Western Tour 2024
You will recall that the 2023 tour was overwhelmingly cold and damp. The weather, which was dry during playing hours throughout, and warm and sunny in parts, was only one contrasting aspect of 2024. In what was undoubtedly a vintage tour, the contrasts were there in many other ways too.
In fact, things did not start well, when an injury to Sam Kennedy the weekend beforehand ruled him out for the duration. In addition, Freddie Bucknell was suffering with intermittent back trouble and could not bowl at all in some matches, so our already rather variable attack seemed thin at times. However, those that were left stepped forward magnificently to fill the gaps, and we were generally as successful on the field as we were socially off it.
We started, as usual in recent years, with two successive days at Morebath.
The Loyton Oddballs gave a physical demonstration of their Oddity by sporting an assortment of brightly coloured shirts rather than the traditional uniform white. We responded by ditching, whether by agreement, conscious policy, coincidence or forgetfulness, the practice of retiring at 50 in this match and Harry Kennedy took full advantage in an excellent 116 n. o., matched for much of the time by Rich Godfrey with 95. We came off after 39 overs in this so-called 80 over ‘hybrid’ match, and almost came unstuck because of an outstanding new Oddball. Mr Macdonald, batting at number 3, struck the ball hard and gracefully to all parts in his 119, before succumbing to the wiles of Captain (J.) Kennedy, whose 4-52 (including Young Macdonald) really was the key to our victory; but it was a narrow one, by only 20 runs in a combined total of 500.
For some reason, retiring at 50-ish was back in vogue the next day for another hybrid against Morebath, with a return for the retiree permitted if necessary. Naturally, Umpire Williams was not present to witness this tampering with the Laws! When we batted, Angus Spratling, Charlie Everett and Will Oakes all reached the threshold in an imposing total of 256 accumulated in the face of the efforts of 10 bowlers. We witnessed the second coming of Mr Cook (72 n/o.) under this arrangement when Morebath batted, but ultimately achieved a comfortable victory despite that.
More contrasts with last year were apparent early on at Blundells. The square and outfield were both dry and clearly plenty of cricket had been played; most significantly, a backbone had appeared among the opposition which had been noticeably absent in 2023. We were well and deservedly beaten, but it is also fair to say that luck went against us in two specific instances which increased the margin of the defeat. The first ball of the day was an overhead bouncer ‘no ball’. The second was only marginally lower but deemed fair, and Charlie Everett was caught having a swat! A little later, James Flatt was brilliantly run out when there seemed no immediate danger at first. While these and other misfortunes were taking place at the other end, Harry Kennedy played another outstanding innings of 92, out of only 160 while he was at the wicket. We did not really compete in the field and were beaten in 30 overs. It’s a funny game, cricket; this match was an exact mirror image of last year’s!
And, of course, one reason why it’s a funny game is the character of the participants. The star of the day was not one of the players – no, not even Harry – but the Blundells umpire, a blue-shirted Australian passing his winter on an umpiring holiday in England. He was long and lean, moved very quickly into position (some might call it running), stood extremely deep at square leg, and signalled four with the widest possible sweep of his arm, like a Music Hall fisherman indicating the size of his catch. The Fount declared him ‘skittish’, which is a most appropriate description, and one which has never seemed applicable to an umpire till now. At the other end was another contrast, in the shape of the distinctly unskittish Umpire Williams.
Yet another reversal of last year took place at Westward Ho! where the comprehensive defeat last year became comprehensive victory this. We hit 280 off our 40 overs with Matt Sunter leading the way (103 retired) and James Flatt and Charlie Everett following with fifties. The limitations of a fixed 40-over match were shown when Westward Ho! were reduced to 45-5 after 11 overs and the rest of the match rather lost any purpose (Henry Parker and Max Clarke both claiming 3 wickets). There was, however, one moment for the true cricket enthusiast when Mr Stone, entering the fray at number nine, changed boots with the outgoing batsman on his way to the wicket. Bats, helmets, gloves, yes, but not boots – till now!
There was a much more dramatic match at Sidmouth the next day in which the bare scores, in a wonderful old-fashioned draw, were Sidmouth 311 a/o: Sou’westers 310-7. The early stages did not show signs of such a run feast. However, the fall of the second wicket brought in Luke Beaufort who turned Will Bucknell’s 1-7 from two overs into 1-41 after three. If he had stayed to the end, there would have been a record score, but he was dismissed on 72 (from only 22 balls – a strike rate of no less than 327.27!) by a wonder caught and bowled from James Flatt. Nevertheless, the runs kept coming, all our bowlers suffered with the exception of Freddie Bucknell (1-13 off 7 at the more restrained start of the innings) and there was relief all round when the innings finally ended at a mere 311. Overtaking such a total was challenging, but we made an excellent start with an opening partnership of 164 between Harry Kennedy, prolonging a wonderful run of form with another 98, and Guy Bucknell, with 60. Matt Sunter at 3 led the continuing effort but for much of the time it looked as though we would fall some way short. Naturally, wickets were falling in the hectic chase, and we really didn’t want to lose to our worthy opponents of almost 100 years, did we?
The one genuinely successful bowler of the day, George Addey (5-70 off 15 overs), bowled the last over to Matt Sunter and with two balls left, we still needed 12 to win with 7 down. Regular readers will recall that there are now very tall nets all along the sea boundary at Sidmouth, together with a local regulation penalising 6 hitting to that over. Matt overcame this brilliantly with a switch hit 6 to the shorter pavilion boundary on the penultimate ball. Forewarned, Mr Addey’s last ball was too wide for a repeat (but not wide enough to be called). It also beat the wicket keeper and went for 4 byes. So, not a victory for either side, not a tie, but a tight, honourable, exciting draw – a result to ponder for those present who had only ever played limited over cricket, one hopes!
At Kilve the next day, there was another impressive and totally dominant innings, this time from James Flatt, who opened the batting and eventually retired on 157, out of a total up to that point of 222. Charlie Everett contributed 59 and we finished on 277-3. In reply Kilve were going well at 166-4 but suffered a rapid collapse to 191 all out, in which one memorable element was a dramatic direct hit run out by Alec Sprague. As always, the welcome at Kilve was warm, the hospitality excellent and the post-match experience particularly enjoyable.
Then came another contrast with last year when the one atypical encounter had been a rather dull, high-scoring draw with Old Tauntonians in which their opener had run up 195 out of a total of 359 all out. It seemed we might be in for a repeat this year when the score was 16 after only eleven balls, but he fell to the twelfth (well caught by Everett at gully off Clark) and the innings rather meandered thereafter to 160 all out. The Chairman led the way again with 3-38 off 11 overs. We had a mediocre start and a poor middle, being 65-5 at the lowest point, but Will Bucknell and Harry Kennedy (again) turned it round with an unbroken partnership of 98 and we won reasonably comfortably in the end.
As a result, our match finished early while just along the road Somerset were playing Lancashire in a partially floodlit 50-over game which had started late (2pm), and at least six Sou’westers took themselves along to watch the second (Somerset) innings. The special attraction was that two genuine Sou’westers (George and Josh Thomas, the sons of another, Paul), and a past guest Sou’wester (James Rew) were in the Somerset side. It was entirely appropriate in the circumstances that George scored his maiden Somerset century to mark the occasion. It was a proper innings too, with a patient start recovering from wickets lost at the other end, a watchful but fruitful middle and a dominant, victorious conclusion. There were Sou’wester selfies to celebrate at the end. The next day, George Thomas was the first Sou’wester to make it to the national press since Jeremy Cartland fifty years ago (younger readers, please Google).
The middle Saturday of the tour is important for balance and continuity; it requires opponents not involved in League cricket and the alternative cricket available to serious Sou’westers also means that we sometimes struggle to find eleven ourselves. In all these circumstances, Chulmleigh is the ideal fixture with a lovely ground, a friendly and traditionally minded set of opponents and the now established social pattern afterwards of the equally traditional Old Court House followed by the Chulmleigh Tandoori. So, if you are reading this as a rusty, part-retired or slightly disconnected Sou’wester who nevertheless still wants to be part of the Club, please make yourself available for the middle Saturday next year. There won’t be too much pressure to perform, and you really will enjoy it.
As it was, our struggle for a full team this year led to what is believed to be the first instance of a female Sou’wester taking the field in a competitive match. If you know differently and your granny turned out in extremis in 1938, please inform The Junta as soon as possible.
It was, of course, Cecily Oliver who struck this blow for equality. She was not required to bat in our innings of 210 (James Flatt and Harry Chatfield-Roberts 50 apiece, retired) but did bowl at the death when a young man of similar vintage was hanging on for the draw (which he achieved at 171-9). It gave the contest a special flavour at the end – the word ‘charming’, which is not found in many cricket reports, would not be inappropriate. Anyway, this was both truly a landmark contest and a highly sociable occasion!
For two consecutive weeks while we were in the area, the West Somerset local press contained coverage of Bridgetown’s original and sensitive development plans for a rear extension to their famous thatched pavilion. The surprising aspect of this for many modern Sou’westers was that it was reported as being in celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary. In other words, Bridgetown is only six years older than the Sou’westers themselves and not the ancient institution it has always seemed to be for visitors like us.
There is still tradition, though; it was good to find a genuine young Matravers, as well as three Sizers and two Crosses in the Bridgetown team. Dan Cross clearly followed the self-deprecating verbal traditions of Somerset, too – having just fielded a fierce off-drive which kicked up at his head as he did so, he mused ” My whole life flashed before my eyes – really boring!” Those names and that sort of humour are, of course, much more important than the fact that we won the match: 183-7 (Harry Kennedy 67 more runs) to 169 all out (Mark Meyer-Webb a critical 5-11 in less than 5 overs). In the course of proceedings, however, Our Leader unfortunately suffered what looked like a very nasty injury when bowling. It is a mark of the character of the man that not only did he wait to do so until the last ball of his seventh (very economical) over but also until the last innings in which he appeared before heading east after the match. Such dedication merits swift recovery!
The next day, without Chairman Kennedy and his acolytes, we found beautiful North Devon cloudy with a strong wind off the sea, and by the time we finished there was truly an early touch of autumn in the air. When we batted first in another 80 over ‘hybrid’, we got off to a flying start which held us in good stead later in the match. Justin Williams (68) and James Flatt (69) were the leading contributors to our 262-9. The reply was dominated by the North Devon Overseas Pro, batting at 3, who encouraged and supported a succession of younger players at the other end and contributed 110 to the final total of 224-8. In all honesty, it must be said that we helped him to do so, because we spurned several chances during his innings when taking any one of them would probably have brought victory too!
Taunton Deane was very much Alec Sprague’s match. In contrast to the good start at Instow the day before, he went in at 45-5 in the eleventh over and departed at 242-7 in the twenty sixth. Of the 197 scored while he was at the wicket, 145 came from his bat and the next highest score was Will Silk’s 15 n. o. Understanding and appreciative Captain (Guy) Bucknell did not require him to open the attack after that effort, but eight others shared the bowling (and seven of them took a wicket) as we eased home quite comfortably in the end.
Then, seemingly in a flash, it was the last match at Tiverton Heathcoat aka Sampford Peverell. For the second time on the tour, we faced 10 opposition bowlers in one innings while accumulating 229, a total built on a solid opening partnership of 118 between Will Bucknell (59) and Mark Meyer-Webb (45), with another major contribution (46) from Toby Silk at 3. When we bowled the wickets were spread around culminating in George Oliver’s caught and bowled, a wicket for Ludo Spratling, and George bowling out No.11 in the last over to win the game by 10 runs.
So, overall, yes, it was indeed a “vintage tour”. The wonderful people who orchestrated it all were the same they have been for many years, but the young men of a few years back are turning into the mature regulars of today and taking their share of backroom activity. Meanwhile there is a new generation coming up on the inside and beginning to find its feet on the field. It has always been thus, of course. Oh, don’t we all love it!