Excerpt from "Surrey Advertiser" July 12th 1968
Sydenhurst's memorable tour matches
For their last six tours, Sydenhurst Ramblers have journeyed to the Birmingham area. This year, however, they settled for a base a little nearer home-the New Forest (more precisely The Bramble Hill Hotel at Bramshaw). Fortunately, Ramblers enjoyed excellent weather for most of the week, unlike the Normandy club who had been in the same area a week previously, and five of the six games were completed.
The first game against Southampton Touring Club at the Sports Centre on Sunday was lost heavily by 103 runs. Touring Club made slow progress before lunch but were never really in difficulty as the wicket lost its "greenness".
Afterwards Don Barnes (6-67) made inroads into their batting as the home club sought to hurry the score along. He was not helped by a malady that beset Ramblers' fielding all week-namely dropping catches. Touring Club were all out for 228.
Second over
When Longham bowled Harper and Roy Hardy with consecutive balls in his second over, the tourists' batting collapsed to 41-6. Don Barnes (33) and Brook Colts' captain Spencer (23) held out for a time, and it was particularly pleasant to see young Spencer succeeding where the more senior batsmen had failed.
On Monday at Ringwood, Ramblers won the toss and batted against Ellingham. Adrian Stephenson (29) and Hampshire's Trevor Jesty (43), (guesting for the Ramblers) gave them a good start, but once again the middle order failed. Tony Wood (31), batting late, and Don Barnes (29*) retrieved the situation, however, and Ramblers were able to declare at 167-9.
Jesty, keeping wicket, took 2 catches and had two stumpings including ex-Brook player Ernie Bignell (36) who had helped to put on 65 for the 5th wicket - but with the home side's last man at the wicket to face one ball - successfully - at 131-9, Ramblers had to settle for a draw. Les Smithers (3-21 in 11 overs) returned the best bowling figures.
On the Tuesday at Sherborne C.C.'s Terrace ground, the rain ruined further chances of play with Ramblers 30-0 after 9 overs.
Wednesday saw Ramblers at Winchester's King George V Playing Fields against the newly formed Winchester City C.C. The latter - strengthened by Richard Lewis and John Houlder from Hampshire - batted first. Leslie Smithers had the ghastly experience of dropping three "caught and bowled" chances in his first two overs from Lewis (but had Bob Haynes catch him behind 2 overs later. Winchester were all out in 43.4 overs for only 128. Smithers returned 3-31).
Ramblers never really got the score moving in their innings. There was no doubt that the long boundary plus a lush outfield impeded progress, but many singles were missed into the bargain. They finished up 102-8 (44 overs). Another draw.
Hard hitting
Back at Sherborne on the Thursday, this time on the splendid School ground, Ramblers faced the Ushers (Sherborne School Masters' XI captained by former Northants and Dorset off spinner Derek Bridge).
D.M.Daniels (Cambridge Blue 1964/65 who later played for Dorset and Bedfordshire) scored 27 of the 28 on the board in the first 2 overs for the Ushers, and in the hour the hundred was passed. At 120, Daniels gave a hard chance to Andrew Hart at mid-wicket, which was held. He had made 77. Bloy (68) was bowled by Don Barnes 30 runs later, and the latter captured 2 more wickets to return 4-74. Ushers declared at 228-5.
Ramblers made a good start in their reply. Tony Wood and Roy Hardy put on 91 for the first wicket. Tony was in particularly belligerent form, and his contribution of 72 included 12 fours and a five. When these two were out, Ramblers continued to chase for runs.
Too many wickets fell unfortunately in the desperate attempt to gain the first Tour win, and once again Ramblers had to settle for a draw at 183-9. For the Ushers, former Brook left-arm spinner Bill Lander, bowling down the hill, took 6-65).
A sunny week's cricket came to a close on the Friday at the Hampshire County Cricket Ground, Northlands Road, Southampton where Ramblers had their annual tussle with the Dorset Agrarians.
Agrarians batted first and were soon 24-2. Young was joined by Trevor Jesty (playing for the opposition on this occasion and these two put on 133 for the 3rd wicket of which Jesty made 105 before succumbing to Mike Bacon's gentle off-breaks).
Young was out at 203-5 having taken 147 minutes over his 37. Evidently Maurice Tory, Agrarians' skipper did not consider they were keeping pace with the clock for in he came and threw bat at ball. In a magnificent spell of hitting he scored 42 in 2 overs off Michael Gauntlett including 4 consecutive sixes. He was out caught for 75 (made in 40 minutes inc. 6 sixes, 6 fours) and shortly afterwards declared at 293-9 leaving Ramblers 160 minutes batting time.
This very stiff challenge was never accepted, and unfortunately the match dwindled into another draw. Suffice to say that for the second day running Tony Wood (66) passed the half century, and Adrian Stephenson (101*) coasted to his only hundred for the Club and the first Ramblers' century this season. Ramblers, at the close, had reached 222-4.