old, especially off the front foot.

Preece completed a chanceless hundred, his first for the club, and it was only when he had passed three figures that he was dropped - twice in successive balls - as he hit out. Watkinson seemed set for his own century, much to the chagrin of Rick Johnson who was busy counting the cost of getting two names engraved on the new honours boards, when he was well caught in the covers for 83. But so quick had the runs come that Copleston had little choice but to bat on, taking the total to 358 for 5 in only 49 overs.

Eton made a good start before Jumbo Jupp, on as first change, took three wickets to reduce them to 103 for 3 in the 21st over. With an asking rate at that point of almost ten an over, the game seemed destined for a draw. But the Redmayne brothers laid into some generous bowling, Johnny Gates offering the richest pickings, to such good effect that Copleston was forced to recall his frontline attack sooner than intended.

The last 20 started with Eton requiring 184 – while that seems steep, with the Redmaynes in full flow, they were in the box seat, and when a sharp piece of fielding from Preece accounted for T Redmayne, Innes kept the score ticking over. The asking rate was matched for the first ten overs, Henderson and Watkinson struggling gamely to keep a check on the runs. Jamie Redmayne was caught by Preece on the boundary but he was unable to stop himself stepping over the rope.

Sixty-three were needed over six when Jamie Redmayne thumped Watkinson for 21, putting Eton in the driving seat, but in the next nine balls the game turned on its head. Henderson had Redmayne caught for 121 with the last ball of his 13th over, and then Elliott Hannah, called back to replace the tired Watkinson, struck with successive deliveries. With the first ball of his next over, Henderson bowled Duff-Gordon, and Eton had slumped from 321 for 4 to 325 for 8. The pitch was as perfect as ever, however, and the final 17 balls were easily negotiated.

The evening was spent in the curry house where the young recruits indulged in a much-favoured past-time of abusing the chairman. It is reported, but not confirmed as yet, that at one stage Johnson was rendered speechless. If so, it was a truly remarkable day in every respect.

Cricket week is upon us

The highlight of the OC season is on us, and with the weather set fine, the 2009 cricket week promises to be a cracker. We kick off with a game against the School on Friday (July 3) and then after a day off resume against Eton Rambers (July 5), Old Wellingtonians (July 6), Old Georgians (July 7), Grasshoppers (July 8), Charterhouse Friars (July 9 away), Old Tonbridgians (July 10). We have no games on the second weekend as the School prepares for the Bunbury charity matches on Sunday July 12.

Off the field, things are also looking good, with Gatesy offering the following:-

Sunday Drinks at the pavilion/ Cranley Hotel after the game then on to The Curry Inn in Cranleigh. Table booked for 20 for 8pm.

Monday BBQ at the Merry’s after the game Helen to confirm exact timings. There will be taxis from the pavilion then on to Harpers for around 10-10.30. 15 have confirmed but expecting 20-25. Some people are getting the train to Guildford and then heading back on the last return train.

Tuesday Dinner at the Sir Roger Tichbourne in Loxwood, Rick is booking the table and time etc. Currently 12 have confirmed but I expect it to be nearer 15-20.

Wednesday BBQ and drinks with the Grasshoppers at the pavilion.

More will undoubtedly follow …

Never one to miss an opportunity to give a quote, captain Eds Copleston said: "Our spirit and camaraderie is the envy of each and every Old Boys cricket side in the world. The OCCC is stronger than it ever has been and will only get stronger- this cricket week is set to demonstrate that."

Cricket Week a damp squib

Appalling post-Wimbledon weather decimated the cricket week and left us with only one home game, the final second-Sunday fixture against the Frogs.

We lost four home games to rain – Sunday (Eton), Monday (Grasshoppers), Wednesday (Kings Canterbury) and Thursday (Charterhouse). Although the Monday and Thursday were actually quite sunny, so much rain had fallen in the previous 24 hours that the square was unplayable.

Only once before has the week been so blighted by poor weather. In 1987, the Saturday game was washed out at lunchtime and the next four days were abandoned before play finally resumed on the Thursday.

The two weekday matches we did play resulted in a six-wicket defeat at Old Georgians on the Tuesday and a thumping eight-wicket win at Tonbridge on the Friday.

The low of the week came on Sunday night when Rick took a number of young and old OCs to his favourite pub, the Fox in Bucks Green, for a meal of stunning appallingness which cost an arm and a leg.

Cricket week bodes well for the future

The 2007 week was one of the best in recent years with four wins, all by good margins, one defeat and a winning draw at Charterhouse. What was most heartening was the age of the sides. Most days we had the majority of the team under 23 and the youngsters provided signs of remarkable talent.

Seren Waters and Alan Cope, both under 20, scored memorable hundreds, Matt Crump bowled well and Stuart Meaker showed the class that has been apparent with both bat and ball. Several others, such as Jumbo Jupp, made useful contributions. Dane Groenveld, back from Australia for the holidays, batted with great success, while the old guard, in the form of Michael Chetwode, Graham Webb, Simon Copleston and Henry Watkinson, showed they still have plenty to offer.

Click here for the full week's match reports and photos

Fixtures released for packed 2007 season

The fixtures for the 2007 season have been unveiled and it is one of our busiest summers on record. Even if we fail to progress beyond the first round of the two cup competitions, we face no fewer than 22 matches.

The highlight will be our Cricketer Cup debut against Harrow Wanderers on Jubilee on June 10. We are the first new side to admitted to the cup since it started in 1967 and that honour reflects not only on the club but on the high regard with which Cranleigh School cricket is now regarded. We have also re-entered the Cricket World Trophy. We first took part in 1990, in which year we reached the semi-finals, our best finish to date. With the demise of the Brewers Cup, several of our old foes have entered as well. How we long to renew our acquaintance with David Derbyshire’s lads from Denstone.

The cricket week, which runs from July 8 to 15, will be marked by some special events as it is the 50th since Nigel Paul grabbed the club by the scruff of the neck and relaunched it in 1958.

We welcome some new opposition. King’s Canterbury feature in our week for the first time, and coincidently we meet them in the first round of the Cricket World Trophy two months earlier. The other new fixture comes in September when we meet Elstead, who created a rather unwelcome record in 2006 when they lost their npower Village Knockout match against Blewbury and Upton by 376 runs after being bowled out for 21.

Watkinson scoops cricket week awards

Batsman of the week Close run thing with no hundred but four nineties. Simon Copleston edged the award courtesy of the pleasure he gave on the first Saturday when he ran himself out on 99. He also hit a six on the Wednesday in a rare attacking innings and made another ninety on the Friday.

Bowler of the week The evergreen Michael Chetwode took wickets at vital times and even unleashed his full run-up for the first time since McDermott was handsome. His workload was eased by good spells from several bowlers young enough to be his sons – Lewis Clarke, Dom Lewis, Alex Craven and Tim Payne to name four. Jock Vickers late burst with genuine turn - bowling Chinamen - wasn’t witnessed by enough people to be eligible.

Innings of the week Chetwode again for his eight-ball 17* at Charterhouse. Came in with 17 needed and the last pair at the wicket and hit 4,6,6 off their hapless left-armer. “I'd have gone on to 100 if I had the time,” the modest one later said.

Shot of the week Peter Hobbs’s hook against Tonbridge in a run chase – he top-edged into the back of his head, was knocked out, and when he finally got to his feet was told that he had been caught via cranium at gulley. Peter Rollings’s remarkable forehand smash for four warrants a mention.

Bowling performance of the week Henry Watkinson’s three-wicket burst to effectively end the match against Suttonians wins this, but his brother Sam’s two balls which “pinned” Richard Seeckts up there for amusement value.

Catch of the week: Alex Craven’s slip catch against Suttonians and Lewis Clark’s running overbalanced effort at Charterhouse up there. But joint winners are Graeme Brown’s excellent diving catch against Suttonians and Steve Bailey’s one-handed snatch at first slip against Celeriacs – the latter resulted in the batsman taking a full minute to leave the pitch as he couldn’t believe “that little round bloke” had caught it.

Drop of the week And there were plenty to chose from. But for crowd-pleasing amusement, Henry’s spill against Grasshoppers wins. The ball before he had lambasted Michael Chase for dropping a skyer. The batsman repeated the shot, the ball went high towards Watkinson standing in the deep 20 yards from Chase … and there was a glorious inevitability as Watkinson and ball hit turf at the same time. Bailey wins the most-drops prize.

Angry Man of the Week Again, as always with the OCCC, plenty of candidates. Chetwode demanded that an umpire be removed after he had the temerity to turn down an lbw shout (the same umpire had ask Chetters how to signal a leg bye the over before); Chase snarled at Watkinson, Watkinson back at Chase with increasing feeling on the Monday; but the award goes to a newcomer, Harry Jupp, who showed he has what it takes with a prolonged rant (lasting a few days) after (incorrectly) being given lbw by Chetwode on the Monday.

Spectator of the Week Close contest between Philip Angel, Viv Cox and Rick Johnson. Whereas Cox was a good cricketer for the OC’s before the war, and Angel supplies beer, and a moving target for big-hitting batsman, Johnson was just useless, even by his standards. He took seven days off work and he never actually made it onto the field. Slept through two games. When he was awake he phutted round on his motorbike, knocked it over, and it sustained £500 worth of damage with 15 miles on the clock.

Vodafone Technology Award Watkinson again. On the first Saturday he rang the umpire’s mobile from the pavilion balcony and instructed the official to tell opening batsman Simon Copleston to get a move on or get out.

Rick Johnson: can anyone explain the point?
Mid-Life Crisis Award Tough competition. Simon Copleston for his purchase of the kind of car your father would drive and think cool – a “babe magnet” according to SCGC? Johnson for his Ducatti nightmare, not only buying it, but breaking it, and being too scared to go over 50mph even when it was working? Copleston by a short nose.

Wreck of the week Hobbs. Lifetime holder. Was a shambling has-been after one match, his KO against Tonbridge provoked widespread mirth, and his inability to drive his mid-life crisis sportscar in a straight line caused certain embarrassment.

Honorable Mentions Eds Copleston for parading a pet rabbit called Playboy during the Brewers Cup match (“It’s named after me”). Henry Watkinson for upsetting the first scorer the club has had in 20 years by sending her off to score on the Lowers. Gareth Starling for dumping a girl on the Thursday night only to re-pull her 24 hours later.

Week ends on a winning note

Despite gloomy weather forecasts and the late cry-off of Eton (for the second year running) the 2004 week was a great success, and particularly because we fielded more youngsters than ever before. On some days we had as many as six recent leavers, and all appeared to enjoy their first taste of OC cricket.

We started with the first defeat of the season at the hands of Sam Watkinson’s XI, never quite scoring enough runs despite Simon Copleston’s patient 99 – he ran himself out going for his hundred. The match was played in gloomy weather and suffered from three rain breaks. Eton’s cancellation on the Sunday was academic as it turned out as the groundsman decided the pitch was unfit early in the morning.

On the Monday we drew with Grasshoppers, facing 43 overs against the 63 we bowled at them. It was an unsatisfactory match, with Grasshoppers batting too long and OCs never mounting anything resembling a serious challenge. When the next day, on the one truly sunny one of the week, Georgians’ manager and umpire turned up, but not the side, things appeared to be in freefall.

The next morning we trooped down to Kent to play Tonbridge. Sadly while we were doing that, they were on the way to Cranleigh. Thanks to the wonders of mobile technology, the game was hastily rearranged at Cranleigh and we managed to scrape a two-wicket win.

The most dramatic finish of the week came at Charterhouse where we bowled them out for 117, then slumped to 101 for 9 before a four and two sixes in an over from Michael Chetwode guided us to victory.

On the Friday, Simon Copleston was again dismissed in the nineties against Celeriacs – as was Andy Houston in only his second game in as many years – and five-wickets from Chetwode, including the final one with three balls remaining – gave us three wins in three. Sadly, the Oldies failed to maintain the momentum as they slid to a four-wicket defeat by Surrey Cryptics.

The week ended on a high as we crushed Old Suttonians to book a place in the Brewers Cup semi-final, with Will Howard (94) and Abeed Janmohamed (65*) guiding us to 292 for 6 before three early wickets from Henry Watkinson ended match as a contest. On the Lowers, our second side went down to a 44-run defeat at the hands of Radley Rangers.

Full credit should go to Henry Watkinson for superb organisation and the occasional toy-throwing, Bryony Everett for excellent catering, and the young guns led by Gareth Starling and Johnny Gates who injected life (and in some cases volume) into proceedings. To all those who came down to watch and support, thank you. And to the discovery of the Red Lion in Shamley Green (£65 for a double, including excellent breakfast) as an alternative to East House ‘beds’ and accompanying chiming clock, for ensuring that Messrs Williamson, Chetwode and Seeckts will all be back in 12 months – is that a good thing?

Another memorable week

Click here for the 2003 Cricket Week Awards

A pluperfect Jubilee track made the 2003 week a hard slog for the bowlers, a slow outfield made it hard for the fielders, and some silly drinking games made it hard for the batsmen. The docile nature of the wicket was highlighted by the fact that only one side was bowled out all week - a below-strength Aldenham side in the Brewers Cup quarter-final on the second Sunday.

We kicked off with the second annual match against the Sam Watkinson XI and for a time it looked as if we might be in with a chance of victory chasing 230, but then Sam took four wickets in three overs, including a hat-trick, and we had to shut up shop, ending on 185 for 8. On the Sunday we beat Celeriacs, the last-minute replacements for the cup-tied Etonians, by seven wickets.

On Monday we had the best game of the week against the Grasshoppers. They declared on 260 for 6, built around 90 from Kiwi international Hamish Marshall, and our chase was led by a entertaining 60 from Rick Johnson and a solid farewell 40 from Clem Williams. We slipped well behind the clock until Henry Watkinson blasted a quickfire 50, but we called off the chase at 250 for 9 with four balls remaining.

We travelled to Georgians on Tuesday and were kept in the field in 90 degree heat by a declaration which was delayed as the Georgians weren't ready to take the field! The offer of extending the match by 15 minutes to make up for the delay was declined - wisely as it turned out as our last pair held firm as we scraped a draw.

On Wednesday the weather turned and the match against Tonbridge was washed out at lunchtime after less than 70 minutes play. Out inaugural fixture against Charterhouse on Thursday never got going after overnight drizzle left the square too wet to play.

The sunshine returned on the Friday but, sadly, the game against Wanderers was one best forgotten. Zimbabwe Test opener Trevor Gripper made a hundred - aided by some glaring drops - as Wanderers batted on, and then any chance of a positive result was snuffed out when they kept their opening bowlers on for far too long. We needed eight an over at tea, and started the last 20 overs requiring 208 to win. Opening the game up consisted of getting Gripper to seal up one end with his offbreaks. In the end we almost capitulated as two batsmen committed suicide through boredom (Hobbs and Seeckts) and one through insanity (Brown), as we ended on 109 for 8.

On Saturday we went down by six wickets to Surrey Cryptics, despite half-centuries from David Westcott and Sam Watkinson, and an entertaining cameo from Henry Watkinson during which he managed to be dropped four times in five balls. We failed to hold our chances and the Cryptics batted well.

The final match was the Brewers Cup tie against 2001 winners Old Aldenhamians. They were weakened by absences at a wedding and were rolled over inside three hour, bowled out for 52 with Michael Chetwode taking 5 for 3 and Ed Henderson returning the remarkable figures of 8-7-1-2 (and the one was a wide).

As ever the behaviour of those taking part was exemplary. Rick Johnson won the "drink 60 shots of beer in 60 minutes" competition, but a subsequent examination revealed that his glass was two-third's the size of runner-up Henry Watkinson who managed 57 shots. Brown lost the Rawalpindi Roulette in the Curry Inn and suffered the rest of the week, while also showing that he has by far the worst arm in the club. His humiliation was completed on Sunday when he was out-thrown by a lady. Eds Copleston won the Lord Lucan award, strangely preferring the company of his new blonde girlfriend to that of a bunch of unwashed, smelly OCs. Pete Hobbs hobbled around all week as living proof that there is such a thing as a crippled twenty-something, only perking up when under-20 females were in the vicinity. All in all, a fairly typical cricket week.