Below is Jack Reedy's report on the VP Day match for the Stratford Herald. Click here for photographs.

Rowington is celebrating its 120th season, and a special vice presidents’ day on Sunday 10 June brought out the Old Boys to face current players. It also brought out the essence of English village cricket where you find the same willing companionship as among old soldiers. It is above rank. Past feats are celebrated but it does not exclude those with more humble records.

Rowington fields two teams in the Cotswold League and also has a Midland Club Cricket Conference XI. On Sunday Nick Francis and Neil Parfrey opened for the veterans in front of the populous garden of the social club where refreshment was being taken and a pig was roasting for later just beyond cover point. (To the left-hander it would be behind square leg - not quite as appetising.)

It was a solid six from Parfrey off 14-year-old Tom Williams that lit the fuse, also jeopardising a neighbouring bean row. A flurry of fours followed before Francis was caught off Chinn for 32. Parfrey (32, b Chinn) went on to build a bright partnership of 74 for the fourth wicket with Martin Glanfield, who was bowled by William Bird for his side’s top score of 60. Howard Gregory fell for 25 to a cannon-shot full toss from Bird, who then took a diving, swooping catch off Graham Sly to dismiss Martin Swain for two.  Much experience and some portliness had achieved 194 all out for the Old Boys.

The sun had been blistering out in the middle, with only a small cloud now and again casting a cool shadow, so tea was a relief, with a contingent of the club’s 50 vice presidents mucking in.

The resumption was thoughtful to the point of stately at three quarters of a run a minute until Matthew Page went for the bean row with a big six and then more than the sun was blistering. Nine fours quickly followed, and the spell saw Page make 70 off 29 balls before he was caught behind by Roger Swain off Roger Shepherd for the day’s top score of 84. His fellow opener, Brian Bywater, was stumped by Roger Swain off Roger Shepherd for 32 and Mike Keating scored off all 11 balls he received to make 40 not out, including nine fours. Captain Graham Sly took 20 off an Ireland over including another bean row six until Ireland retaliated by bowling him for 28. With Anthony Collins on four not out the players won by seven wickets.

Cricket Club chairman Brian Taylor said: “We are very proud that this village club should have lasted so long. But we see ourselves as only the current incumbents”. Everyone clapped everyone else at the close and queued for the roast in the social club garden. Helpfully, its fence overlooking the ground has a special ledge for supporting drinks and spectators so that it links, not separates, two of the village’s celebrated institutions – and that bean row.

 

Bowling

Players: Chinn 16-0-5-39, Watts 6-0-0-36, Williams 9-1-0-51, Sly 5-1-2-20, Bird 4-0-3-45.

Old Boys: Watts 11-1-0-46, Shepherd 10-2-2-36, David Everitt 7-0-0-48, Ireland 7.4-0-1-49.

Jack Reedy