STORY OF A GREAT CATCHARTICLE FROM "NEWS CHRONICLE" - Monday, July 13th, 1931
STORY OF A GREAT CATCH
THE HIT OF THE AFTERNOON
TEN WICKETS BY TWO BROTHERS
By A.E.R.Gilligan, Former Captain of England, with Cumberworth sketches
After seeing the beginning of the Dulwich-Tonbridge match at Dulwich on Saturday, I motored Cumberworth to Chiddingfold, Surrey.
The cricket ground, which resembles the Mote Park, Maidstone, and is called Sydenhurst, is at the top of a hill right on the Surrey-Sussex borderland. The property belongs to Mr. Booth, a great old sportsman (he is nearly 80), whose house adjoins the playing field, which has a delightful rustic pavilion.
A hayfield marks the boundary on the east side, and a barbed wire fence, which runs on two other sides, has on occasions necessitated considerable repairs to the clothing of fieldsmen.
WHAT A CATCH!
There is a very sharp drop below the fence, and rumour has it that until 30 years ago there was no boundary on this side of the ground.
There is a story that years ago a fieldsman was told to go and field halfway down the hill. After two hours he made a brilliant catch and rushed triumphantly to the top-only to find that he had caught one of his own team, who had disposed of their opponents half an hour previously!
Dunsfold won the toss, and Jepps and Remnant opened the innings in fine style quickly putting up 46, when Jepps was well caught at point.
W.Voller, a motor engineer, joined Remnant, a farmer's son, and runs came quickly.
Remnant, who carried his bat, reminded me of Herbie Collins, the Australian skipper of 1924, by his stance, his running between the wickets, and particularly his effective methods of dealing with the leg-ball.
There was an amusing incident-the hit of the afternoon.
Dennis Billimore, a builder, whose fielding and accurate returns had been good, provided it. With a lightning return he hit Voller, who was scrambling in a stooping position to regain his crease. It was a full toss, and Voller was struck hard in an unexpected....but I said he was stooping.
Carter, the Chiddingfold captain (a builder) consulted with Denyer (employed at Cooper's walking-stick factory), who was bowling right-hand medium, and re-arranged his slips. This astute move saved many runs.
Carter, who has only one eye, dismissed two men caught and bowled; the second, which got rid of Preston, being a very remarkable catch indeed.
NOT ONE BYE
The infection spread, and Jacques, who works at an aircraft factory, brought off two really brilliant catches at mid-on. Dennis Billimore was his fortunate bowler. He bowled very well to take 5 for 20.
Martin, also an employee at the walking-stick factory, kept wicket magnificently, and did not concede a single bye. The wicket was inclined to be fiery, ands the way he stopped several rising balls was memorable.
During the interval, I was delighted to meet Mr.H.T.Chalcraft, who had come specially from Guildford to remind me that he played with my father nearly 40 years ago for the Brixton Wanderers at the Old Greyhound ground, Dulwich.
I also saw Mr.Bowley, Ted Bowley's father, who was delighted at his son's great success for Sussex in his benefit year.
IN THE PAVILION
A group of villagers seated on an enormous tree trunk, with hay scattered about, made a very pleasant picture.
Chiddingfold opened disastrously against the fast right-hand bowling of C.Voller, a carpenter, and his brother W.Voller. Scotcher, whose father keeps the Sun Inn at Dunsfold, brought off two brilliant catches at the wicket. The Dunsfold fielding was certainly very keen, and the men were well placed. The Vollers bowled unchanged.
At tea, which Mrs. Denver served in the pavilion, Keith Cooper drew attention to my "Hints on Batting" which the "News Chronicle" published in 1929. The "hints" were exhibited on the wall. Cumberworth said he hoped they were not the cause of Chiddingfold's downfall.
Wickets again fell quickly after tea, and Denyer, whose batting was outstanding and very plucky, was caught off a rising ball at third-man.
Then N.Rockwood, who gives and takes chaff equally well, provided us with the most delightful walk to the wicket. The "hero of the team", as his cricket mates dub him, also produced the most extraordinary style of batting I have ever seen. He slid backwards and then forwards, and, in attempting to cut a ball wide on the off, did the splits! K.Cooper said a film-star could not have done it better.
His partner was quickly bowled, and a delightful afternoon of real village cricket ended in Dunsfold winning by 52 runs.
DUNSFOLD
A.F.Jepps c Mullard b Gamble 31
P.Remnant not out 46
G.Erricker b Denyer 6
C.Voller b Mullard 0
W.Voller c and b Carter 27
W.Tidy c H.Cooper b D.Billimore 4
Capt. Preston c and b Carter 4
L.J.Conway b D.Billimore 0
F.Matthews c Jacques b D.Billimore 1
F.Scotcher b D.Billimore 0
A.Rodman c Jacques b D.Billimore 1
No Ball 1
120
Bowling: D.Billimore five for 20
CHIDDINGFOLD
D.Billimore c Scotcher b C.Voller 1
H.Cooper c Scotcher b W.Voller 1
A.Denyer c W.Voller b C.Voller 36
S.Carter c and b W.Voller 0
R.Gamble b W.Voller 9
K.Cooper c Scotcher b W.Voller 0
C.Martin c C.Voller b W.Voller 4
R.Mullard c Matthews b W.Voller 1
N.Jacques c Scotcher b W.Voller 7
N.Rockwood not out 1
S.Billimore b C.Voller 5
Extras 3
68
Bowling: W.Voller 7 for 36; C.Voller 3 for 29
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Notes:
Harold Cooper was the first President of Sydenhurst Ramblers being involved with the Club until 1957. He and his brother Keith owned the walking-stick manufacturers, Cooper & Sons referred to in the above article. Both were supporters of Brook CC.
In 1987, Chris Terry made an approach to the then owners of the Sydenhurst ground with a view to purchase on behalf of the Club "while I am young enough to get everything established for the next generation". A price was agreed but unfortunately Chris was unable to attract sufficient funds from the local authority and elsewhere to top up his own planned contribution.