1972

Season 1972 OBITUARY Peter “Piffy” Allen Following the tragic death of “Piffy” Allan the club will offer to his sons free membership of the club until they are 18 years of age, this has been done to encourage them to stay with the club. Also “Piffy’s” Auntie has presented to the club a trophy to be called the ‘Piffy AllenTrophy’ which will be awarded to the member hitting the highest number of sixes, this award would portray the manner in which “Piffy” enjoyed his cricket.

Club News 

J. E. White Sports Shop will present a new autographed cricket bat for the highest single innings, the bat will be autographed by the Australian tourists and this year’s England Test players.

Comings and Goings

Alan Parker returns to Toft

John Webster returning from South Africa

Social Committee Presentation

The Social Committee secretary, Beryl Clawson, presents a cheque for £750 to club chairman, Bernard Raffo, watched the Social Club Committee at the AGM



Club Achievements

Toft           - 3rd in the Aggregate table in the Cheshire Cricket Club Conference

1st Team           - 2nd in the Cheshire Cricket Club Conference

 1st Team 

Player Performances

John Holland    

- 1191 Club runs (av. 54.17)

- 658 Conference runs (av. 54.8)

- 533 Sunday ‘A’ runs (av. 53.3)

- 103*    v. Sandbach

- 115* v. Crewe Vagrants

- 85*   v. Lindow

- 83   v. Bollington

- 82*   v. Cholmondeley

- 78   v. Alderley Edge

- 73   v. Ruston Taverners (VKO) MoM

- 66*   v. Chorlton

- 58*   v. Oughtrington Park

- 53   v. Over Peover               

- 50   v. Alderley Edge

Steve Hardman

- 306 Conference runs (av. 25.5)

- 70   v. Little Stoke (A)  – 57 v. Werneth (A)

Bernard Manning

- 809 Club runs

- 517 Conference Runs (av. 33.8)

- 292 Sunday ‘A’ runs

- 101*    v. Crewe Vagrants

- 89   v. Over Peover

- 73*   v. Sandbach

- 65    v. Alderley Edge

- 54   v. Cholmondeley

- 6-53   v. Urmston

Paul Raffo   

- 174 Conference Runs (av. 30.7)

- ?? Sunday ‘A’ runs (av. 29.14)

- 6-27   v. Mere

- 5-34    v. Mobberley

- 5-38   v. Sandbach

- 68   v. Werneth (A)

- 65    v. Holmes Chapel

- 50   v. Oakmere (VKO) MoM

- presented with Haig tie for Man of the Team

- 26 Conference wkts (av. 11.38)

Alan Parker   

- 35 Conference wkts (av. 9.23)

- 6-24   v. Mobberley

- 3-4   v. Oakmere (VKO)

Don Bailey   

- 6-56   v. Urmston

- 5-38   v. Sandbach

- 5-44 v. Oughtrington Park

- 5-79   v. Mobberley

Phil Worsley   

- ?? Conference wkts (av. 12.73)

- 5-4   v. Hale Barns

Chris Muter    

- 30 Conference wkts (av. 12.80)

- 5-34   v. Chorlton

Brian Coutts   '''

- 4-4   v. Berkshire Wanderers (F)

Brian Stennings

- 8-28   v. Alderley Edge

- 3-3   v. Berkshire Wanderers (F)

Highlight of the Season – was the batting of John Holland and Bernard Manning who between them scored over 2000 runs.

John Holland – Congratulations on again scoring 1000 runs in the season – the club will not be giving him another trophy as was done last year, it is becoming a habit.

Bernard Manning in 4 years of 1st team League cricket scored 1879 runs, scoring 4 centuries 1969-72

1st Team

- 102*    v. Fisons (Sun) (1972)

- 101*    v. Crewe Vagrants (1972)

- 131*    v. Lindow (1974) (A)

- 100*    v. Chelford (1975)

2nd Team

- 114   v. Heaton Mersey (1981)

Match Highlights 

VKO   - In the Village KO v. Oakmere, Toft (146-10) Paul Raffo (57) and Bernard Manning (47) and 5 players under the age of 21 years, Oakmere were dismissed for 57 after being 6-4 after 7 overs and 12-5. Alan Parker took a wicket with the first ball of each of his first two overs to finish with 3-4.

1.   Woodford

2.   Crewe Vagrants were in trouble at 38-4 when down came the rain to stop play, Don Bailey for Toft was in fine form getting 3-16. 

3.   Toft (135-7) beat Styal (131-7) off the 2nd ball of the last over.

VKO- Toft (128-6) v. Rushton Taverners. Rushton last their last 8 wickets for 36 runs in collapsing to 125-10. Paul Raffo (4-28) and Phill Worsley (3-15). For Toft, John Holland made a superb innings of 73 and was presented with a Man of the Match Haig tie.

A. John Holland was again in fine form for this derby game at Mere Heath Lane on Sunday and hit 43 of the first 68 runs in an hour and skipper Norman Ryan got a fine (39). Knutsford were soon in trouble against the Toft attack of Chris Muter (3-15) and Phil Worsley (3-22) and were content to force the draw.

4. Toft made a good start with Paul Raffo (65) helping the side to a comfortable score before declaring. Before Holmes Chapel could start their innings, the rain came down ending all future play.

   A.  Despite some good bowling from Paul Raffo (4-71). Stoke managed to amass a respectable score (161-6d), and although Toft started well, with Stave Hardman (70) they had to settle for a draw.

5.   Hartford

A. Brian Coutts (4-4) and Brian Stennings (3-3) ripped through the Berkshire tourists who declared with at 29-9. Openers John Holland (23*) and Steve Hardman (4*) had no trouble passing the total.

6.   Opener John Holland scored 53 but the star of the show was Bernard Manning with a great 89, out of Toft’s 191-4. Peover really had nothing to offer against the pace of Chris Muter (4-31), and lost their last wicket with 128 runs still to get.

7.   Toft had a great 10 wicket victory. Batting first Hale Barns (23-10) had no answer to the bowling of Phil Worsley (5-4) and Alan Parker (4-17). In reply John Holland (22*) and Steve Hardman (1*) gave Toft (24-0) a comfortable win.

   VKO - Toft were put in to bat and were unable to make any headway against the aggressive home attack, only four batsmen managed to reach double figures as they were dismissed for (77-10). Compstall (78-1) progressing to the next round.    

8.   Hartford

   A. Toft’s star performers were two of their younger members .Paul Raffo (68) and Steve Hardman (57) putting together a 3rd wkt partnership of 122 out of 159-6. Werneth started well but then some accurate bowling from Brian Stennings (4-9) and Paul Raffo (3-19) cutting through the last of their batting.

9.   John Holland (82*) saw Toft (195-4) to a 115 run win at Cholmondeley (80), he was backed up with a Bernard Manning (54), Steve Hardman (25) and Paul Raffo (33). The bowlers Alan Parker (4-34) and Don Bailey (3-17) stepped in to send Cholmondeley reeling.

10.   Holmes Chapel (178-8) left Toft only 2 hours to get the runs  and after a steady start in which Johnny Holland (30) and Steve Hardman (13) put on 41 for the first wicket the match ended in a draw.

A. The match between Toft and Oughtrington Park at Booths Park was rained off after Toft had scored 111 all out

11.   Toft (151-10)  John Holland (40) figured in an exciting tie with Styal (151-9d) Alan Parker (3-33) Styal set Toft the target of 151 and the home side looked as though they could just beat the total, but with the last ball of the game and the scores level, Toft’s Phil Worsley was run out.

A. Phil Worsley made amends for his last ball dismissal the previous day’s game, when he made a good catch off the last ball with High Lane (138-8) needing two runs to win. Toft were all out for 139 (Steve Hardman (48) and Norman Ryan (24)

12.    A good knock of 46 by Steve Hardman and 32 from Alan Parker who also took 4-45, were the highlights of Toft’s (152-9) drawn game at Prestbury (195-10)

A. Toft opener John Holland hit a half century, then Bernard Manning went on to make 65 and with 175-8 on the board Toft declared with 8 wickets down. Alderley never got on top of Phil Worsley’s accurate bowling and Norman Ryan’s quicksilver reactions in the field and were all out for 70.

13.    Prestbury

A. In a tense last over finis, Toft (150-4) beat Mere by six wickets. Despite having to chase 146 runs in a little over 2 hours, Toft batted well, Bernard Manning (35), Don Bailey (28*), Paul Raffo (28) they paced their innings magnificently through to the final over. In a brilliant spell for Toft, Paul Raffo took 6-27 leaving Mere in trouble at one stage on 60-7.

14.    Woodford

A. Put into bat, Knutsford had opening bat Peter Hornsby dismissed for four, but they then played soundly before declaring at 160-7. Toft were left with just two hours to get the runs and reached 141-5 before bad light ended play. John Holland(44). - Peter Hornsby would later join Toft.

15.   A strong batting display gave Toft (148-2) an eight wicket victory over Lindow, when Johnny Holland hit a fine 85* backed up by Bernard Manning (46) passing Lindow’s (146-6) with only two wickets down. Don Bailey (3-47.

A. In a close fought game Toft captured the last Urmston wicket to grab a three run victory. Toft totalled (111-10) Don Bailey (35), John Holland (24) and Bernard Manning (22) but looked in danger of being beaten as Urmston caught up in unspectacular but steady style, Don Bailey was in brilliant bowling form for Toft taking (6-56)

16.    Hale Barns made a fair start and at 99-6 looked set for a reasonable score, at this point, however, Phil Worsley (4-39) got to work and hale barns slumped to 104 all out. Opener John Holland gave Toft a fair start, scoring the first 20 runs himself, Bernard manning (22) and Steve Grange (24) carried on the good work and Toft finally won with 11 overs to spare.

A. Toft looked to be in complete command when torrential rain put an end to the day’s play. High Lane batting first were in dire straits, with Paul Raffo have a field day taking all four wickets to fall for just seven runs, and when the rain fell High Lane had only 39 runs on the board.

17.   After getting rid of the Sandbach (133-10) higher order Paul Raffo (5-38) and Co demolished the tail of the side for few additional runs, but the usually hard-hitting Toft batsmen failed to click and with just on wicket left Toft (103-9) hung on for a draw.

A. Some powerful batting by Toft openers John Holland (78) and Mike Thompson (25) put on 85 for the first wicket and declared on 172-7. John Nottingham (46*) Brian Stennings cut through the Alderley batsmen, taking 8-28, but batting stubbornly Alderley managed to pass the century and end the game with two wickets left for a draw.

18.   Cholmondeley’s score was kept down by some tight bowling from the Toft attack, led by Chris Muter (4-19) Alan Parker (3-38), but Toft could not muster the runs needed, and time ran out with just one wicket in hand. John Holland (28) and Chris Muter (19).

A. Toft’s fast attack made Chorlton (122-10) fight for the runs, Chris Muter (5-34), Bernard Manning (4-28). Toft replied losing only four wickets to pass the total set, with John Holland hitting (66*),

19.   Sandbach’s last two batsmen played out time for a draw, foiling Toft of a well deserved win. John Holland opened the batting with Steve Hardman, Steve was out for 28, then followed a partnership of 152 between John Holland (103*) and Bernard Manning (75*) in 103 mins. Sandbach held on grimly, despite some good bowling from Don Bailey (5-38) and Chris Muter (3-49)

A. Another unbeaten stand between John Holland (58*) and Bernard Manning (30*) gave Toft a nine wicket victory at Oughtrington Park. Oughtrington Park were bowled out for under the century and Toft lost only Steve Hardman in reaching their target. Don Bailey (5-44) and Paul Raffo (3-12).

20.    Mobberley (168-10), pulled off the season’s surprises by beating Toft (110-10) in this local derby by 58 runs. For Toft Paul Raffo (5-34) and Don Bailey (5-79) took the Mobberley wickets, Steve Hardman (23) and Paul Raffo (22) top scored with the bat.

A. A brilliant (83*) by John Holland and Bernard Manning (26) saw Toft (147-4) well on the way to victory at Bollington (145-9) Bernard Manning (3-33) and gave Holland his 1000 runs for the season.

21.   In the game against Crewe Vagrants (67-10). John Holland opened the batting with Steve Hardman, Steve was out without scoring, then followed a partnership of 219 between John Holland (115*) and Bernard Manning (101*) declaring with a total of (229-2). Bowling honours went to Alan Parker (4-23) and Don Bailey (4-35).

A. The Urmston openers gave their side a fine start in their total of (173-10). Bernard Manning kept the score down with some good bowling, finishing with (6-53) and Brian Coutts (3-4). Toft batsman struggled with only Paul Raffo (49), Bernard Manning (31) and Steve Hardman (24) finding their form to force a draw at (139-9).

22.   Alan Parker (6-24) and Don Bailey (3-35) skittled Mobberley (65-10) to give Toft a nine wicket victory. Steve Hardman (26*) and Bernard Manning (28*) took the score to (68-1). Former Toft opening bowler Rodney Morley had the satisfaction of bowling the consistent John Holland early in the game.

A. Knutsford

A. Werneth

Haig National Village Cricket Championship – Group 6 – Cheshire and North Wales

1   23 April    Toft (146-10)             v. Oakmere (57-10)

Paul Raffo (50) MoM, Bernard Manning (47), Alan Parker (3-4)

2   14 May        Rushton Taverners (126-10)      v. Toft (128-6)

Paul Raffo (4-28), John Holland (73) MoM

3   4 June        Toft (77-10) LOST         v. Compstall (78-1)

Toft 1st Team

Haig Reception

Toft enjoyed their cricket in the Haig Competition; they didn’t get to Lords, but had the honour of being chosen by the Haig Company to act as hosts to the last eight clubs in the Cheshire and North Wales area qualifying in the competition.

2nd Team Results

Player Performances 

Nat Freedman       

- ?? Conference runs (av. 14.44)

- 67*   v. Crewe Vagrants

John Nottingham   

- 193 Conference runs (av. 34.11)

- 44   v. Crewe Vagrants

Mike Entwistle       

- ?? Conference runs (av. 23.40)

Graham Barker       

- 23 Conference wkts (av. 12.33)

Geoff Sharpe       

- 17 Conference wkts (av. 12.76)

Brian Stennings   

- 30 Conference wkts (av. 14.06)

Graham Taylor       

- 7-78   v. Sandbach

John Webster       

- 5-25   v. Romiley

Phil Worsley       

- 5-33   v. Crewe Vagrants

Peter Richardson   

- ?? Sunday ‘B’ runs (av. 10.16)

Tony Mitchell       

- ?? Sunday ‘B’ wkts (av. 9.9)

Match Highlights

1.   Woodford

B. Catpro

2.   Crewe Vagrants

3.   Toft (57-10) were well beaten by Styal (58-3) who had no trouble in passing the score set. No Toft player reaching double figures, Geoff Sharpe taking (3-28)

B. Match drawn Toft (84-6) York Walker (27) v. Romiley (131-10), wicket takers were John Webster (5-25) and Graham Barker (3-20)

4.   Toft reached 65-2 against Holmes Chapel with Mike Entwistle (23) and John Roberts (22*) when rain prevented further play.

B. Little Stoke

5.   Hartford''

B. Mere

6.   Cholmondeley''

7.   Holmes Chapel''

B. Grappenhall – Cancelled

8.   Styal''

B. Lindow

9.   Prestbury

10.   Prestbury

B. Romiley

11.   Woodford''

B. High Lane

12.   Lindow

B. Fisons

13.   Hale Barns''

B. Chorlton

14.   Sandbach

15.   Cholmondeley''

B. Ashton on Mersey

16.   Sandbach

B. High Lane

17.   Mobberley

B. Bramhall

18.   Crewe Vagrants''

B. Grappenhall

19.   Despite a fine bowling spell by Toft’s Graham Taylor who took 7-78. Sandbach (182-10) reached a score which proved too high for a score for Toft (98-10) to reach

B Old Cestrians

20.   At Booths Park, Toft’s (158-7) match against Mobberley (168 dec) was drawn

B Old Altrinchamians

21.   Nat Freedman (67*) and John Nottingham (44) were the batting stars for Toft (184-7) in their 79 victory against Crewe Vagrants (105-10). Toft won with time to spare after some fine bowling by Phil Worsley (5-33) and Brian Stennings (3-39)

B Ashton-on-Mersey

22.   Mobberley

B Catpro

B Bramhall

Toft Taverners



Junior Teams

Player Performances

Peter Poolton (Jnr)   - 5-14    v. Mobberley Jnrs

Mark Godfrey (Jnr)   - 84*    v Trios Comp (in 3 innings) (7th year of competition)

Phil Worsley (Colts)   - 5-34    v. Timperley (Cheshire Colts KO)

Match Highlights

The junior XI in the league finished in the top 4, with Brian Coutts being in tremendous form.

Cheshire Colts KO

KO 2nd Round – Toft Colts v. Timperley - A good knock of 28 fron Steve Hardman saw Toft Colts of to a good start in a 20 over match and totted up 81-6, Timperley (68-10) started well, but some fine bowling from Phil Worsley (5-34) and Brian Stennings cut through the batting and Timperley’s last wicket fell 13 runs short of Toft’s, Toft winng through to the third round.

Toft Colts v. Staleybridge - Match Abandoned – Toft lost this limited over match, played despite the rain. Stalybridge rattled up 73 in their 20 overs but Toft could only reply with 33. Toft’s Phil Worsley bowled well for his final return of 4-32.

Toft Juniors v. Mobberley – 2nd September - Toft Juniors defeated Mobberley by 10 wickets, thanks to a fine opening stand of 32 not out by Peter Poolton (19) and Mike Freedman ( 11). Mobberley scored 31 against some good bowling by Peter Poolton (5-14), Paul Bertenshaw (3-11) and David Richards (2-0).

Toft U10’s – 3rd September - Toft U10’s beat Over Peover U10’s for the second time in a week.

Toft scored 95-5, Mike Clawson (18), Stephen Allen (12) and Pete Tittle (11). Peover were 38 all out. Top scorer for Over Peover was Stephen Wood with 10. - Later Stephen would join Toft.



Junior Trio’s KO for the Stephenson Cup - 3rd September This is the 7th year of the trio’s Competition.

Three of the boys who played in the first year now play in the first team, one had been chosen as captain of the Cheshire Conference Colts last weekend and another was playing in a Cheshire Conference representative side.

First Round Results

Semi-Finals

Final

No Captain has ever been more deserving of an than young Mark Godfrey when he received the Stephenson Cup at the end of the Club Junior Trio’s competition.

Mark who skippered the winning Lambs team, scored 84 not out in his side’s three matches. His outstanding game was in the final when he hit an undefeated 39iin 8 overs to take the Lambs to their score of 52 after the other two batsmen had fallen for a total of five.

Presenting the trophy to Mark Godfrey, Bernard Raffo, Club Chairman, congratulated him on a brilliant performance. He also praised the fielding of Mark Wilson who took four catches – one a difficult one in the final.

Club Batting Partnerships

2nd wkt(1)   - 219    v. Crewe Vagrants  - John Holland (115*) & Bernard Manning (101*)

2nd wkt(1)   - 152    v. Sandbach           - John Holland (103*) & Bernard Manning (75*) 103 mins

3rd wkt(A)   - 122    v. Werneth          - Steve Hardman (57) & Paul Raffo (68)

Player Representative Honours 

Phil Worsley         - Cheshire Colts         - 3-30 v Cheshire Conference Colts

Steve Hardman    - Cheshire Colts         - 2* v. Cheshire Conference Colts

Paul Raffo        - Played for the Cheshire Club Conference

Club News





League Dinner

Cheshire Cricket Club Conference Annual Dinner at Wilmslow on Friday 13th Sept/Oct ?

45th Annual General Meeting 

For 1972 held at The Legh Arms - 2nd February 1973

Chairmans Report – Bernard Raffo


 * Norman Ryan and the 1st XI are congratulated on finishing 2nd in the Cheshire Cricket Club Conference, Norman has encouraged the younger members of the side, and has blended them with the experience of the older members.
 * Sorry to say that Ken Richards who has captained the 2nd team for the last 4-5 seasons is giving up the captaincy, to Ken we say thank you, not only for his contribution to the 2nd team but for all he has done for the club.
 * Brian Stennings is leaving the country next week, emigrating to Australia, he joined the club when he was 13, he became a valuable member of the 2nd team and has been a good club member.
 * Thanks to the Ground committee under the leadership of John Roberts, they are saving the club a large amount of money when you consider the cost of labour that we would have to pay.
 * Last year when John Roberts retired from coaching the juniors we said that someone would come along, we found such a coach in Graham Barker, many senior menbers have said when they observed fis coaching of the juniors last season, that they wished that they had had the such a coach when they were young.
 * Thanks to the Social Committee, the Taverners, Scorer les Leach in his new score-hut, umpire John Walton and Bernard Manning the club steward, York Walker for his chairmanship of one of the committees of the Cheshire Cricket Club Conference.
 * We thank Terry Brooks our treasurer of many years, who is now leaving the district, and we welcome his successor Peter Richardson. Thanks also to our fixture secretary Andrew McDougall, secretary and assistant secretary.

Secretaries Report – John Howard


 * John Howard produced all the batting and bowling averages for the season.
 * The junior eleven finished in the top 4, Brian Coutts was in tremendous form. The main interest point for next season is the increased standard of games for the Sunday XI’s

Treasurers Report – Peter Richardson


 * The main purchases on the expenditure side are the score board, the scorers hut and a motor mower costing £500, whish we consider is a long term investment.
 * This is a very healthy balance sheet, but we must not be complacent if we wish to continue as a successful club.

A.O.B.

A players Hot-Pot was requested, the one normally held having been previously cancelled because of the untimely death of “Piffy” Allan.

Final League Tables - 1st Team finished 2nd in the League

1972 Team Statistics

1972 Averages

1st XI Conference - Batting

1st XI Conference - Bowling

Sunday A - Batting

Sunday A - Bowling

2nd XI Conference - Batting

2nd XI Conference - Bowling

Sunday B - Batting

Sunday B - Bowling

Toft Fixture Card

Compiler - Jeff Tenner