1948

Season 1948

Review of Season 1948 – (from the 20th AGM - Mon 15th March 1948)


 * For the first time in the history of the club, the ordinary membership exceeded 100, the exact figure being 105. Making competition for places in 1st and 2nd teams fierce.
 * The entire playing area of the pitch had been coated with marl. a new scoreboard had been made, and the complete overhaul of the motor-mower had been done.
 * The formation of a junior section had been approved.
 * An Innovation was the appointment of the 3 umpires to the selection committee which also includes the 1st and 2nd XI captains

1st Team Results

Player Performances

Charlie Acton        

- 6-32    v, Macclesfield NALGO

- 6-??   v. Sale Moor

Alan Hornby       

- 6-38   v. Knutsford 2nd

- 5-50   v. Withington

Mike Constantine-Smith

- 109*   v. Timperley 2nd

Harry Hammon       

- 6-10   v. Timperley 2nd

- 63   v. Unknown

Harold Ollier       

- 51   v. Timperley 2nd

Doug Pinder       

- 53   v. Bowdon Vale

- 55*   v. Bowdon Vale


 * Toft 2nd won comfortably against Ashley 2nd at Home. They dismissed their opponents for 84, Dave Ashton taking (5-22) and Wilson (2-21). Toft (100-8) passed Ashley’s score with five wickets in hand. FC Hilditch (30) and G Bower (21)
 * At Bowdon on Saturday, the Vale 2nd winning by 19 runs, Bowdon Vale (163-10), Alan Parker taking (7-49), Toft’s runs coming from Alan Parker (30), Doug Pryor (24) and Chris Blades (22).
 * Little play was possible when Toft 2nd travelled to Wythenshaw on Saturday. The home side took first knock and scored 66-7 when rain stopped play, Chris Blades (4-27).
 * At Booths Park and Saturday, Toft winning by 13 runs. Toft making (86-10) FC Hilditch (23) and R Spilsbury (20), Sale Moor were bowled out for (73-10), Cliff Sharpe (3-18), George Townsend (3-28) and Dave Ashton (2-13).
 * Toft 2nd were the only in the Knutsford district to force a victory despite the menaces of the rain. Bowdon Vale totalled 77-5dec. Alan Parker took seven wickets for 18. Toft (82-2) did not have matters all their own way when they replied. In the end, however, they finished victors by two wickets.
 * Toft 2nd (86-10) Cliff Sharpe (16) secured a 46 run victory over Weaverham 2nd (40-10) with Dave Ashton (3-7), Alan Parker (3-13), Capt. Bower (2-3) and Cliff Sharpe (2-17)
 * Grappenhall 2nd (94-4dec) visited Booths Park and won by 51 runs, Dave Ashton taking (2-19) Toft 2nd (43-10) R Spilsbury (12*) and FC Hilditch (11) the only ones reaching double figures.
 * Toft 2nd (92-10) FC Hilditch (36) and Chris Blades (14) lost by 15 runs to Sale Moor (107-10) Dave Ashton (3-17) and Chris Blades (3-36).
 * Heavy rain washing out any chance of cricket

Junior Team Results

Match Highlights


 * Knutsford Youth Club gained an eight wicket victory over Toft Juniors at Booth Park on Thursday. Toft batting first, made 34, and the Youth Club replied with 99-6, passing their opponents total with only two wickets down.

Note that the wickets are pitched opposite to how they are today




 * Toft CC enjoyed a fair season during 1948. Results were not spectacularly good, but enough to inspire confidence in the general ability of the members.
 * Results of the first and second teams were slightly on the debit side. Perhaps the striking feature of Booths Park cricket was the development of the junior section, which showed such promise as to provide a fine criterion for the future.

Toft 1st Team, under the leadership of Horace Townsend,


 * Results were: Played 21, Won 6, Lost 9 and Drew 6
 * Harry Hamman topped the averages, but Mike Constantine-Smith is credited with the highest individual score, with 109* against a Timperley XI.
 * The bowling, with Charlie Acton again performing in creditable style, was more efficient, and Hornby, Mike Constantine-Smith, Alan Parker and Cliff Sharpe provided good support.

Total runs for    1,960      Total runs against    2,059 Wickets           181        Wickets           172 Average           10.80      Average        12.00

Toft 2nd Team,

Total runs for       1,312      Total runs against     1,617 Wickets              155        Wickets           156 Average               8.6        Average        10.40
 * The batting was often weak, only Allan and Frank Hilditch passing 100 runs. George Townsend, however, captained a fairly powerful bowling side, 13 year old S Cross, Alan Parker, Ashton and the skipper himself, claimed commendable final figures.
 * Results were: Played 17, Won 6, Lost 8 and Drew 3

Sunday matches

Results were: Played 8, Won 4, Lost 4

Toft Juniors

Results were: Played 12, Won 6, Lost 2 and Drew 4

Aldcroft, Coghlan and Tittle (Batting), and Alan Parker, Lucas, Booth, and Aldcroft (bowling) were outstanding.

21st AGM

AGM Report on 1948 - Held at the Liberal Club, Brook Street on 31st March 1949 - (see KG 1st April)

Report on the 1948 Season


 * The secretary reported that the outstanding feature of the past season had been the formation and progress of the Junior Section. The committee had been obliged to restrict the intake to ensure that those who had entered would receive adequate coaching.

Results


 * The total Club membership now stands at 109
 * The treasurer (Alan Burke) reported a steady financial year. Bank balance stands at £31-4s-10d, total cash expenditure for the year being £123.

Officers elected for the 1949 Season


 * Samuel Welford, an enthusiastic member of Toft CC was elected secretary in place of Arthur R Fasham at the meeting in the Liberal Club, Brook Street. The latter, who had previously been treasurer for eight years and secretary for three years, has been associated with Toft for 15 years.
 * A new First Eleven captain, Michael Constantine-Smith was also elected, with Harry Hamman as vice-captain. Clifford Sharpe was chosen to lead the Second Team with David Ashton as his assistant.





Compiler Jeff Tenner