OWCC August 2022 Newsletter
cricket newsletter • Posted 10th August 2022
Editor: Mike Pike Issue No: 198 (August 2022) Club: Old Wilsonians
68a Knighton Park Rd Hayes Hill
Sydenham SE26 5RL www.oldwilsonians.com Hayes, Bromley,
Tel: 020 8659-6443 Kent
Email: owmikepike@yahoo.co.uk Telephone: 0208 462 2600
The Club loses another great servant
Sad to report the death of Tom Sissons, who took 1,211 wickets for the Club, his best figures being 9 for 15. He also took 9 for 46 on another occasion, the only player in the club’s history to have achieved a nine wicket haul twice.
Tom regularly took over 100 wickets every season and although he did play league cricket – in the North Kent League - this was in the days when there were no restrictions on the number of overs a bowler could bowl; you could even draw a game
Tom played on both Saturdays and Sundays and regularly bowled at least 50 overs over the two games, thereby increasing his chances of taking wickets but, and even so, his achievements were phenomenal and he was respected by all those who knew him – team mates and opponents alike
Later in this newsletter others will express their views whilst a number of OWs will be attending his funeral on August 3rd
Tom invariably attended President’s Day and a number of us were eagerly anticipating his appearance this year but, sadly, this was not to be
As for said President’s Day, Margo did us proud, with a superb traditional cricket tea and a barbecue in the evening, perfectly cooked by Steve Lawrence, and it was so good to see so many great servants of the Club back at Hayes again
Bromley Common provided the opposition for the T20 game which went right to the wire. Needing six from the last ball, and with Joe Jukes facing, he cleared the ropes to give us a thrilling victory
And then there was the raffle, which lasted longer than the cricket match!
President’s Day was followed by Cricket week with games every day, apart from the Wednesday, and involving both colts and senior cricket
Congratulations to Matt Abbett and Chelsie Steel who will get married on August 4th. We wish them a long and happy life together
We now enter the final full month of the season with a lot still to play for. As mentioned in previous newsletters the 1st Xl have found the transition from Second to First Division cricket difficult, which is understandable as all three aspects of the game are so much better
However, the will, spirit and determination is still very much apparent and this may well see them get over the line, and their experience will see them better prepared for the 2023 season
Most of the Colts sides have now finished their fixtures and I look forward to reading their end of season reports. Barrie Frampton and his committee have done a great job yet again and a reminder here that Barrie will be stepping down as Chair at the end of the season and we are looking for someone to replace him – please let us know if you interested; you will be given a lot of help
So let us end the 2022 season on a high and look back on the year knowing that we have done a good job and maintained the high traditions of the Old Wilsonians’ Cricket Club
Who to contact and how
Life President: Ian Pilgrim 0208 402 1668
Email: Ian@westcroftmortgages.co.uk
President: Margo Lawrence 07850 446874 (Mobile)
Email: Margoowcolts@aol.com
Chairman Dave Welch 07528 691488 (Mobile)
Email: dgwelch1975@sky.com
Vice-Chair Laurence Allen
Email: Loz_Allen@hotmail.com 07946 635020 (Mobile)
Colts Chairperson: Barrie Frampton
Email: barrie.frampton@gmail.com
Club Captain: Doug Forbes 07768 713795 (Mobile)
Email: doug.forbes@outlook.com
Secretary: Mike Pike 020 8659 6443 (H)
Email: owmikepike@yahoo.co.uk
Safe-guarding Officer: Margo Lawrence 07850 446874 (M) Email: Margoowcolts@aol.com
Treasurer: Andy Spedding 07973 847469 (Mobile)
Email: andy.spedding@hotmail.co.uk
Fixtures Secretary: Laurence Allen 07946 635020 (Mobile)
Email: Loz_Allen@hotmail.com
Website Administrator and
Communications Officers: Alex Forbes, Laurence Allen and
Steve Lawrence email: stevelawrence@gmail.com
Skippers:
1st XI Michael Mitchell 07721 628117 (M) Email: michaelgmitchell@live.co.uk
2nd Xl Nick Morley 07760850220 (M)
Email: nicholasmorley1992@gmail.com
3rd Xl: Kevin Carruthers
Kevin.carruthers9@btinternet.com 07980 620399 (M)
4th XI Neil Treacher
Email: tapir7@tiscali.co.uk 07956513331
5th XI Alex Forbes 07855 273218 (M)
alexforbes46@hotmail.co.uk
Sunday Development: Syd Sherlock 07957910148 (M)
Sydsherlock01@gmail.co.com
T20 Michael Mitchell - as above
Websites
Kent Cricket League Website: www.kcl.uk.net
Kent Feeder League website http://krcl.play-cricket.com
Sunday Development League website http://kentsdl.play-cricket.com
Old Wilsonians: www.oldwilsonians.play-cricket.com
North Kent Junior League: http://nkentjunior.play-cricket.com
Old Wilsonians’ Association website www.OldWilsonians.com
July Results
1st Xl 175 Folkstone 149 Won by 26 runs
Blackheath 4th Xl 211 2nd Xl 165 for 9 Lost by 46 runs
Ex-Blues 1st Xl 226 for 2 3rd Xl 227 for 6 Won by 4 wickets
ODCUACO 4th Xl 129 for 6 4th Xl 132 for 2 Won by 8 wickets
Sunday Development 180 for 6 Bexleyheath 183 for 1 Lost by 9 wickets
Orpington under 15 170 Under 15 119 for 7 Lost by 51 runs
Under 15a 209 for 2 Dartford 80 for 5 Won by 129 runs
Beckenham 124 for 3 Under 11 87 for 3 Lost by 37 runs
Under 11 118 for 6 Hayes 92 Won by 26 runs
Bromley Town 75 Under 13b 79 for 3 Won by 7 wickets
Dartford 231 for 6 1st Xl 232 for 2 Won by 8 wickets
2nd Xl 298 for 8 Sidcup 100 Won by 198 runs
Old Colfeians 3rd Xl 208 for 7 3rd Xl 129 Lost by 79 runs
4th Xl 178 for 4 Dartfordians 2nd Xl 88 Won by 90 runs
Sunday Development Bromley OWs conceded
Blackheath Under 15b 123 for 8 Under 15a 124 for 1 Won by 9 wickets
Catford and Cyphers Under 11 137 for 4 Under 11 33 Lost by 104 runs
Under 19 147 for 5 Bromley Common 131 for 8 Won by 16 runs
Bromley Under 12 133 for 2 Under 13a 113 for 7 Lost by 20 runs
Under 11 99 for 4 Bromley 100 for 5 Lost by 5 wickets
Under 13a 191 for 6 Orpington 152 for 9 Won by 39 runs
The Mote 283 for 7 1st Xl 274 Lost by 9 runs
The Mote 2nd Xl 194 for 9 2nd Xl 195 for 7 Won by 3 wickets
Hayes 3rd Xl 157 3rd Xl 150 for 9 Lost by 7 runs
4th Xl 179 for 6 Dartfordians 2nd Xl 181 for 3 Lost by 7 wickets
Sidcup Sunday Development 150 Sunday Development 153 for 8 Won by 2 wickets
Under 15b 170 for 6 ODCUACO 111 Won by 59 runs
Under 15a 150 for 7 ODCUACO 148 for 7 Won by 2 runs
Bickley Park 56 Under 13a 57 for 2 Won by 8 wickets
Under 13b 115 for 7 Catford & Cyphers 116 for 5 Lost by 5 wickets
Canterbury 255 for 9 1st Xl 253 for 6 Lost by 2 runs
2nd Xl 240 Catford & Cyphers 228 for 9 Won by 12 runs
Orpington 3rd Xl 257 for 6 3rd Xl 155 Lost by 102 runs
Beckenham 6th Xl 162 4th Xl 164 for 0 Won by 10 wickets
Bromley Common T20 254 for 8 OW T20 255 for 5 Won by 5 wickets
Beckenham Falcons 106 for 5 Under 13b 95 for 7 Lost by 11 runs
Under 19 86 for 9 Bromley Common 89 for 3 Lost by 7 wickets
Bromley Town Under 11 101 for 6 Under11 60 Lost by 41 runs
Farningham Under 11 120 Under 11 122 for 2 Won by 8 wickets
Old Wilsonian Xl 180 for 8 Upminster 151 for 9 Won by 29 runs
Old Olavians 214 for 8 Old Wilsonians 219 for 9 Won by 1 wicket
Holmesdale 349 for 8 1st Xl 232 Lost by 117 runs
Minster 2nd Xl 203 2nd Xl 174 Lost by 29 runs
Bexley 5th Xl 142 for 6 3rd Xl 145 for 3 Won by 7 wickets
Old Roan 3rd Xl 246 for 5 4th Xl 158 Lost by 88 runs
Chelsfield Park 268 for 9 5th Xl 111 Lost by 157 runs
Under 15b 151 for 7 Hayes 151 for 9 Tie
Sunday Development 202 for 9 Hayes 202 for 1 Lost by 9 wickets
BRAVE FIGHTBACK NOT QUITE GOOD ENOUGH Blackheath 4th Xl 211 2nd Xl 165 for 9
With Blackheath’s score on 121 for 3 after 21 overs things looked ominous for the 2nd Xl but when David Pilgrin took a wicket with the first ball of the 22nd over the side got their second wind and then took a further six wickets for 90 runs to see their hosts dismissed for a modest 211 – it could have been so much worse
Joe Jukes took a wicket with his first ball before completing a fine spell of seven overs in which he took 3 for 18, whilst Robbie Adams finished with 2 for 26 in his second spell, leaving our batsmen needing to score at just over 4 an over for victory
The reality was that we scored at 3.3 runs an over to finish on 165 for 9 and Blackheath won by 46 runs. Dan Nichols top scored with 28 and there were a few useful partnerships, but Blackheath were always in control and deserved their victory
MOM: Joe Jukes - a good spell of bowling and was 13 not out at the end as he defied Blackheath’s attempts to take 10 wickets
Interesting fact of the game: Grahame Nelson and Viki assembled the photographer’s tent in record time
Fornear Ranjan Nichols Blunt Crossland Doherty Nelson Adams.R Pilgrim.D Jukes J Sullivan
LOOK. LISTEN AND LEARN Old Colfeians 3rd Xl 208 for 7, 3rd Xl 129
We have been playing Old Colfeians for longer than I care to remember, but my memory is not what it used to be and remembering that far back is probably an achievement in itself!
Back in the 1960s they had a player named Bob Shand, who scored over a hundred 100s. I had an interview at Colfes school but they told me I was not the sort of pupil they were looking for and sent me away with a flea in my ear and I ended up at Wilson’s and now we are playing each other in the Kent Regional League where points are at issue rather than the pride of beating a local rival although, and of course, we were both competitors in the North Kent League
Colfeians won the toss and elected to bat which they did well and consistently, all of their top five making valuable contributions, and upon the conclusion of their 40 overs their score stood at 208 for 7
From the OW perspective Ed Castle looks a fine prospect, has a fine action, uses his height well and picked up two wickets. As with most youngsters he tends to try and bowl too quickly and, as a consequence, bowls too many wides – one wide is one too many – and needs to have a chat with the master who, from memory – not that again – had the same issue when he was Ed’s age
The master himself, i.e. Doug Forbes, shared the new ball with the young apprentice and bowled his 9 overs for 14 runs and took his 1,508th, I think, wicket for the Club
Tom Sullivan, neither master nor apprentice, took I for 30, whilst the other master, Howard Abbett, and skipper in Kevin Carruthers’s absence, finished with 2 for 31, and it was now down to the batsmen, I refuse to call them ‘batters’, to score at just over five runs an over, which they failed to do and were bowled out for 129 in 33.3 overs
They lost an early wicket and this pattern continued throughout the innings and in contrast to the Colfeians top five, who scored 163 between them, ours managed just 44
The 3rd Xl are a mixture of youth and experience and it is up to the former to listen and the latter to inform; and they will
MOM Jason James – top scored with 40 and was the last man out
Interesting fact of the game : Good to see father and son Barrie and Josh Frampton in the same team
Clifford Frampton.B Forbes.A Hazzard.A Kamat James Castle.E Frampton.J Abbett.H Forbes.D Sulllivan
IT WAS SO DIFFERENT THIS TIME The Mote 2nd Xl 194 for 9, 2nd Xl 195 for 7
With the 1st Xl having a lack of drivers – Neil Treacher please step up and give Jon Rodda some driving lessons – Jane Abbett kindly agreed to score for the 1s and drive to The Mote - many thanks Jane, thereby leaving me to cover the 2nd Xl’s home game, also against The Mote
Our game there earlier in the season had been something of an embarrassment as they scored 304 for 6 and then dismissed us for just 63 to see us crash to a humiliating 243 runs defeat, but this time it was different, with all but two of our side having played at least one game for the 1st Xl
As per our last encounter, The Mote batted first but that was the only similarity as all of our bowlers bowled so much better and tighter to restrict them to 194 for 9. We were, of course, helped by those with 1st Xl credentials, Josh Lawrence in particular, who finished with 3 for 23, whilst Dan Simpson, 2 for 31 and James Sellar, 2 for 28 also played their part, as did Robbie Adams, who took 2 for 26
And the batting was also a vast improvement as Dan Seston on his own scored more than the entire side when we visited Maidstone back in May, with Dan and Steve Blunt (41) sharing in a fifth wicket stand of 90 after we had had a slight wobble at 72 for 4, with Dan going on to make 84 before being last man out with the scores level
So a good result, revenge achieved, with the 2nd Xl looking to finish the season strongly
MOM: Dan Seston – good to see him back, looked in control throughout his innings and will be knocking on the 1st Xl’s door
Lawrence.J Ranjan (Dan) Seston Nichols Scott Blunt Simpson Sivaranjan Adams.R Doherty Sellar
Interesting fact of the game: The 2nd Xl achieved back to back victories for the first time this season
A SIMPLE WAY TO AVOID CONCEDNG RUNS 2nd X1 240 Catford and Cyphers 228 for 9
If you walk to the Catford Cyphers ground you will have to pass a former dwelling of Spike Milligan, but this game was not a comedy of errors – that was Shakespeare, you fool, not Milligan
Coming into this game on the back of a good run – consecutive convincing victories against Sidcup and The Mote – the 2nd Xl were in confident mood and when Siva won the toss he had no hesitation in electing to bat and led by example by hitting a fine 32, all but 2 of his runs being boundaries, with Dan Nichols (50), Chris Scott (42) and Andrew Pomering (54) building on this fine start to take us to 237 for 6 with two overs to go
Somehow we then managed to lose our last four wickets in 12 balls in the search for quick runs, of which we achieved just three!
Lesson to be learned: In such circumstances continue to play your normal game and you will almost certainly find that a) you score more than 3 runs and b) do not lose 4 wickets!
Even so, this was a good total to defend and when Catford and Cyphers slumped to 59 for 5 in the 18th over, victory looked assured. However, and as we all know, cricket is never as straightforward as that and they clawed their way back into the game and finished a mere 12 runs behind us when the game came to its conclusion
All six of our bowlers bowled well but all suffered from a similar, and curable, affliction, more of which later, with Andrew Pomering, 3 for 34, being the most successful
We conceded 52 extras, all but three of which were preventable – i.e the leg-byes, whilst the 13 byes and, more disturbingly, 32 wides, can be avoided – 45 unnecessary extras are a lot to concede. To be fair, Catford and Cyphers were also culpable, conceding 29 wides, so they, too, have improvements to make, but let’s not detract from the fact that this was the 2nd Xl’s third consecutive victory and they now need fear no-one as they approach the final run-in to the season
Majumper Rajan Merchant Nichols Scott Pomering.A Simpson Sivaranjan Adams.R Sellar Doherty
MOM: Andrew Pomering – a quick-fire 54 and then went on to take 3 for 34
Interesting fact of the game: The Catford and Cyphers scorer is taught biology by the 1st Xl skipper at Hayes school
THE NEW TOM AND GERRY? Minster 203 2nd Xl 174
Received an email from Mark Tucker, the secretary of Minster, on the Monday before this game re providing teas for our forthcoming fixture – our entry in the handbook is somewhat inconclusive -‘To be advised - on a week to week basis’, so tend to get similar emails from clubs ‘on a week to week basis so that they can ‘be advised.’
Explained to Mark that we have a first-class chef who can provide said teas and he ordered 13.
“Eleven players and two bouncers”, concluded Siva, our 2nd Xl skipper – as ever, players tend to forget that each team should provide an umpire and scorer; turns out that Mark was Minster’s umpire
Our opponents arrived sitting proudly at the top of Division Two, won the toss and after 16 overs were 74 for 0 as they determined on a large total. David Pilgrim then enticed one of their openers to play a rash shot which found the safe hands that is Robbie Adams, whilst Simon Doherty bowled the other opener six runs later to put us back in the game, and although their third wicket pair repaired the damage to a degree, the Pilgrim/Adams combination struck again to reduce them to 124 for 3 and, with the score on 154, the alert Adams executed a run out
With no addition to the score Robbie was again in the action, taking his third catch, this time off the bowling of Guy Hannah, after which wickets began to fall on a regular basis to the extent that Minster were bowled out for 203, having failed to use four of their 50 overs
Dan Simpson finished with 3 for 48, David 2 for 33, Simon 2 for 44, with Robbie and Guy claiming a wicket each on an afternoon when we held seven catches and never looked like dropping any of them, leaving us needing just 204 to defeat the league leaders and, at 171 for 6, that looked exactly what we were going to do
However, we then managed to lose four wickets for 3 runs, thereby allowing Minster to claim another 18 points in their quest for the championship
Chris Scott was the last man out for a well-constructed 60 and did his best to nurture the tail, but the short explanation is that five of our last six batsmen failed to score and we lost a game that we should have won
Jones Ranjan Merchant Nichols Scott Majumper Simpson Adams Doherty Pilgrim.D Hannah
MOM: Chris Scott – almost won the game on his own and did his best to defend his frail team-mates but, in the end, this proved to be a bridge too far
Interesting fact of the game: Immediately prior to the week of Tom Sissons’s funeral we seem to have acquired a new deadly bowling/catching partnership – i.e. David Pilgrim and Robbie Adams. Forty or so years ago it was Robbie’s grandfather and aforesaid Tom who had a similar alliance, with many a score-book recoding ‘ct Adams bowled Sissons’, and whilst we hope that David and Robbie will mimic this fine combination for many years to come, somehow it will not have the same resonance as Tom and Gerry
Memories of Tom Sissons
How sad. Probably the best Old Wilsonian cricketer we've ever had. When Mike Kendrick talks in hushed tones about someone, he really had to be special - Simon Wilson
Sad news - Neill Treacher
I have known Tom from my school days at Datchelor’s as he collected tennis balls off the roofs when we played them too high - 71 years ago !!! Also did teas with his mother. He was a marvellous cricketer. Will definitely try and get to his funeral. Jill Forbes
Tom was certainly a fine bowler and cricketer……one of our best. - Mick Pilgrim
Another legend bites the dust.
Such a shame that he never came back to coach young bowlers. What he could do with the ball was amazing! I remember one season when Mick Pilgrim and I were mid off and mid on. We got catch after catch – Jim Matthews
Sad news indeed –Clive Peckover
By coincidence Gerry (Adams) asked me only a week ago if I’d heard from Tom. He was 10 years older than me to the day, something I always reminded him about. Good striker as well as a legendary bowler and definite “one-off” character. RIP old boy - Bob Bevan
Tom was a great cricketer for the OW's in the days we were a wandering side until school broke up and we could play at Dulwich. He was forgiven for leaving us to join Dulwich where his fast leg-breaks proved to be a great asset.
We would have been the better with his company at a time when we needed to find odd bods to make up a 1st Xl
Bert Bourner's precious gift to enable the OW's to have a place to call home made the world of difference, and people such as Tom came home. How many of us are left to remember the rejuvenation of the OW fortunes?
I will remember Tom for his company and his presence in the school 1st Xl, both football and cricket. He was a bowler to be feared on the bumpy house cricket pitches at Dulwich. He was a good and trusted friend - Norman Tucker
Sorry to hear about Tom. We would speak on President’s Day, and always good to have him at the club as one of the greats of cricket.
Need to make sure we get the Legends board up for President’s Day to remember the likes of him and Mike Kendrick and what they gave to the cricket club. Doug Forbes
I will try to attend the funeral to represent both ‘Mac’ and Pat, who knew him from a young age. I will try to find out how/why as he was younger than her and my father. Annie McAlister
So sorry to hear the news of Tom’s passing . President’s Day will no doubt allow us old players to reminisce on Tom’s exploits on the cricket field again as he has left us with many fine memories
- Rod Warboys
I’ll be at the funeral - Steve Wisson
Tom was a great asset to call on and, fielding at slip, a challenge. Say good-bye from me; my thoughts to all - Bill Martin
COPY DATE FOR NEXT EDITION - August 31st
