In 1978 I was one of a group of cricketers from Bexhill CC who travelled from East Sussex to our base in Herefordshire for what we hoped would be a week of matches against local opposition. The day of our journey, a Saturday, was fine and warm and after checking in at our hotel we pitched up at the Stowe Lane ground, home of Colwall CC. The sunshine we enjoyed that early July evening was the last we saw for rain set in overnight and by the Wednesday the tour had been abandoned and we returned to Bexhill.
Last Saturday I travelled to Colwall again, this time with my wife as company, and I took the opportunity to make the five minute drive from our hotel to Stowe Lane. Here a second eleven game was in progress with Pedmore the visitors. Colwall were batting having been set 182 to win.
I took the opportunity to chat with some home supporters who informed me that this was a Worcestershire County League 2nd XI Division 1 game. They proudly added that Herefordshire and Cornwall had played on the ground just a couple of weeks ago. While I was there Colwall made good progress and 60 were on the board before a smart cover catch brought the fall of the first wicket. The club website shows Colwall got home with four wickets to spare, a result that sees them in mid table while Pedmore alas currently hold the wooden spoon.
Before leaving the lovely ground I took this photograph of a plaque on the pavilion, more of Betty in a future posting.
On Monday we travelled to Cheltenham and leaving Liz to taste the shopping opportunities I took ten minutes to walk from the town centre to Cheltenham College to take in some of the second day's play in the championship match between Gloucestershire and Durham. I had seen these two teams in action at this ground in 1997 when Durham were beaten by an innings. Jon Lewis, now Durham's coach, made 81 in the second innings and Alan Walker, current bowling coach, had figures he would probably I rather did not repeat. Top man for 'Glos' was Mark Alleyne who hit 169 with good support from Matt Windows.
Monday's play began with Gloucestershire adding some useful runs to their first day score before Stokes finished them off. Latham and Steel saw Durham through to lunch without loss which gave me some hope for the afternoon but I should have known better for by tea Steel, Smith, Clark and Stokes, all having seemingly got their feet under the table had departed leaving Latham to man the burning deck. I left at tea having seen for the fourth time this season a poor first innings performance from Durham's top order, oh my Stoneman, Jennings and Borthwick of not so long ago. Things were a little better second time around but I was never hopeful that they would see the fourth day out and Gloucestershire, who lost to Sussex in a tight finish last week, were winners this time by 41 runs. *
On Tuesday having spent the morning on the battlements of Goodrich Castle we diverted from our route back to our hotel with a visit to the village of Eastnor which has a castle of its own. Cricket on the agenda here again with Herefordshire Under 17 playing their Oxfordshire counterparts. Another lovely Herefordshire ground with the hosts batting.
Herefordshire were in a decent position but lost wickets while we watched and their 243 all out was easily surpassed by Oxfordshire's 407 for 8 and the hosts succumbed badly on day two to be 46 all out with only opener Ed Mayall making double figures, an innings and 118 being the margin.
* So far the Cheltenham Festival has hosted two four day games, both of which, without any assistance from the weather have gone to the twelfth session, twoT20 games have been sold out and today the college ground will host a women's super league match. All this on a ground which will not of course get a sniff of the action when city based franchise cricket hits us in 2020.
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