Page 191 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

but this was an Everest of a target for the RCC. The response started well, led by a forthright knock from James Barry, but scoreboard pressure heralded a typical Ri es collapse with a nal score of 128 for 9. A disappointing result but Teddies are keen to continue the xture which is the best news of all.
May was a ‘washout’ with the Cheltenham College, RMAS, RAC and Stragglers’’ of Asia games cancelled and it was the 1st June before we saw the rst Home game of 2017. The afternoon game against Winchester College was played in warm sunny conditions but, the skipper Matt O’Connor (72) apart, the nal score of 141 for 9 was always short and so it proved particularly with one pupil reaching 82 runs, and RCC lost by 5 wickets, early!
Then, on 10th June, the RCC went to King’s School Bruton to mark the centenary of a game played 100 years before between 3DORSETS and King’s School to honour the memory of those who shortly afterwards fought on the Western Front in the 3rd Ypres offensive. It was the rst game to be played on the Hyde Pitches and saw King’s score 139 with 3DORSETS reach only 75. The 2017 iteration was equally close and equally enjoyable.
Into a school buzzing with excitement - classic car rallies, sporting events, lunches and a dinner all with the aim to kick off the 500th anniversary (2018/19) plans for the school, Rfn arrived in a dazzling array of blazers where Cpl Alexander had driven from ITC Catterick and brought a notable player from the Ri es Recruit Platoon, Rfn Singh who has Birmingham Premiership League experience. Electing to bat rst, Lieutenant Colonel Lerwill was removed early but Major James Edwards (OB of King’s) and Harry Thompson batted with vigour but were to be undone by poor communication with Thompson run out for 44. Sadly these ‘comms’ issues persisted with Alexander the next to be run out! Determined, now, to grip the situation, Edwards could only watch as, rst, Lieutenant Colonel Gary McDade, RCC Chairman in his only game of the summer before deployment overseas, and Captain Kenji Ara departed in quick succession. Taking full responsibility, Edwards attacked the bowling and raced to 87 - immensely disappointed not to reach three gures on return to his old school – and, with some exciting cameos from Rfn Breslin, Major Jono Mills and Matt Webb, an imposing score of 185 to win was set the school.
Following one of the best team teas we have ever seen, and once the priceless classic cars had been removed from the boundary edge, the Ri es took to the eld. Some high quality opening bowling from Thomson and Webb, while steaming it at signi cant pace, did not yield the wickets the Ri es needed. Edwards turned to Lt Col Lerwill who immediate took apart the KSB top order as they, as many have done before hand, completely underestimated the pin point bamboozling bowling of the Colonel. Four quick wickets by Lerwill ground a halt to the KSB run rate but once his overs were complete, the school opened up again, punishing some wayward bowling. While Breslin and Singh held down ends brilliantly it was the return of Webb and Thomson
to close out the game that really squeezed the KSB batsmen, not allowing them the freedom to chase down the 185. The school nished on 140.
Inspired by its commemorative aura, the game was played in a spirit that 3DORSETS would have understood. Certainly the school enjoyed the occasion and it is greatly hoped that this xture will become permanent in the future.
The Past v Present game was cancelled by a lack of “Past” players but, two days later, a side replete with ex-Ri es of cers working in London took the eld against the HAC in this enjoyable evening T20 xture at Armoury House. The format, whereby batsmen retire on reaching 25* but able to return later when wickets have fallen, make reporting dif cult. James Cousens and Simon Childs both “retired” though Cousens returned to add a further 8 runs to his personal total while James Munro (guesting for the injured Manager Rob Buchanan) and Harry Thompson both scored 24 as RCC asked HAC to score 148 to win. James Munro, again – good replacement – and Tom Pauncefoot bowled well but the break-through came from Cousens ably abetted by Tom Cairncross (2 for 7 off 3 overs) and agile catching that slowed, stalled and stopped the HAC run chase which ended 31 runs short of the target. A cold beer watching the sun go down over this iconic ground completed the day.
The Earl of Carnarvon’s XI at Highclere is a popular xture though it was only the rush of the Shercliffe family that saw 11 players take the eld. RCC batted with strength and aplomb reaching an impressive total of 294 courtesy of half-centuries from Joe Cavanagh (50), James Barry (59), and J. Tilney (59). The tea is outstanding, all cream and scones, which evidently had a more positive effect on the batting side who against the odds and some smart bowling overtook the total with 295 for 6 in the closing over. A cracking day’s play.
A week later the Eton Ramblers were entertained at St Cross – a rare and only the second Home game – and on a sunny day, invited to bat faced the twin attack of Rfn Burlison (2 wickets) and Captain Ben Bishop whose miserly 24 runs came off 13 overs that included 6 maiden; this pressure yielded 3 important wickets. Pressure, maintained by Lieutenant Colonel Tim Lerwill and Major John Barry (1x wicket a piece), assisted Rfn Sharma (3 for 33) to bowl the Ramblers out for and under par 152 off 42 overs. This, though, was to witness a typical RCC batting collapse until John Barry (57) and Si Swindells (52*) bullied the bowling to see the Club home in style with 155 for 5: a 5 wicket triumph.
THE FORMAT, WHEREBY BATSMEN RETIRE ON REACHING 25* BUT ABLE TO RETURN LATER WHEN WICKETS HAVE FALLEN, MAKE REPORTING DIFFICULT
The Ri es XI v HAC at Armoury House
The Ri es XI & IZ at St Cross 2017
THE RIFLES
RIFLES SPORTS 189