1971 Match Reports
/
Match Reports /
08 May 1971
Tight Finish (8.5.1971)
Wigston obtained their first win of the season.
Hinckley were much indebted to Craythorne and Cotton who between them, scored most of their side’s runs.
In reply Norman James again batted soundly, and with competent innings from Bob Markham and Doug Moore, Wigston were nicely poised throughout.
Steady bowling ensured the tight finish that saw Richard Carter and Paul Dunkley just tip the scales for their side.
Hinckley declared at 136 for five and Wigston scored 137 for six.
Narrow Defeat For Wigston (23.5.1971)
In an exciting match played on a somewhat unpredictable wicket, Wigston narrowly lost a game played in almost continuous rain.
Under the circumstances that prevailed, White and Neal batted soundly against the quicker bowlers and with a score of 60 for three wickets, things looked well for their side. The advent of spin bowler Roy Mason to the attack altered the situation drastically for in five overs he claimed all the remaining wickets for a mere 26 runs.
Wigston’s reply was none too convincing at the onset, David Gibbins, the most prolific scorer in the side was unfortunately run out and further wickets tumbled quickly until half the side were out with only 28 runs accredited.
David Loydall struck a few quick blows to take the total to 43 and a good stand of 19 between Brian Carter and Jim Colver took the score to within a chance of victory.
John Hammond added his runs carefully and Roger Hensman stood firm against the hostile bowling. Needing only five to win, David Hill was taken first ball from his glove and thus showed the tension of the last half hour.
Everard Cup Result (25.5.1971)
The Globetrotters made further progress in the Everard Cup by defeating Wigston at Oadby last week.
The Globetrotters made a good score but Wigston made a brave effort in poor conditions and finished 17 runs behind.
Victory In The Last Over For Wigston (5.6.1971)
Wigston achieved a very exciting win, on the grounds of their strong opponents, Rugby Oakfield, victory being delayed until only two balls of the match were left to be bowled.
After losing an early wicket, Norman James and Doug Moore batted soundly to take the score to 50 and to the latter fell the distinction of the day’s highest knock. David Hill later in the innings boosted the total with a succession of boundary shots.
For the home team, Barratt bowled exceptionally well, his ten overs costing only eleven runs.
David Hill, for Wigston also bowled with hostility and claimed seven wickets for 37 runs, including two in the last nail-biting over.
2nd XI Run Spree (5.6.1971)
Whilst the seniors were engaged in their struggle, the Wigston 2nd XI were enjoying a run spree against Hallaton, scoring 211 in just under two hours batting.
In their reply the visitors were unable to cope with the well controlled seam bowling of Vic Clayton who finished with eight wickets for 51 runs in 15 overs.
Wigston Were Better Team (12.6.1971)
Once again Wigston were involved in a long drawn out struggle on a wet wicket against Hinckley Casuals and again proved themselves slightly the better at adapting to the difficult conditions.
Batting first Bob Markham and Norman James put their side in a commanding position with a stand of 47, the highest of the match.
Cotton and Shade, the change bowlers exploited the conditions cleverly and accounted, between them, for nine of the visitors’ wickets.
The home team cut rather a sorry figure after the interval, for in reaching their total, 52 overs were necessary and Allen alone stood firm against the Wigston attack. A feature of the innings was the number of maidens overs bowled by the visitors, 18 in all.
2nd XI Continue Winning Run (12.6.1971)
Wigston 2nd XI continued their winning run at Isham, thanks to the skills of Ken Hammond, who obtained most of his side’s total after losing four wickets for the same amount of runs.
Easiest Victory (19.6.1971)
The first part of Wigston’s weekend double – their match against Wakerley and Barrowden on Saturday – proved to be the easiest victory ever achieved. For the 23 runs scored by their opponents was the lowest score from any visiting team.
Batting brightly enough after a delayed start the Wigston players forced the pace to be able to declare at normal tea break. Several of their players paid the price of rash strokes resulting from this plan.
The visitors really were at sea against the Wigston bowlers and only ten overs were needed to achieve this hollow result.
Triumphant Wigston (20.6.1971)
On Sunday Wigston CC met Ratby CC and the game proved to be more of a struggle for Wigston than the previous days “slaughter” of Wakerley and Barrowden.
The wicket was extremely soft and damp and the outfield sodden. But despite this Wigston came out triumphant, beating their opponents by 37 runs.
Wigston Slammed By Oadby (27.6.1971)
Wigston were really slammed by Oadby on Sunday, their total score being overtaken by Oadby for the loss of only one wicket.
Wigston were all out for 54 runs and Oadby scored 55 for one wicket.
Player of the match must surely have been Oadby’s Kevin Commons, who bowled eight wickets for 23 runs. His bowling was fast and accurate and Wigston had no way to combat it.
Mike Bull and Vic Dufour opened the batting for Oadby and scoring was brisk before Dufour was caught at gully. John Armitage joined Mike Bull and between them scored the remaining runs required.
Wigston Secure A Good Win (10.7.1971)
Given a sound start by Jim Colver and Ken Hammond, Wigston held the upper hand of this match for most of the afternoon and finally secured a good win with the aid of a variety of bowlers, all of whom proved successful on a typically easy paced Oadby wicket.
For Oadby, Pritchard batted soundly enough to stay while wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
Excellent Start Leads To Wigston Double (17.7.1971)
In the first ever encounter between the two teams, Wigston, the visiting team, achieved a very convincing victory.
Bob Markham and Derek Young made a sound start on an easy paced wicket adding 70 runs in the first 50 minutes.
Markham went on to total 85 runs, being well taken when a century began to look something of a formality. Richard Carter also batted brightly for his 47 runs, and the total at tea, for six wickets proved far more than the home side could muster.
Derek Young and Vic Clayton, the latter promoted from the second eleven, took wickets regularly, aided by splendid catching and fielding.
Wigston Complete Weekend Double (18.7.1971)
Wigston completed a good weekend “double” when overwhelming the strong Heather side on Sunday.
Once again they were indebted to a solid opening partnership that ensured a sizeable total and with a sound innings from Bob Markham, Norman James and David Gibbins, soon had passed a total of 100.
Roy Mason also weighed in with an aggressive 29 to consolidate matters and the tail-enders had a fling with the bat that cost wickets but ensured the formidable total.
Resounding Victory (24.7.1971)
Playing Carlton Hayes at the Hospital ground on Saturday, Wigston C.C. emphasized their cup win with a resounding victory by 94 runs.
Batting first on an easy paced wicket, the visitors were soon under way with openers Bob Markham and Norman James gathering quick runs on a fast outfield. Eleven fours flowed from the latter’s bat and 85 runs accrued for the first wicket. Later Vic Hardy arrived on the scene to hammer a quick half century including eight fours and with Markham still picking up runs a sizeable total was assured at tea.
The home side were rarely in the hunt after losing Swingler, well caught at first slip off the first ball of their innings and wickets fell at regular intervals, most of them to magnificent catches around the wicket. The final wicket fell with barely time to play another over, thus ended the second exciting game against the same opponents in two days.
A Grand Weekend (25.7.1971)
A grand weekend was completed with a well-merited win at Blackfordby and here again a close finish brought in an element of tension, this time due to the intervention of rain.
Easy Victory For Wigston (1.8.1971)
Another good victory this, for Wigstons second string against near-neighbours Stoughton and Thurnby. For rarely did the home side look convincing.
Steady and accurate bowling by Paul Bell and Vic Clayton who operated unchanged through the afternoon, coupled with neat and tidy fielding kept the home batsmen in check for long periods.
Pettifor and to the lesser extent, Cave, batted with competence and to the former went the honour of scoring more than half of his sides runs off the bat. All the wickets went for a total of 69 runs.
Wigstons innings was a more forthright affair though Baker bowled well enough to take all the wickets that were lost and generally contained the batsmen to the odd single here and there.
David Gibbins, playing the anchor role batted soundly but to all-rounder Paul Bell fell the honours of the Wigston effort, scoring with the utmost ease in his brief unfinished innings.
Easy Victory (7.8.1971)
The match against Wakerley and Barrowden C.C. was something of a formality, for the home side were no match for Wigston who obtained their runs with ease and then ran through the opposition for a meagre 18 runs.
Kirby Suffer Wrath Of Good Bowling (7.8.1971)
Wigston 2nd XI match with Kirby Muxloe 2nd XI was interesting in that Wigston who batted first, looked a defeated side when their last wicket fell with only 100 runs on the board.
Not a difficult score to match but when Kirby Muxloe went in to bat their wings were clipped by the excellent bowling of Ken Hammond and Len Phillips. Between the pair of them they captured eight wickets for a mere 20 runs in a 16-over spell.
Tight Finish Ends In Draw For Wigston (8.8.1971)
Customary in matches against Great Bowden an interesting game developed into an exciting finale with the result likely to go either way and an eventual draw a fitting result.
Batting first on a placid wicket but with an overlong growth of grass in the outfield, Wigston got off to a good start with an opening stand of 57 by Jim Colver and David Gibbins. Paul Dunkley also played soundly as did his father, Geoff Dunkley, later in the order.
The home side were greatly indebted to Watts for their final tally for he batted with assurance against bowlers taking wickets fairly frequently and looked for the most part capable of winning the match.
