1971
The club
reformed in 1971 after three seasons' inactivity. During this time the land
below the main football pitch where the square was situated had been converted
into a second football pitch and used by such footballing giants as Cramic and
Hartford Motors. A new four strip square was produced with Tim Rogers and
Johnny Clark doing much of the work, These four strips
being the four lowest of the current run-oasis. The heavy roller was dragged
out of the nettles and mended. It took three people, ideally four to pull it, can you imagine the club existing if we had to do this
nowadays? In addition to the trees that encroach on the ground today
another oak tree stood at not very deep long on at the village end of the
ground. This tree was removed in the mid-eighties. The team entered the
now sadly defunct Banbury League, visiting such cricketing outposts as
Warmington, Barford, Brailes and British Rail, all sadly no longer playing and
Wroxton, Sibford, Kineton and Cropredy. The team was very much a village side
with players such as Tim Rogers, John Clark (JC), Mick Battley, Phil Rivers
(the Claw), Pete (Wint) & Brian Winterton, Jeff King (Slugger), Mick Gilkes
(The Mouth © Phil Rivers), Bob Lawrence (Flossie), Ian Sands (Gunter), Mick Wilkins,
Derek Brooker (Brooker) and Pete Mullard (Mullard) – the latter two not
really men for nicknames. During this time the team used the old
pavilion which was situated where the benches are on the far corner of the
field with teas taken at the Church House (now the dance school) next to the
Bakers. It was traditional for players who were out for nought to be met by an
incoming batsman with a duck a string for them to escort back to the pavilion.
The team's main supporter was Charlie Bushrod who took on this role for the
football club too. A Bodicote man through and through Charlie lived round the
corner in
1972 & 1973 After a season
in the Banbury League the team moved to Division Four (of four) of the South
Northants League. This involved games mainly against the "A" teams of
clubs such as Wardington, Syresham, Helmdon, Kings Sutton, Chacombe plus fellow
one team outfits Culworth, Hinton, Boddington and
Evenley. A trial at Hampshire was arranged for the talented
1974. Gilkes lured current Culworth
veteran Chris Bateman to the club and Colin Thurbon, who had joined Bodicote
Sports FC as a stylish left back, moved from Woodford with talk of a score of
70 at Kings Sutton. Iincredibly 30 seasons later he still
plays for both the cricket and football clubs well into his 50s.
Additionally morale was kept up by the arrival of Andy Andrews, guitar playing
rep for Rothmans with the company livery gracing his Ford Escort. Phil Rivers
made another important signing with 12 year old
1975 So promotion and what
happened, half the team left. Captain Gilkes, Bateman, King, Battley,
1976 After two turbulent seasons things settled down in 1976.The team won a few and
lost a few. The squad changed little from the previous season with the addition
of Brian Reilly who still supports the club today as a Vice President and did
much to keep the club going during the latter part of the 70s. One departure
was Pete Winterton. Having been main bowler for a number of seasons he left to
play for the Alcan in the Banbury League, as he thought the club was on its
last legs. Off the field the team moved into the shining new village hall
leaving the old pavilion, which remained as a beauty spot on the field until
the early 90s, to have the honour of becoming the shed for groundsman Arthur
(Boaty) Coles. Arthur’s contribution to the club over the years is
legendary. But just in the case he becomes web-literate and reads this much
will remain unwritten as he would have decked anyone for even daring to use the
name Boaty to his face. He did feature in a most memorable win during 1976 at
Kings Sutton. For the one and only time in his career he donned the gloves as
keeper. Kings Sutton amassed 70 of which 35 were byes. In reply Bodicote were
being steered to victory by Ian Sands until he was run out by
1977 Just when the team were
settled into mid-table obscurity, Mick Gilkes returned as captain. Pete
Winterton also came back, having picked up the bowler of the season award for
Alcan in the Banbury League. New blood boosted the team as well with two good
players Pete "Buywise" Bendle and Steve Jelley joining. Rob Bowley
also joined but although he struggled to make an impact at this stage would
become a far more valuable member of the club in the longer term. Gilkes’
target was the Division 4 title that had eluded him three years before. The
team got off the flying start with wins all the way including a one-off debut
for youngster
1978 Bodicote continued to
practice the Boom & Bust theory. Gilkes left (again) for the Twenty club,
as did Jelley and Bendle joined Banbury. Mullard, Lawrence and Sands took up
golf; Arthur’s tractor either blew up regularly or he did, so the
outfield was like generally like a meadow; the Village Hall committee wanted
weddings in the hall every week (and weren’t they lovely classy
do’s) so it could not be used and worst of all some team must have
dropped out of Division 3 because the SNCL promoted third placed Bodicote from
Division 4!. Gilkes influence stretched to the first game of the cricket season
where as skipper of Bodicote Sports FC he arranged a Banbury & District
match for a 1.30 kick off which finished at around 3.30, leaving the cricketers
with a fine for a late start. The second week of the season remarkably saw the
only win of the campaign. Barlow had persuaded his maths teacher Ian Bloom to
join and his wickets helped bowl Syresham "A"
out for 80-odd. Bodicote replied with surely the heaviest opening pair in the
history of the SNCL – Mick Rogers, no lightweight but a stripling
compared to John "Shagger" Smith of Weeping Cross. The 40+ stone combo set Bodicote on the way to a five wicket success. It
was all downhill from here. Apart from getting hammered on the pitch it became
difficult for skipper/secretary Andy Andrews to raise a side. One player, who
shall remain nameless, advised Andy that if he called round and said they were
short he was sure his wife would relent and agree to him playing. This was duly
undertaken but the wife’s response was a somewhat frosty "If you play, I’ll leave you".
Obtaining the village hall key also became a task in itself. The management of
the hall at the time seemed hell-bent on being as difficult as possible and on
more than one occasion it was case of breaking in was the only way! The
nucleus of the team was Andrews, Barlow, Bloom, Bowley, Brooks, Reilly, Mick
Rogers, Thurbon and Winterton who carried the bowling. Phil Rivers persuaded a
number of Simmons Watts players to play – John
Horner (known of course as little Jack), Tony Fernbank and at Marston, in the
only other game the team vaguely competed in Tim Moulding. Barlow’s
schoolfriend Matthew Kavanagh joined (his elder sister who transported him to
games proving a pleasant distraction for some of the older players!) Nick
Spencer and Simon Watts from the village also played and Paul Hadley
occasionally turned out. Norman(?) Sykes also used to
play and just to add to the admin load would refuse to pay for or eat tea
because he would have a meal when he got home. It was a case of more weekly
beatings than at a public school for the team and confidence hit rock bottom.
At an August crisis meeting in the bar of the Plough discussions took place as
to whether the team would carry on. Barlow became secretary, made a scoreboard
and some boundary markers with the help of future club scorer Colin Webb and
the club just about finished off the season.
1979
So the team was restored to its rightful place in
Division Four. The pre-season AGM saw Brian Reilly elected captain, Barlow
secretary, Colin Thurbon as Treasurer and Rob Bowley with the unenviable task
of coaxing the mower into life as groundsman. From the 1978 regulars Andrews,
Rogers and Wint had hung up their boots but on the plus side Barlow lined up a
number of players from
The first game of the season was at home to Byfield A
and they amassed 146 in 33 overs which on the Bodicote wicket and outfield of
1979 was going some. John Tucker, father of ex-tearaway fast bowler turned
Culworth trundler Andy scored 70 and a very young Neil Brough scored 36. Brough
was probably the best all-round cricketer in the league during the 1980s, who played a couple of game for Northamptonshire IIs (as
well as football for the Cobblers) and really could have played a far higher
standard of cricket than the SNCL. On Bodicote’s side was debutant Paul
Miles. He admitted afterwards that, having been brought up on a TV diet of
40-over John Player League Sunday cricket, he thought a total of 146 would
prove easy. Bodicote made 46 with Nigel Cook now of Culworth taking four
wickets.
Week Two saw the visit of Priors. Bodicote made 68 of
which Miles made an impressive 33 and the visitors knocked these off for the
loss of four wickets. This was followed up by the first points of the season, a
rained off game v Adderbury then losses, but the margin of defeat was
narrowing, to Kings Sutton A (81-47) and Deanshanger A
(61-49).
Next up were early season pace setters Charlton A.
With Arthur’s tractor out of action the boundary was a bizarre shape
based on which bits could be cut by the mower used on the square but forced
into outfield action. Charlton (including a young R Taylor) made their
disapproval of the facilities obvious and so the seeds were sown for the happy
relationship the clubs have since then. Charlton managed 69, Ian Bloom taking
5-17 and with bowling resources thin even Phil Rivers turned his arm over (and
over - for those who remember his distinctive action). Unfortunately this
proved 10 runs too many for Bodicote with three runs outs including debutant
Simon Blincowe - gardening and an inability to play the spin of Tony Hunt,
nicknamed Rumpole by Blincs (15 overs 4 for 6!) proving crucial. Paul Hadley
scored 20 but obviously thought he couldn’t better it because he never
played again
The day after saw a trip to Division
Three Twyford for the Wardington Cup in a once only SNCL experiment to play the
competition in 40 over matches on Sunday afternoons.
Bodicote fielded six players making their debuts – Graham Hammond,
Maurice Marshall, Mark Larner, Dave Turner, Mark Boland (The Boot of Banbury
RFC) and John Ward (now Byfield) – the latter three never to play again.
In his second game for the club Simon Blincowe took 8 for 31 as the home team
made 84. To say Bodicote were never in the hunt would be an understatement but
at least they improved from 10-7 to 41-9.
Every dog must have his day and this was undoubtedly
Simon’s. Although he hardly played after the 1979 season he did come on
tour to Edinburgh(where he would hail taxis for 400
yard walks) and Guernseyin the 90s. Now living in Newcastle
Simon lectures at a local FE college. Students must be surprised to be
taught by Mr Creosote - a persona he put so much effort (alcohol) into
cultivating in the 70s and 80s.
Hopes of a first win the week after were dashed
because although Bodicote had 11 players the team did not have enough cars to
transport them to Hillesden. A call to the league secretary – John L
Blower, (telephone number engrained on the mind of any club secretary from the
60s and 70s - Sulgrave 268), did not bring a sympathetic response but no points
were deducted. A week later the mighty Helmdon A visited Kingsfield. They
collapsed from 56-3 to 61 all out. In reply Bodicote slumped to 28-7 but a
partnership of 34 between Marshall and Barlow (probably their best in all the
years of playing together) brought victory at last – the beer tasted
sweet that evening in The Plough well it was Hooky then – 48 p a pint too
– the good old days! Syresham A brought the team back to earth with a
bump 113-47 the week after.
The second half of the season started with Bodicote
travelling to Byfield A where they recorded their second win. For the only time
that season Bodicote reached three figures scoring 101-8 with Miles making 28
and Bloom 26 in a seemingly never ending fourth wicket partnership of 51.
Tucker and Brough both scored runs again but with Maurice bowling quickly
enough for keeper Tony Fernbank to admit to being a bit scared of facing him
and Hammond catching Tucker for 41 off Barlow, an exciting win by 12 runs was
achieved. The team visited Kings Sutton A after this and
League leaders Priors were Bodicote’s next
opposition and for the only time that season they failed to field 11 players. Priors success however was based on one star all-round
player who had left the week before and Bodicote made a respectable 95.
Struggling to get a side out Simon Watts had been selected and he memorably
responded to a request to field at long on by Barlow with the line that
"If he didn’t bowl such s**t he wouldn’t need to field out
there". However it was Maurice who took the bowling honours as Priors were
blown away for 69. His 8-24 (all bowled) remains a league best for a Bodicote
bowler. At that time his status as a quick bowler was enhanced by him playing
in his athletics spikes from his days as County Schools’ triple jump champion.
(Ask ex-teacher Eddie Tait about the time he contemptuously dismissed
Maurice’s concern that the long jump track they were using was too short..… Maurice ended up in the sand pit before he’d
even done his jump!).
Mention of Simon Watts recalls a midweek friendly
against The Elephant & Castle. With Bodicote cruising to victory, Simon had
his chance to bowl. Enthusiastic, but not the best ever fielder to play for the
club, throwing the ball back to him became a bit of a lottery. This culminated
in him not only failing to catch a lob from Blincowe but it actually hitting
him on the elbow. The game also saw another debutant, who fielded at the Cow
End alternatively at mid off and just behind square for the whole game –
Arthur’s tractor which had temporarily died with its gangmowers on.
Adderbury visited Bodicote the Saturday after on one
of those wet days when the wicket was dreadful, the outfield lush (although the
tractor had been towed off) and the back up pavilion the scout hut less than
welcoming. To add to the atmosphere after seasons of badgering (see the early
1970s) Charlie Bushrod’s offer to umpire was taken up. Bodicote’s
56 in 25 overs was overtaken by Adderbury’s 60
for 6 in just 14 overs. However the game still didn’t
finish until late in the afternoon because it took Charlie such a long time to
reach one end from the other between overs. His funereal walk definitely
didn’t look out of place when he intercepted a PT throw from long on with
the back of the head. You would have honestly thought this could have killed
him but all that happened was that his cap fell off. He shook his head slowly
bent down and picked his cap up and carried on.
Unfortunately after a period of win one – lose
one the team suffered a five match losing streak. The next game saw Deanshanger
A scored 108 and Bodicote slump to 44-9 only for some tremendous hitting by
No.10 Rob Bowley, who scored 30, to take the score up to 79. The "Bowley
Man" was to repeat this feat with far more regularity in coming seasons taking
delight in hitting the ball higher and higher. 79 was exactly the same score
Hillesden made the following Saturday with Barlow picking up his second five
wicket haul in two weeks. This game also saw the bowling debut of the legendary
Paul Harper – christened Handshake by Graham Hammond for his effusive
welcome of everyone he saw – "Your mate old……...(insert
name as required)" . Hillesden (without even needing Gawcott’s help
in those days) bowled Bodicote out for 16 in reply – their lowest ever
Saturday score.
Table topping Charlton A was the next port of call and
Cracco kept his place at the expense of an aggrieved Blincowe, because skipper
Brian Reilly thought he was someone to be encouraged and would be a useful
acquisition. You have to admire Reilly’s long term forecasting as
although it was 11 seasons until he played again it would be hard to argue he
didn’t prove a useful acquisition on and off the pitch in the end! Bodicote’s
batting resolve was stiffened and they ground out 53-9 in 40 overs with just
one boundary from Marshall who top scored with 15. Charlton reached their
target for five wickets. The penultimate week of the season saw Helmdon A get
revenge for their earlier loss as they beat Bodicote 92-33. Bodicote were 0 for
2 before tea and it just went downhill from there. One debutant that day was a
very young Alan Parfitt.
The campaign ended with a trip to Syresham A who were bowled out for 59 with
Rob Bowley, who had been a lynchpin of the
team’s social activities - drinking in The Plough and generously buying
beer for the younger members of the squad - organised the first end of season
dinner which was attended by 30 odd in the Plough lounge.
The Team of 79 (Click to Enlarge)
However the first week of the season took the team to
Byfield A with only one player who hadn’t played the previous season
– Tim Squires, Barlow’s form tutor and more importantly for future
world affairs Alan Parfitt’s Russian teacher. Byfield were rolled over
for 46 with
The following Saturday saw them brought further down
as they were beaten by Kings Sutton A who amassed 112 mainly
thanks to a prolonged spell from Barlow which saw 7 wickets bought for 65 in 14
expensive overs. There was to be no repeat of the previous week’s heroics
as Bodicote slipped to 80 all out. The week after saw the
short trip to Adderbury A. After a couple of midweek games Bodicote had
picked up a new player – Gary Harker complete with 1000 cc motorbike and
to the awe of the many players from the VI form at school, "seeing"
Jane Barbeary.
After 4 matches Bodicote were joint top with
Deanshanger A who visited Kingsfield the next week. Although the game was
ultimately rained off Bodicote had made an impressive 98-4 of 27 overs at the
time and their form was definitely improving. A week later saw Bodicote visit
Woodford Halse with another new player in their ranks, Bob Campbell a dour
Yorkshireman who added to the small group of players aged 21+ in the side. What
Bob made of the wicket at Woodford was expressed in no uncertain terms as
Bodicote struggled to 81 all out in 30 overs which meant that Woodford would
have to bat for five overs before tea. Skipper Barlow then had to deal with an
incident with Gary Harker who had claimed the keepers’ gloves from
Moggeridge only to be told that it was Clive who to keep wicket. After 4.5
overs Woodford’s score stood at 2 for 5. The late Micky Moyce edged the
last ball before the break between the slips for 4 to take the total up to 6.
It didn’t get any better after tea and Woodford were all out in 8.2 overs
for 9 with Bloom claiming 4 for 1 and Marshall a more expensive 6 for 8.
Back to the comparative flatness of Bodicote a week
later and visitors
The next week Byfield A were blown away by the
returning Marshall who took 7-19 as they
finished 43 all out. Hammond promoted to 4 after the previous week’s
heroics scored 21 NO in the reply after Bob Campbell had been out for a
duck and returned muttering darkly about "….not being able to bat on
that bloody cabbage patch" or words of Yorkshire angst to that effect.
Priors Utd were the next visitors and they saw Bodicote run up the then huge
score of 135 with Rob Bowley hitting the ball to all parts, mainly very high,
in a score of 40. It was Bloom’s turn for a 7-19 haul as Priors were all
out for 63. Bodicote’s batting frailties were exposed a week later at
Kings Sutton A where the legendary Steve Simpson took 4 wickets as they could
only make 88. In reply Sutton were pegged back to 12-5 and finally managed 65
with Barlow taking five wickets and Bob Lawrence, who had become available
again, two.
The weather intervened a week later after Bodicote had
crawled to 67-6 off 30 overs against Adderbury and then the team lost for only
the second time that season at Deanshanger A. With the outfield lush to say the
least Deanshanger made 43 with Bloom taking 7-20. Bodicote totalled a sad 29
with Bob Campbell making 19 of them. Woody was adjudged run out as non-striker
when a drive from
Despite this setback Bodicote were still top and
strengthened their position by beating Woodford 121-44 the week after. The
title was clinched with a win at Marston where Bodicote made 137, their best
score of the season and bowling the home team out for 25 with Barlow taking
6-13 including a wicket with his leggie! The Marston opener Ray Styles was
furious that Campbellhad (rightly) claimed a catch in the gully off
Bodicote’s league season ended with a
"home" game at North Aston against Syresham A as the Kingsfield was
being used for the Scout Fete. Bodicote made 92-8 with Simon Woodruff, who had
slipped down the order after his flying start, top scoring at No 8 with 25 NO.
Syresham made 33 in reply,
However Bodicote’s cricket was not going to end
there. In those days the league championship was decided by a play off between
the winners of the four Divisions. This was a product of the days when the
League was regionalised to assist with transport but had been carried on as it
gave a good focus to the end of season and traditionally allowed the Division
One winners the chance to thrash two other teams and claim the title in front
of a large crowd. Division Two winners Maids Moreton would play Division Three
winners Twyford and Bodicote would play Division One winners Wardington in the
semi finals. It is difficult to compare Wardington to one of the top Premier
Division sides today. Wardington had (and still have) won the league more times
than any other club and along with Byfield and Middleton Cheney they had
dominated the league since the late 50s. They were Gods just starting another
15 year spell of league domination… even their 2nd XI played
in a higher Division than Bodicote.
Their exploits had been recorded in detail in a book
written to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the league that season by the
secretary John L Blower. John from Culworth, who only passed away a couple of
years ago, was a fantastic servant of the league, serving as secretary for
nearly forty years. The league ran like clockwork under his regime which could be
described as "hard but fair". If you stepped out of line you were
punished and what he would have made of some of the slipshod admin that current
incumbent Pat Ashby has to put up with would have been unprintable… which
is probably what a proof reader or editor would have said about the book.
Despite its literary shortcomings if offers a fascinating history of the league
and a slice of social history of the era.
So mighty Wardington visited little
Bodicote on the first Sunday in September. Banbury Utd
FC legend Pete Svenson was the first to arrive and as more came they looked
curiously and suspiciously at the wicket which had been prepared on the four strip square that had coped with twenty midweek and Saturday
games already that year. However any thoughts of a dangerous track were soon
dispelled when they batted as
Bodicote were in with a chance but Wardington
possessed an all-star bowling attack and the game was still undoubtedly in
their favour. In those days of hand rolled wickets 80 was definitely not a
pushover. However Bodicote’s opening duo of Campbell and Parfitt edged
the score up to 38 before Bob was out for 18. No 3 (well he was skipper) Barlow
soon followed but PT hit one of the best 8’s ever to keep Colin company
and move the total onto 69 before he departed. Gary Harker came in and his 8 NO
coupled with Colin 30 NO saw Bodicote home with almost four overs to spare.
Colin’s knock for a sixteen year old was an absolute model of
concentration and determination. So the mighty Wardington were toppled and they
couldn’t believe it. Their mood was worsened when, instead of medals for
winning Division One, they were presented with copies of John Blower’s
book after the game, despite no doubt having bought copies themselves as they
featured so heavily. The Bodicote players were treated to the sight of the Wardington
legends ripping up their books and stamping on them in their changing room.
Bodicote celebrated in the only way possible, as they had done all season, many
many beers in The Plough. When the next book on the history of the SNCL is
written that day will undoubtedly go down as the biggest upset in the
league’s history.
A week later Bodicote travelled to Wardington (or
Lords as Maurice christened it) to take on Maids Moreton in the SNCL Final.
Unfortunately there was to be no repeat of their heroics the week before as
Maids Moreton rattled up an enormous 141 which Bodicote were never in the hunt
for and finished on 75 all out thanks mainly to a 9th wicket
partnership of 32 between Moggridge and Mark Larner. However the sight of old
Wardington supporters muttering "It should have been our name on that
cup" proved some light relief and at the league AGM later in the year,
whilst acknowledging Bodicote’s efforts, Wardington proposal that the
SNCL winners should be the team who win Division One was carried. However the
end of season play offs would continue for a few more seasons and it would not
be the last time Bodicote appeared in them.
In terms of batting the improvement had been
immense Colin Parfitt finished top of the batting averages with 23 and another five
players averaged in the dizzy heights of double figures. In the bowling stats,
Bloom had 40 wickets at 5.25, Barlow 34 at 6.73 and most impressively
So one season after finishing bottom the league
Bodicote were runaway Division Four champions with a record of P18, W14, D2, L2
and produced the all-time SNCL shock result which given the change in format of
the competition will never be surpassed.
The Team of 1980 (Click to Enlarge)
1981
With the club on a roll the AGM saw all main officers
return to their posts – Barlow’s inability to impress the
Associated Examining Board the previous Autumn meaning
he had another year of captaincy/secretaryship.
There were no new players and Moggridge had retired
after just one season but further young players from the nursery club –
Kingsfield Woodpeckers were just itching to get their chance and a slim polite
lad, name of Veall, had moved into
Now in SNCL Division Three the 1981 season kicked off
at a cold Helmdon who were mown down by the bowling trio Marshall, Bloom and
Barlow for just 35. Could things get any worse for the home team well yes they
could. Opener Colin Parfitt, oblivious to the cold, saw this an
the ideal opportunity for some early season practice. The ultra defensive Chris
Tavare was just coming into the
The next league encounter saw Croughton visit on a wet
afternoon and they were bowled out for 64. Unfortunately this proved enough as
the home team could only manage 48, local jack the lad Nicky Franklin took 8-18
and No 11 Marshall top scored with 12 NO.
A midweek cup game at Middleton saw the opportunity
for Barlow to wheel out a new signing – a colleague at the Tech –
Gerald Udokwu who had impressed the skipper with tales of playing for
mid-Warwickshire Schools. Gerald was duly handed the new ball which was deposited
to all corners of the ground by the home side’s openers…if they
could reach it. Gerald turned out to be one of Bodicote’s few One Match
Wonders and they were soundly beaten on the night.
League action was resumed with a trip to Lords to face
Wardington A, captained by the legendary Basil Prew, former Bodicote Sports
full back and canny cricketer. On another damp day Basil top scored in a
Wardington total of 62-8 off 40 overs and then, assisted by another local
footballer of note Alan Jones (Angel FC) skittled Bodicote out for 35.
Pre-season optimism was fast evaporating and things
got even worse when Bodicote made the short trip to Adderbury for an evening
cup game. Chasing 78 Bodicote amassed 17 with the last seven wickets falling
for one run.
With the season approaching meltdown Captain Barlow
needed to take action and his burgeoning tactical brain decided that a
scapegoat was needed. So for the visit to early season leaders Finmere Colin
Parfitt was dropped from opener to No 5, prompting the ever willing
A trip to Chacombe the next week saw the home team
rattle up 112-6 with opener Pete Fernbank, father of Steve who had been at
school with many of the Bodicote side. This score was almost the sum of
Bodicote’s previous three Saturday scores but with the weather improving
so did the batting and the runs were knocked off for 3 in 36 overs with Bob
Campbell scoring 32 NO and Gary Harker 35 NO.
Badby visited Bodicote a week later and they did well
to reach 99 having been 9 for 6 with Ian Bloom taking 6-38. This proved no
match for Bodicote with the in-form
By now Bodicote were moving up the table and carried
on the good work with a win over Priors. PT came good (at last) with 35 and another five batsman made double figures including Dale
Merry who had joined, to his Grandmother’s utter disgust, from Wardington
– how could he lower himself? Bodicote made 136-7, Priors 99 in reply.
The then less than mighty Evenley were thrashed a week later, bowled out for
just 69 (Marshall 7-28) which Bodicote knocked off for the loss of just one
wicket, Bob Campbell 39 NO and PT 23 NO. The same two batsmen continued their
excellent form at Croughton the next week scoring 36 (Bob) and 29 (PT). Rob
Bowley hit a typically belligerent 21 and Bob Lawrence, who had returned to the
fray also made double figures in a total of 129. With Croughton’s reply
reaching 88-3 things looked in the balance before
There had been more success in the Jim Coles Cup with
an (even then) enjoyable trouncing of Charlton which set up a home semi final
clash with Division One side
Chacombe were the next visitors to Bodicote and their
119 all out was mainly due to 45 from Nick Berry who would claim greater fame
with Wardington in years to come. Nick also took the only three wickets to fall
in Bodicote's reply with Bob Campbell (76 NO) and PT (24) scoring the majority
of the runs. Whilst PT, Bob and Col Parfitt continued to score well things were
not going so smoothly for the big hitting Gary Harker who was in the midst of a
run drought. Still he always had his bat to blame and the site of him leaning
it up against the village hall to then smash it to smithereens remains one of
the more surreal incidents in the club's history.
Bodicote were now 5 points clear of Finmere at the top
and the two met the following week. Finmere scored 111, having been 87-3 with
Colin Thurbon taking a rare 3 wicket haul. Colin's bowling opportunities were
obviously limited by being 2nd choice left arm spinner but over the years he
produced a number of useful performances with the ball and later in the year would
do well with the bat to. Bodicote's response foundered and they made a poor 82
to see Finmere draw level on points at the top. Thurby also took 3 wickets the
following week as Priors Utd were dismissed for 89 which Bodicote struggled to
pass, losing six wickets in the process. However good news emerged in the
Banbury Guardian the following Thursday (no email results service then) as
Finmere had lost to leave Bodicote five points clear with two games to go.
Off to the picturesque ground of Badby a week later
and batting first Bodicote were in trouble at 95 for 8. No 10 Thurbon steered
them to respectability with 37 and they reached 142 for 9. This didn't look
enough when Badby had reached 76 for 1 before the intervention of the skipper.
He recorded his best ever haul of 8 for 30, including an all bowled hat-trick,
which included a leggie as Badby were dismissed for 120. News was ascertained
that Finmere had lost again so the title was secured. Bodicote celebrated with
skittles at The Windmill in Badby where Alan Bristow narrowly failed to
decapitate 2 year old Andrea Thurbon with a shandy induced wild cheese that
missed it's intended target by yards.
Bristow redeemed himself the following week with a
haul of 5-30 at Evenley so for once was not able to utter his oft heard quote
"I didn't get as many wickets as I wanted to". Disappointingly
Bodicote made 103 in reply despite 42 from PT.
So Bodicote qualified for the end of season
tournament, playing for the FT Kielsden Cup, not the league title but this did not
detract from the glamour of the event. Team selection proved difficult and
ultimately Woody, who had endured a wretched season with the bat volunteered to
stand down. Bodicote played host to Division Four winners Adderbury in the semi
and any thoughts of complacency were soon knocked about as their upper order
tucked into the home team's bowling, particularly Maurice. Unfortunately
bowling Maurice for all his 15 overs was part of Plan A. Plan B was the same as
Plan A only with more shouting and sulking from the captain so Maurice stayed
on to finish with 2-61 as Adderbury reached 135-8 in a rain reduced 36 overs.
The early loss of Campbell was soon forgotten as Colin Parfitt scored 33, PT 41
NO, even Harker came good with 21 and Rob Bowley finished them off with 20 NO
including two trademark "more height" sixes.
A long night in the Plough ensued with Wadworth 6X
copiously consumed despite the presence of local sump Tim Fittes who seemed to
be claiming he'd drunk the pub dry. The mood was made the more belligerent
because the team had learnt they were to play Wardington in the final…at
Wardington. Skipper Barlow returned home late from the pub to compose a protest
as finals had always been played at neutral grounds…it said so in John
Blower's book so there! Due to a summer job with the GPO he was able to get it
delivered with the deposit of a £1 note to league secretary Blower in Culworth
the next morning. This surprised the league secretary and he was only able to
work out that a protest had been lodged because of the presence of the £1 note
- Barlow's usually untidy handwriting not helped by the Wadworth 6X was
absolutely illegible. Under the league rules the SNCL committee had to meet to
discuss the protest and Bodicote were summoned to the backroom at the Marston
Inn. Civil Servant Rob Bowley offered a counter to Barlow's gun boat diplomacy
but despite their good Cop, bad Cop efforts the game was to be played at
Wardington although we did get our £1 back.
So to Lords for the final and Wardington absolutely
itching for revenge….. which unfortunately they
got. Bodicote manage done more than their hosts had the previous year - 81 all
out. PT scored a classy 24, Bowley made 19 and Bob Lawrence was out for 9,
caught over the boundary by former Bodicote player Chris Bateman who despite
the spectators all around him telling him otherwise claimed the catch. Dave
Merry was removed early so at least Mrs Merry (Snr) had something to moan about
but Graham and Trevor Watts saw them home for a seven wicket win.
Despite the loss the season proved another great
success. Bob Campbell lead the batting averages with
32.6 and PT managed an average of 20 even though his first six knocks only
amassed 15 runs. On the bowling front Bloomy took 37 at 10.86,
1982
1982 saw a change at the helm with Bob Campbell taking
over the reins as captain. However the squad remained the same and optimism was
high that the team could make it three promotions on the trot.
However this looked less than likely in the first
match of the campaign at home to Eydon. With Marshall &
Bloom both absent the visitors rattled up 170-9 in their 40 overs which on an
early season wicket was going some and far too many for Bodicote, 61 all out.
The deadly duo returned the week afterwards and Bloom's 5-9 helped dismiss
Twyford for 60. At 35-8 victory looked unlikely but the nerveless Bristow, who
rarely let the situation in a game bother him, added 24 for the 9th
wicket with
Bodicote's blossoming relationship with Charlton was
developed the following week. Despite 38 from Brain J (Taylor R) the home team
were bundled out for 86 with Thurby taking 4 for 1! The total was easily
reached with the skipper 39 NO. League leaders Thornborough were visitors a
week later and despite being 0-2 then moved onto 153-5 off 35 overs. Local
legend Ronnie Gall may be remembered in the song "Ronnie Gall, Ronnie Gall
when he hits the ball he gets **** all" but actually was a fine bat and
hit 76 NO. Bodicote's reply of 89 meant they had fallen a long way off the pace.
Finmere away saw the meeting of the two promoted sides
and scene of an epic rain affected encounter the previous year. There was
nothing epic about the match which Bodicote won 85-8, 26 all out apart from the
figures of Michael Cook 5 for 4. Cook, with Alan Bristow gave the team an
improved depth of bowling talent. What sticks in the memory most about the day
was the world's worst tea - two sandwiches and one chocolate biscuit each
served at the local pub by a new landlord. In those days Bodicote's appetite
was more than healthy and teas were generally devoured with great gusto so it was
surprising the team were in any condition to bowl and field after the meagre
offering.
There were even caravan rallies in those days so the
next home game against Claydon was played at North Aston. Claydon's 63 was passed with 3 wickets down. Gary Harker took his average
to 24 with 28 and opener Colin Parfitt improved on his average of 4 with 20 NO.
The following week Bodicote's 97 against Middleton 'A' proved more than enough.
The visitors, who included JR, current umpire John Rutland, not the
Preston Capes visited Bodicote next and amassed 151-7
with Marshallunfortunately injured having bowled 8 overs 1 for 7. However
Bodicote were on a roll by now. Parfitt and Campbell put on 71 for the 1st
wicket with Bob scoring the only half century of the season and Barlow &
Harker finished off the job as the total was reached for the loss of only 4
wickets with 7 overs to spare.
Bodicote's seven match winning run had taken them up
to second, just two points behind leaders Thornborough who they were to play
next. With
As well as the SNCL Bodicote continued to compete in
the Brackley Midlweek League and various cups with seemingly endless trips to
Chacombe and Middleton and bizarrely two games at Helmdon on successive nights.
At Middleton they came up against Glen Letheran who played in goal for
So three years after finishing bottom of Division Four
the team would be entering the top flight of the SNCL in 1983 and walk with the
Gods - Wardington, Middleton, Byfield et al.
1983
Another
promotion even before the season had started saw a place in SNCL Division One
upgraded to the Faccenda Premier Division thanks to a sponsorship deal with the
local poultry suppliers that saw new balls provided for each game.
Unfortunately
for Bodicote a number of players were off to improve themselves for much of the
summer - Col Parfitt & Maurice Marshall to Exeter Uni, Michael Cook to Bath
Uni, Alan Bristow to Leeds Uni and Ivan Veall to the meat counter at Gateway
(now Somerfields). His job earned him the sobriquet Rasher and prevented
regular Saturday appearances for most of the season but allowed him to captain
the midweek side. Another player not able to play on Saturdays was Skipper Bob
Campbell who stood down due to child care duties on Saturdays meaning that Ian
Bloom took over at the helm. Budding thespian Gerald Heys was appointed
secretary which had disaster written all over it.
Fortunately
The season
kicked off with a visit to one of the big three - Byfield. This was to prove a
veritable baptism of fire and Bodicote were bundled out for 47 with only PT
(14) making double figures. Debutants for Bodicote were Alcan man Eric Barlow and
More new
players the week after included Chris Reynolds, Mark Faux and another Barlow
Uni. friend, David (
Week 4 saw
the visit to Lords to play Wardington and this time the weather was poor enough
to see the game rained off with Wardington champing at the bit for the easy
five points on offer. King Sutton were the visitors the following week and with
runs still hard to come by on a shin high wet outfield were dismissed for 93
with Woody taking 4-17.This again proved too much for the home side who managed
52, debutant Gerald Heys (wonder where on earth he is know) finished with six
not out.
With
Kingsfield not available for the next home game Bodicote played leaders
Middleton Cheney at North Aston. Boosted by the return from Exeter of Marshall
and Parfitt C we even managed three figures, 103-8, with Woody and PT both
making 20s and another new boy Swanson M, heart throb of all Bicester, 11. As
the rain clouds circled Middleton went for the quick win and SNCL legend Paul
Wilkins and J R(utland - still umpiring to this day)
both scored freely. However wickets for Barlow (surprisingly) and Paul Harper
(miraculously) saw Middleton fall to 80-7 before edging home by three wickets -
still at least we had competed for once.
The week
after the sun shone at last as Bodicote made the long trip to fellow strugglers
Thornborough where the home team rattled up 163-7. With the top three of Quinn,
Miles and Richard Beard (a useful ringer from Warmington & Alcan) all
scoring 20s the situation didn't look too bad at 96-3, unfortunately this
became 113 all out to leave Bodicote marooned at the bottom of the league.
Culworth also enjoyed the Bodicote bowling attack a week later as they managed
159-4 - how times have changed Fred Eaton batted at 4. However Bodicote made a
spirited reply with Beard, Woodruff and Barlow all in the runs and at one stage
were 122-6 before slumping to 127 all out.
The halfway
point of the season came with Syresham the visitors - remarkably Bodicote's
sixth home game in nine matches, John Blower's computer must have been playing
up. Syresham's 126 which saw a four wicket haul for Paul Harper, proved over
100 too many as Bodicote managed just 23. They were blown away by
With
Mid July and
Leaders
Wardington were in town the next week for their first visit to Kingsfield since
the 1980 cup shock. They made 183-8 although Bodicote had the satisfaction of
removing Ian Sloan for 0, c&b Thurby. Bodicote's response never got going
and they made 102. Woody scored 30 and 20 came from the bat of stand-in captain Quinn, whose
captaincy star was in the ascendancy at the time, remarkably as his future
leadership skills came to the fore! King Sutton away and the teams improved
batting form deserted them as they could only manage 87-9 with Al Parfitt top
scoring on 26 NO. Surprisingly this looked a winning target as Sutton slumped
to 33-8 thanks to 5-23 from
Bodicote
then produced their most abject performance in the second half of the season
against Thornborough losing 117 all out, 118-2. The only highlight was Woody's
71. Woody was again in the runs with 35 at Culworth the following week where
some later order hitting from Cook (33) and skipper Bloom (20) helped the team
to 152-8. A couple of early wickets saw Dennis Cadd and Nigel Rush come
together for the home side. Then came a song-inspiring moment as Rush edged a
ball to keeper Parfitt off Michael Cook. Edge implies a thin contact, this was
not, it could be heard all round the ground but unfortunately umpire Reynolds
did not see/hear it. Rush did not improve the situation by announcing yes he
had hit it but as he got some bad decisions he wasn't going to walk.
The song to
the tune of Terry Jacks Seasons in the Sun -
We had joy
we fun
we
had Culworth on the run
but
we couldn't stay in front
because
Nigel Rush is a cheating c*** (I think you can guess the rest)
After this
the wheels came off, Cook missed a skier of a caught and bowled and Rush's 71
helped the side to a 5 wicket win.
So to
Syresham for the last game of an eventful campaign and the home side ground out
124-5 with opener Linford carrying his bat for 42 NO! Bodicote chose to open
with the Parfitt brothers and they were both back in the pavilion with 4 on the
board but PT (39 and Woody (56) helped the team to a six wicket victory and Ian
Bloom's only success as captain in what proved a difficult season for him.
The team had
undoubtedly found the step up in standard very difficult with no easy wickets
or runs to be had. Woody and PT both did well with the bat and Maurice carried
the bowling with good support from Bristow. However many other in the team did
improve as could be seen in performances in the midweek league and a series of
Sunday friendlies in the second half of the season.
Highlights
on Sundays included a score of 216 at the Bartholomew Arms Blakesley where PT
flicked one off his toes which such venom that it took out a pavilion window,
narrowly missing the shocked home team's scorer on the way. PT scored 64 on the
coconut matting at Greens Norton as the home side's 148 was reached with 6
wickets down. Bob Campbell (52) and Woody (47) put on 100 for the first wicket in a rain
affected match at Priors. There were two fixtures against Grendon Underwood
which were the fore-runners to today's annual Beaujolais Golf match. The first
saw a resounding 172-6 to 134 all out win and the second on August Bank Holiday
saw a ringer strengthened Grendon make 180-4 to which Bodicote replied with
177-7 with Woody scoring 53. Warborough were made to suffer for 49 overs as
Bodicote ran up 234-8 with Bristow scoring 54. Veall took 6-10 as the visitors
totalled 49 and quietly dropped Bodicote from their fixture list for being too
competitive. Even Barlow got in on the act with 67 NO in a 167-5 to 100 all out
win at Deddington. The team even managed to score 111 at Farnborough with its
knee high outfield.
A rare loss
came at Radway but it did produce one of the classic Bodicote fielding moments
and a remarkable evening's entertainment. Early in the Radway innings a batsman
played the ball to point and set off for a run, indecision set in and the two
runners were both stranded in mid-pitch. The Bodicote fielder at point was Col
Parfitt who it is fair to say was no Jonty Rhodes.
Have you
heard of Botham and Mike Brearley?
Have you
heard of the Road End, Headingley?
No said Joe
I don’t think so
But I have
heard of the Bodicote COW END
A trip to
the Castle Inn saw the team meet Alexi Sayle and then after many drinks it was
back the Blincowe house in
To counter
balance the lack of success on Saturday's the Veall captained midweek XI
enjoyed a good season in the Brackley Midweek League. Many of the Saturday
regulars played along with Bob Campbell, Nick Wills (Horley), John Coombes and
occasionally the now sadly departed Paul Morgan. Morgers was an absolutely top
man who was mainly a (superb) hockey goalkeeper who would have loved to have
played more cricket. He scored the only 50 of the midweek season at
Brackley.
Towards the end
of the season Bodicote, Middleton and Bibbys were all in contention for the
title. Bibbys were seen off when the Parfitt boys opened and secured a 10 wicket win chasing 92.
Although they did time their innings to perfection as only 2 balls remained when
the target was reached which saw much pacing beyond the boundary for other team members -
Barlow in particular.
This result
set up a grandstand finish with Bodicote two points clear of Middleton Cheney
who they would meet on the last round of matches. A win for Middleton would
force a play off the following week. With teams playing each other twice in
those days the game was played on 21 August meaning the toss would be crucial
as it would soon be dark even with a 6 pm start. Veall called correctly and
94-7 which included 43 from Bob Campbell looked to be enough as the evening set
in.
Bodicote
were supported that evening by Tim Rogers who had recently escaped from
Blisworth to return to the village with a young damsel (Jessica) in tow. They
watched (some of) the game from the boundary although even
the usually unflappable Blincowe was surprised how close they were when
he retrieved a ball from close by them. Despite the game finishing in almost
pitch black Middleton stayed in touch and by the time the last ball was to be
bowled by skipper Veall they had reached 93 with the last pair at the wicket.
Veall will claim tactical genius but his next ball was a wide which took the
scores level. However in the excitement the Middleton non-striker was already halfway
down the pitch and the batsman also ran to allow keeper Campbell to run out the
non-striker and the tie meant that Bodicote took the title!
1984
In any club's history there are good years and bad and 1984 unfortunately, in
terms of results has to go down in the latter category.
After one season in charge Ian Bloom stood down a captain to be replaced by
Kevin Quinn who, it was hoped, would bring cerebral talents to the role - alas
how wrong we were! On the playing side Ivan Veall had joined Colin Parfitt,
Michael Cook and Alan Bristow at college, studying Theatre Studies. On the
positive (?) side Maurice Marshall's sojourn at
Another departure was the tree that stood diagonally opposite the current tree
at deepish mid on bowling from the village end which had died and was cut down.
Part of the trunk was placed outside of the village hall and became a useful
seat / something for the scoreboard to lean on / primitive slip cradle. It was
also famously rescued from a blazing inferno later in the season by Firefighters
Barlow and Parfitt R (Sister of Col and Alan) one night on a return from Town
when it was spotted alight with the flames licking the village hall.
The opening week of the season saw Eydon rattle up 179-5 with the former
captain Bloom's figures not improved by being relieved of captaincy duties
-12-0-73-1. Bodicote's reply was a feeble 39. However the team bounced back at
home to Twyford the following week. Batting stalwarts Woodruff and Miles turned
bowling stars taking 4 and 5 wickets respectively to dismiss the visitors for
75. Bodicote edged home to a one wicket win with Chris Ro gers top scoring with
18 on the first time in recent season s that a father and son (Tim - who had
scored a duck!) took the field together for the club. Long Buckby, who were
relegated with Bodicote at the end of 1983, were looking to go straight back up
an d their score of 176-4 proved almost 100 too many
for Bodicote. Priors Utd also thrashed Bodicote the following week with Woody
scoring 20* out of 62 and taking 3-13 off 12 as the total was reached for 4
wickets. Woody also did well the following week as he scored 36 out of
Bodicote's 83-8 off 40 overs against Charlton who were playing their last
season out of the top flight and they easily reached 84-3. It was PTs turn to
play the all rounder a week later as he took 4 wickets in Croughton's 123-8
then top scored with 43 in Bodicote's reply of 81.
By now Bodicote were bottom of the table but received a boost the following
week in the (sadly no more) local derby against Adderbury. Maurice, who had
been travelling back from Streatham to play was rewarded wi
th a five wicket haul in Adderbury's 122-9. In reply PT scored a six-studded
67* as the total was reached with just four wickets down. Bodicote achieved
their third win of the season a week later at Claydon who were bowled out for
90. A partnership of 59 between captain Quinn (33*)
and young Alan Parfitt (28) for the third wicket helped Bodicote to a
comfortable seven wicket win. Their mini run came to an end at Middleton Cheney
who made 112 and Bodicote, who met a young (and then a lot slimmer) Ty King for
the first time, made 90 with King finishing with 6-23.
This was the halfway point of the season and the team was bolstered by the
returning undergrads Parfitt C, Bristow and Veall for the trip to Eydon.
The following week saw the high spot of the season - the visit of league
leaders Charlton. Rivalry between the clubs was intense in those days and
Bodicote scored 116-3 off a rain reduced 29 overs with PT hitting a marvellous
78*. Charlton's reply foundered in the wet conditions and Dick Taylor produced
his all-time Jelly Brain moment in letting slip / throwing his bat at Young Al
fielding in close . Bob Campbell appealed for
something - obstructing field? and JB was given out, much swearing and the
decision was reversed only for Marshall to snare him soon afterwards in a
pumped up spell of 6-37 Charlton were dismissed for 77 which as this messed up
their title challenge made the win particularly satisfying. Croughton were well
beaten the following week 131-7 / 90 all out with Barlow re-adapting from boule
to take 5 wickets. The only double of the campaign was secured at Adderbury the
week after but not without some alarms. After a typically
breezy 30 from PT Bodicote slumped from 60-2 to 67-8 but were rescued by a
ninth wicket partnership of 42 between Veall (25*) and
The late burst of 4 wins in the last 5 games meant that the playing record was
Pl 18, W 8 L 10 - no rained off matches at all which must be a record. PT
batted well to score 345 runs at an average of 23 and Col Parfitt also averaged
over 20. Marshal l again led the bowling with 40 wickets in 15 games and
captain's Quinn's stock fell in light of bizarre field placings, batting orders
and bowling changes!
There was to be no repeat of the previous season's success in the Midweek
League. High lights included a 100 opening partnership between PT (55) and Ian
Phillipson (48) who was to be lured away from Bloxham to play on Saturdays in
1986 and PT also scored 58 in a huge total of 138-6 against Sibford.
A programme of Sunday friendlies were played in the
second half of the season. On a rare outing as skipper Maurice declared before
tea at Greens Norton having thought we had got enough with 152-8 only for their
2}{\f1\super nd}{\f1 wicket pair to put on 127 in under 30 overs to win the
game. Bodicote made a dismal 46 all out at North Aston who knocked them off for
seven thanks to an unbroken 8th wicket partnership of 23. In the ensuing beer
match Swanny made 54*! Maurice made his highest ever score, 45, opening against
Deddington The final match of the season was a game at Grendon Underwood which
was rained off at tea but not before PT had compiled his first ton, 108, in a
seventh wicket partnership of 107 with Woody (43*)
1985
1985 arrived
and the portents did not look good. Veall, Bristow, Barlow and Parfitt C were
all finishing off degrees, Maurice was having his second crack at the world of
Higher education at UEA and even Young Al was old enough to go off to college.
PT took over the captaincy and he and Woody again shouldered the workload of
the club.
Perennial
opening day adversaries, the now sadly defunct Eydon, were Bodicote’s
first opponents and they made 99 with quickie Woody taking 2-11 off 9 and
occasional spin bowler Chris Reynolds 3-16. Unfortunately this proved too many
for Bodicote with only debutant Michael Coombes making double figures, 12 in a
total of 57. Michael was son of Adderbury player and Plough regular John and at
one time managed the Horse & Jockey. He had a good eye but unfortunately
never became a regular player. Chipping Warden visited for week 2 and they were
strengthened by the move from Wardington of the Reynolds brothers Mick and
Steve. They made 136 and a win looked possible when Bodicote reached 88-2
before the inevitable collapse to 103. Two debutants that day were Ian
Phillipson and Nick Henning and their performances were a shape of things to
come. Ian scored 22 and became a regular from 1986-1988 when he scored a stack
of runs. Nick was a Quinn-signing from
Maurice was
still around the following week when high flying Syresham visited. He produced
one of his best all-round performances, 5-19 and a grinding 31 but to no avail
as Bodicote could only make 77-8 chasing 110. Runs were proving hard to come by
and the nadir was reached on a wretched dog of a track at Croughton where
Bodicote were bowled out for 23 with Vaughan Martin, who is still trundling
them down for Evenley, took 9-14. Croughton knocked off the runs for the loss
of 3 wickets. Local rivals Adderbury visited Kings Field in week 7 and
Bodicote’s
batting
got back on track with Woody scoring 35 no and PT 38 in an improved 125-5.
However Adderbury reached their target with a couple of overs to spare thanks
to 57 no from the Bodicote village bobby Terry Philp who was to enjoy a
successful season for us in 1987. Week 8 and the first points on the board when
the rain intervened at tea at Claydon after Bodicote had made 90 all out.
Things got even better as the team reached the turn with a visit to league
leaders Badby. Ian Phillipson (64) and PT (58) put on 99 for the 2nd
wicket and helped Bodicote reach 146-4. In reply Badby were bowled out for 125
with 2.5 overs left. The metronomic PZ was the pick of the bowlers with 3-24
off his 12 overs. Remarkably in the 1st half of the season PZ bowled
out his 12 overs for between 22 and 24 on six occasions!
Eydon
visited Bodicote to start the second half of the campaign and the side was
starting to strengthen up with Col & Al Parfitt, Ivan, Maurice and Barlow
in the line-up. The latter was to feature memorably in the Banbury Guardian the
following Thursday with the photo of a head up smear as his stumps were splayed
above the caption “….. lifts his head with
fatal consequences”. Bodicote recorded their second win but only narrowly
winning by 2 runs 103 – 101. The good run continued at Chipping Warden
where Woody made 58 no and Col Parfitt 32 in a total of 144-4. Maurice took
5-19 to help bowl the home side out for 95.
A crucial
relegation battle against Helmdon the next week could not be played at Kings
field due to the annual caravan rally and the salubrious surroundings of the
Wykham Hall artificial turf wicket was used or the game. The wicket was not easy to score quickly on
and Bodicote were indebted to Al Parfitt with 31 to take them to 107-8.
Helmdon’s reply was always up with the rate but they kept losing wickets
and ended up 92 all out with 5 overs to go.
The good run
came to an end at Priors despite a useful all-round performance from Barlow. He
took 4-17 in their total of 115 and added 43 in the Bodicote response of 102. The week
after saw Bodicote well beaten at league leaders Syresham who knocked off 81 to
win by 9 wickets. The poor run looked set to continue with another home game at
Wykham Hall against Croughton. Bodicote made 68 all out in 31 overs but with
Ivan, Maurice, PZ and Woody all bowling tightly Croughton could only score 43
all out in 26 overs. A week later the runs flowed more freely at Adderbury as PT
went ballistic scoring 91 and with Kevin Quinn making 42 no Bodicote racked up
a then record Saturday score of 196-9.
Adderbury were never going to get near this and ended 98 all out. The
next week a narrow win was achieved over Claydon. Bodicote made 102 all out
with a useful contribution coming from “Skipper” Instone who made
20, his best Saturday score. Barlow took 5-35 to help the team to an 11 run
win. The final week of the season saw Badby visit needing a win to ensure
promotion. However they were never in the hunt being bowled out for 72. PT
opened with Ian Phillipson and smashed a quick 49, including a 6 and four 4s in
an over. They put on 71 before both were out as was Al Parfitt for a duck to
leave Bodicote victorious by 7 wickets.