Cricket

 

There has been a Baldons cricket team since at least the 1830s. The earliest record found, so far, is of a match in September 1835 (Oxford University and City Herald, 5^th September 1835), on “Baldon Green”, between Baldon and Nuneham. The score was 58 to Baldon, 56 to Nuneham. Baldon won with 9 wickets to spare. In two matches between the same teams in August 1841, this time held at Nuneham Park, the Baldons were victorious in both games (Baldons 90 with an innings to spare, Nuneham 76; Baldons 104 with 4 wickets to spare, Nuneham 93).

Jacksons Oxford Journal of 14^th July 1849 reported the following match – again another victory for the Baldons, this time by a huge margin.

Indeed, of the many matches reported by the local press over the next few decades, the Baldons team seemed to win virtually all of them! In September 1854, the Baldons team (with four Fruins playing!) played the Oxford City team on the Magdalen ground in Cowley Marsh. Baldons beat Oxford 141 to 105 with an innings to spare.

From the Oxford Chronicle and Berks and Bucks Gazette, 16^th September 1854

 

This was the Baldons team who played Horspath in the Wyfold Cup Final in September 1927. Unfortunately, the game was spoilt by rain.

From Oxfordshire Journal Illustrated, 14^th September 1927

 

The photo below was taken when the Baldons team played St Edwards School, Corfe House in 1998. The result was a draw – Baldons were 248 for 8, Corfe were 210 for 2. Mark Denning, Phil Channer and Roland Knight each made over 40 runs for the Baldons.

 

 Baldons team, June 1998. Left to right - Back row: Dan Trinder, Richard Charkin, Peter Cave, Mark Denning, Phil Channer, Tim Morton, Roland Knight; Front row: Tim Burden, Andy Fogg, Marcus Faulkner, John Prunier (a visitor from the US). Original photo and information kindly provided by Mark Denning

There have been times when there was no Baldons team, presumably during the WW1 and WW2 years(?), and more recently there was a hiatus in the 2000’s. However, there is once more a thriving team with a full list of fixtures during the summer months.