ROWNER C.C. ARCHIVE 3

Rowner C.C 1st XI Past Performances Against Forthcoming League Opposition

This table details results against the exact opposition we will be playing this year. For example Rowner 1st XI enjoyed some titanic stuggles against Locks Heath in the early 2000`s, but that was their 1st XI who are now of course in County Division 1. Rowner last played Locks Heath 2nds in 1994 winning a relatively low scoring encounter in which we scored 144 and a dashing and devilishly handsome young all-rounder called Cris Kemp top scored with 24 (2 fours and a six) then Steve Smith took 7-12 as we shot them out for 47. HURRAH ! (sorry, just can`t help doing that when we win).

Has to be said though, it`s quite a patchy record apart from against Hambledon II. The win ratio is 42% so come on boys, there`s work to be done here. Time to put some old adversaries to the sword in 2010.

Rowner Cricket Club 1st XI Performance History 1975-2010

Points to note :- In 1979 a NR column existed in the league tables which by 1981 had been replaced by the Tie column which indicates a team could play a whole match and still not achieve a result !

This table also shows the remaining three seasons for which we do not have a copy of the final league table for the 1st XI.

There is also further evidence of the near collapse of Rowner CC in the early 80`s following the player exodus as a result of growing disillusionment which John Anthony attributes to the close shaves Rowner had with promotion, narrowly missing out repeatedly as the HCL varied the number of promoted teams, always stopping at the one before us (even in 1979 when we finished 2nd - Rowner is listed as having gone up a division but in fact the South East Division 2 was launched in 1980 which included Rowner CC 2nd XI !)

See also how close the early noughties team came to County Division 1 - a formidable unit with J.Kemp, Collins, Rob and Martin Bowman, Hoskins and Lilley at their peak, Bleeck, Hotchkiss and Strong imported from Australia. Runs, Wickets - that side had it all and almost shocked the world - Imagine Rowner in County Division 1 ! Bryant, Costello, Webb etc would no doubt have approved.

Rowner Cricket Club 2nd XI Performance History 1980-2010

Nigel Gravells prescient (and folklore has it unauthorized) actions in early 1995 saw a Rowner CC 2nd XI side re-entering Saturday League Cricket for the first time since the dark days of 1983 via the Hampshire Combination Cricket League Supplementary Division. Interestingly this would appear to have been at such a late stage that the H.C.C.L Handbook does not even list Rowner in the Supplementary Division fixture list, showing instead a blank space in the fixture list for that year ! Nigel`s actions were grumbled about by some other club members (including myself) who rather short sightedly felt that a 2nd league XI would weaken the chances of the 1st XI. Approaching 100 2nd XI league appearances later with many fond memories of playing in the so-called "stiffs", many of them as captain I now of course feel somewhat differently.

It`s been a rollercoaster, no doubt about that. In time the `95 side hardened into the outfit that eventually won successive promotions in 2000 and 2001 before a player exodus caused a sharp downturn in the fortunes of the 2nd XI. Over the next few years Steve Bull emigrated, Scouse Frazer and John Ward retired, Andy Anthony left for Curdridge, Jim Bishop and Andy Stancliffe were called up to the firsts, Chris Davis had Kids and the loss of 8 battle hardened league players to Locks Heath affected the 1st and 2nd XI in equal measure. Memories of 2005`s 2nd XI campaign are dark indeed - to stare defeat in the face at 2.30pm isn`t easy and it takes guts to fight through the disillusionment. But we did, and in Dave Patmore, Jim Cooper, Julian Haines and Sam Lindsay from the ashes of that side rose the nucleus of the more talented and able side we have today, joined in 2006 by Mike Smart, Andy Peck, Luke Watson, Dan Stancliffe and Don Rugge. So, in 2010 as in 2000 the parallels are apparent - the seeds had been sown five years previously. So one question - the next chapter is waiting to be written. ARE WE UP FOR IT ?