Game 7 - against Oxfordshire at Oxford

On 17 June we travelled the one and a half hour drive to Aston Rowant in Oxfordshire.

This cricket club is definitely situated in a rural setting and was established in 1881.

On arrival the team members did their warm up.

Views from the second ground next door to the main ground affirm the rural setting.

On one side of the main ground is a wheat field in which the ball was hit on a number of occasions. No doubt a number of balls are found at harvest time.

After winning the toss Australia elected to bat and scored 4 for 249 off their 45 overs. Ian Petherick scored 52 and Phil Drescher hit 51 runs.

Murray Harrison and James Martin both took 3 wickets while Robin contributed by bowling 9 overs including 1 maiden with 1 wicket for 32. However poor fielding let the Australian side down and when the opening batsman who had earlier retired returned to the crease with one over to go he added the 17 runs required for Oxfordshire to win the match by one run scored on the last ball of the innings. It was an exciting game.

Game 6 - against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham

This time we did not have long to travel as the ground was a short distance from the hotel.

Although located in the middle of the city this was another picturesque ground although surrounded by houses.

The Cheltenham Cricket Club has a long history as indicated on a plaque on the wall stating that the ground was opened on 21 June 1897 by Dr W G Grace who played in the opening match on the ground. Records show that cricket had been played in Cheltenham since, at least, the 1830s.

Once  again our flag was displayed, this time from the club room balcony.

Australia batted first and made 255 from the allotted 45 overs. Ian Petherick and Kevin Meikle both retired after each scored 52 runs. Robin went in to bat in the last over and contributed 6 runs.

Gloucestershire replied making 7 for 188. Robin opened the bowling on this occasion bowling seven overs, one maiden, one wicket for 25 runs. Neil King was the most successful bowler bowling four overs, one maiden, four for thirteen. Another successful game.

Game 5 - at Croesyceiliog against Wales

The game on 14 June was a One Day International against Wales at Croesyceiliog, north of Cardiff. In reality the Wales team is made up of players from the southern part of Wales. In two previous contests Wales had won so we expected a tight game.

While the players were doing their normal stretches and warm-up a remark was made by the captain of the Wales second team that he was now worried about the game as the warm-up for the Welsh was hitting a few balls in the net.

When we arrived at the Croesyceiliog Cricket Club we were warmly greeted with the WAGS being ushered upstairs for a warm drink and Welsh cakes.

One of the men said that they had arranged a special surprise for us after the game.

The ground was once again set in a picturesque location.

with most impressive club rooms.

Our flag was added to the flag pole with the Wales and club flags.

The teams then posed for their photo opportunity.

The two teams then lined up for the singing of the two national anthems.

Australia batted first and scored 7 for 250 runs. Phil Drescher 51and John Dedman 69 were the highest scorers but also the batsmen did well. The Welsh innings lasted for 26 overs for just 54 runs. Our five bowlers bowled well with Rex Bennett's 5 for 8 off 7 overs the highlight. Ian Southall had two wickets.

Members of the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir performed two brackets of songs before and after dinner making this a most enjoyable and memorable evening.

 It had been a great day.

Exploring the Cotswolds

We travelled from Yeoville to Cheltenham on the Friday and on our rest day on Saturday 13 June we set out to explore the Cotswolds. It rained most of the day so we decided to begin the excursion by visiting Sudeley Castle, near Winchcombe,which is not far from Cheltenham.

 

There had been a manor house on the property from Saxon times however the present castle was built in the 1440s. During the Wars of the Roses it became the property of Edward IV who granted the property to his brother Richard of Gloucester. 

Remains of the Banquet Hall built when Richard III owned the castle

The castle was used as the base for the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471 In 1478 Richard exchanged the castle for Richmond Castle in Yorkshire but Sudeley Castle remained a royal property. 

In 1483 when Richard became King Richard III the castle returned to his possession again. After the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field the castle had a number of owners including Sir Thomas Seymour who married Katherine Parr after the death of King Henry VIII. They made the castle their home in 1548. Later that year Katherine died and is buried at the Chapel of St Mary on the property.

Chapel of St Mary

 King Henry VIII had visited the castle in 1535 with Anne Boleyn so it has a history of royal connections.  The house belonged to the Brydges family for the next 100 years. During the Civil War 1642 to 1649 part of the castle was destroyed by the Parliamentarians and remained in a ruined state for the next two hundred years. In 1837 members of the Dent family purchased the property and began restoring the castle.

The castle gardens are magnificent.

Remains of the tithe barn still remain on the property.

There is also a display of stones of Winchcombe Abbey which was built in 798.

This was a magnificent building and grounds to visit, even in the rain.

The next stop was at the Cheese and Trumpet in Broadway where we had lunch before continuing our exploration of the Cotsworlds.

On the way to two villages called The Slaughters we stopped at a field near Stanway which housed the cricket ground used by J M Barrie for many of the matches played by his team of friends - the Allahakbarries.

Barrie stayed at Stanway House across the road from the field. While there he paid for a pavilion to be built.

The rain eased as we visited two more villages on the way back to Cheltenham. The first stop was at two villages known collectively as The Slaughters. We stopped to explore Lower Slaughter, another picturesque Cotswold village.

The old mill and water-wheel is a feature of this village.

Continuing the drive we passed through Upper Slaughter which is considered to be a 'sainted village' meaning that nobody from the village serving during the First World War died.

Bourton-on-the-Water was our final destination.

Feature outside  car and toy museum

While we were in the village we watched the start of a half marathon which is run in the hills.

Game 4 - against Devon at Thorverton

11 June and we were off again for another game, this time to the village of Thorverton north of Exeter in Devon.

The match was held at the Thorverton Cricket Club where once again we were warmly welcomed. A brother and sister from Australia were looking after the clubroom when we arrived.

While the team members were stretching and going through their pre-match warm-up our flag was fixed to the clubhouse awning.

Once again the cricket ground was situated in a picturesque setting.

Devon won the toss and batted making 156 runs. Ian Southey took two wickets for 27 runs while Robin took two wickets for 33 runs while Greg Johnson took 2 wickets for eleven runs, including a great caught and bowled in his three overs. After an impressive afternoon tea, including scones and jam and cream, Australia passed the Devon score for the loss of five wickets.

During the game our flag was moved to the flagpole proudly announcing the temporary presence of the Australians. After the match both teams posed for a joint team photograph.

In the morning the other WAGS visited Exeter while I stayed at the ground to watch the team bowl. But in the afternoon I explored the local area.

A lane running along the side of the cricket ground has been closed due to a landslide further on but it was a pretty walk.

Thorverton is another attractive English village