Cricketer Cup Final 1971 - 50 Years On

Old Tonbridgians won their first Cricketer Cup in 1971 against Charterhouse Friars in a low-scoring, rain affected game eventually decided on run-rate.

Old Tonbridgians 151 (51 overs) - Nicholas Heroys 75, Roger Marshall 3-10 in 11 overs

Charterhouse Friars 84-6 (34.1 overs) - Richard Gracey 4-19 in 10 overs

Tim Chandler, one of the Tonbridge team and now Professor at a university in the USA recalls the game: ‘Sunday August 22nd 1971 was a dull and overcast day with rain in the air and in the forecast.  Tonbridge elected to bat.   We lost Colin Smith and Richard Gracey fairly cheaply -- both to Roger Marshall who bowled really well at brisk pace left arm over the wicket moving the ball both in the air and off the pitch to great effect. Roger Prideaux and Nick Heroys then got stuck in and put on 60+ for the third wicket and the momentum moved back towards Tonbridge. Andrew Barker removed both but only after Nick Heroys had made what turned out to be a match-winning 75.  Other than Peter Rylands, none of the rest of us really troubled the scorers and we were bowled out for 151, unlikely to be enough.

 Chris Bidwell and Ed Jackson didn’t find the track (or Richard Musson and Simon Langdale) anything like as challenging as we had found it and the Friars moved somewhat ominously to 24 without loss. The game really changed back in our favor when Richard Gracey came on and quickly removed both Chris Bidwell and Joe Ullman. With Charterhouse wickets continuing to fall at regular intervals following Joe’s departure, we began to wonder if 151 might just be enough. Such a thought was quickly dispelled by taking a look at the other end where an always dangerous Mike Hooper was digging in for the long haul.  It was with 4 or perhaps 5 wickets down, that play was interrupted by rain. It was unclear whether this was a passing shower or if in fact the rain would settle in and bring the game to a close. And so it was at this point that each team consulted the rules regarding rain affected games (although I suspect that Nick knew exactly what they said!)   We were off the field for perhaps 20 minutes, and then returned to enjoy a few more overs before torrential rain set in and the game had to be abandoned with puddles on the outfield and water pouring off the tents.  Both teams had done some quick calculations and it became clear that the Friars were behind on run rate when we returned after the first stoppage. They had to decide, given the possibility of further rain,  whether to try to increase their run rate in the hope that they could get ahead and yet without losing too many more wickets.  As it turned out we continued to bowl and field well during the period following the rain delay until the game was abandoned with the Friars at 84 for 6 with 20 overs left. Tonbridge won on run-rate the first of its four Cricketer Cups in the 1970s.

The core of the 70’s Old Tonbridgian Cricketer Cup Team are in the middle of the team photo – Nick Heroys, Richard Gracey, Colin Smith, and Peter Rylands - sadly, none of them is with us today.  Nick Heroys brought a level of commitment and professionalism, building his team around a core of very good club players who batted and bowled well and who fielded very energetically.  Nick was the first to acknowledge that Mike Bushby had a lasting impact on Tonbridge cricket and Tonbridge fielding in particular and thus helped ensure the OT’s success in the Cricketer Cup in the 1970’s.’

Old Tonbridgians 1971 Back row: Peter Fuente, Burton Toft, Simon Langdale, Peter Rylands, Nick Clough, Tim Chandler, Martin Smith, Tony Monteuuis. Front row: Roger Prideaux, Richard Gracey, Nicholas Heroys, Colin Smith, Richard Musson

Nicholas Heroys (Old Tonbridgians) on his way to 75 in the 1971 final