Cardiff Cavaliers Cricket Club

30^th Anniversary Festival Match: Cardiff Cavaliers v Willow League Chairman’s XI, Thursday 17 July 2008, The Bishop’s Field, Cathedral School, Llandaff

Reporter: Nigel Moore [Ed: we depart from our usual practice of reporters’ anonymity as The Honourable was one of the original Cavaliers from 1978 and so it was thought this would be a fitting occasion for him to lose his reporting ‘virginity’.]

To quote Aristotle “One swallow does not a summer make”. Well, a game of cricket for Cardiff Cavaliers most definitely helps.

Could it really be 30 summers ago we played our first competitive match against the Welsh Folk Museum? On that bright sunny a few pitches away a fledging competition was in its infancy. How appropriate then that the Willow League XI should be opponents on this auspicious occasion. The talk among the venerable Cavaliers in the dressing room was about coffins – not the cricket type – which was a worrying omen. Our fears were allayed when the top scorer from that very first match won the toss and chose to bat. All that was required was for our distinguished statesmanlike umpire to call “play”. The opposition was a truly representative side made up from among the numerous Willow League teams, with each having been invited to provide one of their longest serving players for the festival game.

After assurances they would enter into the spirit of the evening they proceeded to make a devastating strike in only the second over to account for the Cavaliers top class opening bat. Three decades ago heads would have “gone down” but not now. The President played glorious strokes to all parts of the boundary delighting the abundance of young Cavaliers looking on from the pavilion amid a soft chorus of “that one’s for Brownie.”

At about this point in the evening perhaps the finest dive ever executed in the history of the Cavaliers took place. The perpetrator Gorser, picked himself up, brushed himself down and continued to play many exquisite Gower-like shots which were a pleasure to the eye. A variety of lusty blows and delicate touches ensured the innings closed in a far healthier state than had been the case in 1978.

Between innings both teams posed for photographs expertly snapped by Kiran. A rather longer break than usual took place as a few of the front row of Cavaliers had difficulty reverting to a standing position after being requested to kneel.

Glyn opened the bowling with his usual guile and intelligence and soon made the Willow batters play false shots. One particularly mesmerising delivery produced a steepling, spinning, spiralling catch that was dutifully pouched in the outfield. Derek, despite a very painful finger injury, was as parsimonious as ever in presenting run-scoring opportunities.

Mention should be made of the young tyros in this team totalling over 500 years. Vince, who had come to support and became a late replacement for JT, wearing some extremely interesting footwear and Dave, son of one of the originals from the first game (and grandson of one of our emergency substitutes in the early years), fielded superbly much to the relief of some who were now “running on empty”. Behind the timbers, Geoff kept tigerishly and efficiently.

Next came one of the highlights of the game. A ferocious off drive was played scorching the turf as we looked to the boundary. Wardy – was there ever a braver fieldsman – literally got everything behind it, including his head, to prevent even a single. Not to be outdone, Warwick then produced two superb slides in the deep to stop certain boundaries, epitomising the Cavaliers spirit in the field.

In keeping with past tradition this exciting encounter was concluded with a massive six-hit to win the game for the Willow XI. No matter, after counting and confirming bumps and bruises and anticipating the next morning’s stiffness levels, Llandaff Rugby Club was host to the generous after match festivities. Stories of past tours, absent friends and threats to do it all again some time ensued over plates of delicious curry, rice and chips.

Finally, it was left to Steve Davis to complete the duties he undertakes so diligently by making an eloquent speech of thanks to all those who contributed to a memorable and highly enjoyable evening. From this writer’s perspective it’s always been fun and a privilege to play for the Cavaliers – here’s to the next 30 years.

What about the scores? On this occasion it didn’t really seem to matter but just for the record: Cavaliers scored 106 and the Invitation team from the Willow League scored a few more whilst playing a full and gracious part in the celebrations.

Cavaliers 106/5 (20ovs, Moore 30 ret, Newbury 30ret, Goring 22). Willow XI 109/3 (Poulsom 1/11, Goring 1/14). Scorecard

Cavaliers [debut season]: Steve Davis (capt) [1978], Nigel Moore (vice capt) [1978], Joey Newbury [1978], Paul Goring [1983], Warwick Armstrong [1990], Glyn Poulsom [1993], Geoff Lewis (wkt) [1995], Alan Ward [1998], Dave Parsons [2001], Vince Strawson [2005], Derek Lewis [2007].

Willow League Chairman’s XI: Chris Stork (Eclipse Print, capt), John Furnham (Casuals, wkt), Rich Saunders (Consmen), Sanjay Thurpan (Cardiff Hockey & Cricket), Andy Powell (South Glam), Dai James (Rhiwbina), Phil Dooley (Chartered Trust), Dave Powell (GE Healthcare), Rich Holliday (Casuals), Ian Court (Eclipse Print), Andrew Parry (South Glam).

Umpires: Matt Davies (Consmen), Jeremy Sparkes

Spectators: Jimmy Marchant, Jason Duffy, Jonathan Davies, Matt Thomas, Mark Twaits, Kiran Ridley, Mark Searle, Jonathan Thomas, Andrew Steadman, Glenn Chapman, Dan Lewis (Casuals).