Old Collegians win title after 55-year wait

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 21

Old Collegians win title after 55-year wait

It has taken Old Collegians all of their 55 years to win a senior cricket championship: but they took their title in style at Lancaster Park on Saturday. They beat Lancaster Park by 10 wickets, going in to bat a second time heeding only one run to win. Dave Selby and John

Phillips strode out to bat, but neither had the distinction of taking the club to its greatest goal: the Lancaster Park wicketkeeper, Graham Kench, was entrusted with the ball, and he managed to defeat everything, including Wayne Wilson in the unaccustomed role of wicket-keeper, with a ball

so far down the leg side it went for four byes. This- was the greatest day in the history of the Old Collegians club. It had never before finished better than third in the championship, although over the years had won the highest regard of all opponents for sportsmanship and willingness to take chances.

Old Collegians’ march to victory began with Lindsay Forde taking two quick wickets; they were vital ones, the batsman being the Canterbury representatives David Rathie and Dave Dempsey.

Lancaster Park had started the day at 22 for one, still 101 runs in arrears. These losses made its situation precarious, but there was still hope of Old Collegian’s being set a testing target unhile Bevan Congdon and Rod Latham

were together. Congdon made only 14 in this stand of 52, but while he was there Lancaster Park was still in the game. He was very- Tvell caught, backward of square on the boundary, by young David McMillan.

Latham was again extremely impressive. He seems a little reluctant to defend, but when he does, there is an enormous breadth of bat, usually brushing the pad. He is very quick in his reactions, and when the ball behaved in an odd fashion, as it quite often did, he was able to whisk the bat away late. His power and range of stroke are exciting. There were some majestic drives, ferocious hooks, and huge straight hits in his innings of 46. It was the hook which led Forde took six wickets and .it was a fitting re-

ward not only for accurate and lively seam bowling, but lor loyal service io the club. .

lorn George, the Old Collegians club captain,. was an elated man on Saturday evening, as,his club ’ celebrated its success in I the Willow Room at the; Hagley Sports Centre —■ the booking was made aweek earlier. '

“A great effort, over 53 j years by very many loyal I members,” Mr Geotge i said. “It is a very great i thrill for all concerned.” i It must-have L been of particular satisfaction to' Mr George, for it embel-; lished a remarkable record as a club captain. He was j captain of the Christ-1 church Rugby Club for; some years, and in that time the senior team never lost a knock-out final. There were six such successes?- ; . ..