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Sunday 22 June 2008

Match Report

For Chippinghurst Manor, read the Getty ground at Wormsley. Sir Victor Blank’s marvellous ‘back-garden’ pitch had been flooded to a depth of four feet (thanks to the water authorities ‘management’ of the recent heavy rainfall) so the yearly six-a-side tournament that bears his name was transferred 40 minutes’ drive eastward. Two tournaments at Wormsley involving Tavs in three days, then, and Sir Victor’s event in particular enjoyed classic English summer weather. And no, I’m not being ironic.

The event has benefited from the steadfast loyalty of a string of corporate teams over the years. Friendships with and between players from UBS, Credit Suisse, Lehman Bros, J P Morgan Cazenove, Goldman Sachs…and not forgetting Sir Victor’s own side, were renewed instantly. Sprinkled among their ranks were Taverners, celebrities and cricketers: Chris Tarrant (with son Toby), Neil Smith, Mike Gatting, Colin Salmon, John Taylor, Chris White, Simon Francis, Lloyd Scott, Norman Cowans, Martin Saggers, Charlie Dale, Tim Munton, John Feaver. Huge applause to all of them for travelling a combined total of many hundreds miles to be there.

The round robin segment of the tournament saw UBS and Cazenove win both their games, while Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse also made it into the semi-finals by virtue of a winning single game each. However, the form teams went through to the final, thanks to outstanding contributions from UBS’s Charlie Linton with the bat and Deepak Sran with the ball against Credit Suisse; and Cazenove’s batsmen Nicholas Hall and Harry Aubrey-Fletcher against Goldman Sachs.

Before the grand finale, Sir Victor’s VI edged things in the Plate Final, despite opponents Lehman Bros not losing a wicket in chasing 62 for victory in the allotted five overs. Ewen Gilmour (25) and John Pluthero (24) dominated for the Blank VI, while Angus Millar (29) and Josh Ponniah (24) were equally significant contributors for Lehman. But Chris White’s bowling at the death for the Blank side snatched victory.

The final, held in glorious early evening sunshine, saw Cazenove post 52, with Harry Aubrey Fletcher again starring. Alas, Cazenove had lost the bowling of Nicholas Hall to injury. Cazenove skipper Charlie McAndrew struck a deal whereby he – as his team’s (apparently) worst bowler - would bowl two overs rather than one. Things proved to hang on just this decision.

Despite the fact that Peter Luck and Charlie Linton, the UBS opening pair, didn’t look like being parted, they began the final over needing 19 to win. Charlie McAndrew had conceded just 11 in his first over, but alas his second – the last of the tournament – went for 22. Peter Luck finished on the maximum possible in this form of cricket – 30.

UBS were home….and duly received the Graham Roope Memorial Bowl from the delightful and exuberant Ruth Roope, down at Wormsley from Yorkshire to celebrate the memory of her dedicated Taverner husband, who so enjoyed playing in this yearly fixture.

Champagne moments were duly adjudicated: Mike Gatting for losing his footwear at a critical moment while batting for Credit Suisse, and Sir Michael Rake for contriving to hit a six off the only ball he faced (also for Credit Suisse) against Cazenove….two, plus four overthrows.

Our thanks once again to Victor and Sylvia for being amazing hosts…let’s hope we can be back at the Manor next year, Sir Victor, much as Wormsley was wonderful. Also deserving plaudits: umpires Milton Johns, Barry Norman and Roger Oakley…joined by the magnificent Graham Johnson, who did so much to manage the whole event from the Taverners side of things; ‘Statto’ Trevor Sturgess for holding the all-important scoring together with ease; Nicholas Parsons for his all-action commentary; and everyone at Wormsley, not least groundsman Simon Tremlin and Tim Munton of The Big Group Consultancy.

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Sunday 21 June 2009

Match Report

Sir Victor Blank’s Six-a-Side Trophy
Oxfordshire (By invitation only)
MANAGER: GRAHAM JOHNSON
ADMINISTRATOR: SIR VICTOR BLANK’S OFFICE/LORD’S TAVERNERS HQ

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Sunday 27 June 2010

Match Report

Sir Victor Blank’s Six-a-Side Trophy
Oxfordshire
MANAGER: GRAHAM JOHNSON
ADMINISTRATOR: SIR VICTOR BLANK’S OFFICE/LORD’S TAVERNERS HQ

Every year, no matter what the weather, Sir Victor and Lady Sylvia have hosted a fantastic day. This year they laid on, not only their normal hospitality, but also a glorious day as well. Taverners base ball caps were in abundance to keep off the rays. From far and wide the bank teams, who have supported the event so well for many years, came to wrest the Graham Roope Trophy from the hands of last year’s winners JP Morgan Cazenove. As well as Sir Victor’s team UBS, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche and HSBC were in the nets early as the Taverners players sipped an early coffee weighing up the opposition. Experienced “Sir Victor Blankers” in the various shapes, fitness and form of Gordon Kennedy, Colin Salmon, Dean Headley, Charlie Dale, Chris White, Neil Smith and Gus McKay were joined by new comers Niall O’Brien, Paul Aldred, Rudolph Walker, Min Patel and Dewald Nel.

The early round robin matches saw the highest score of 90 for 1 from Sir Victor’s team and the lowest of 28 for 5 from holders JP Morgan Cazenove. When the great computer that was John Duncan, Mike Neilson and Nicholas Parsons had digested the 6 matches, it showed the semi finals were between Morgan Stanley and Sir Victor Blank’s team and JP Morgan Cazenove and HSBC. These three gentlemen did an outstanding job of keeping the crowd informed and amused throughout the day without insulting the players too much. Equally impressive was the dodgy decision department (unaided by slow mo, hot spot, referrals and snicko) of Mike Denness, Richard Kershaw, Simon Clark and Barry Norman.

After a couple of one sided semis the final was contested by a couple of Morgans - JP and Stanley, a rerun of the low scoring match in the early rounds. This match, however, did not disappoint and went down to the last ball delivered off his long run by Rudolph Walker of JP Morgan Cazenove to Morgan Stanley captain Dominic Fry who was able to squeeze the winning run. So the cup was handed over - well it would have been had JP Morgan Cazenove captain Ed Byers remembered to bring it. An early Monday morning hand over ceremony was quickly arranged in The City.

Yet another great day in the Oxfordshire countryside hosted by two wonderful supporters of the Taverners. The high spot had to be the handing over a one of the Taverner buses by Sir Victor and Lady Sylvia to Pen y Bryn School. All those in attendance were left in no doubt what this meant to the children by an impassioned speech by the head mistress of the school Ann Williams-Blunt. You only had to watch Lady Sylvia listening to that speech to understand how much it meant to her and her husband.

Graham Johnson

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