On Saturday 20th April we welcomed back Old Reptonians for a reunion lunch for the 1st XI cricket team from 1974.
Organised by OR Charlie Sale, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the game which saw a match saving single scored by Charlie himself. In the words of former Master in charge of Cricket, Alan Duff: “Repton’s approach was as amazing as it was baffling. Sale battled for 58 overs and 142 minutes and scored one run!” Repton had decided that the best way to keep their unbeaten record was to block every delivery that they faced. As Peter Prifti SH. 71-76) recalls “they didn’t even bother to take the runs on offer. It was pitiful but we just couldn’t bowl them out.” One OR, Nick Smith, recalled heading to the nearest pub, The Navigator, to have a few pints while they waited for Charlie to finish his innings.
The reunion was due to take place on the opening match of the cricket season with Malvern 1st XI v Repton 1st XI, though sadly had to be cancelled due to a rather waterlogged Senior. Nevertheless, everyone at the lunch enjoyed the day and many happy memories of visits to Repton and Malvern were shared amongst the group.
A big thank you goes to the Headmaster Keith Metcalfe, OR Peter Bradburn, and OMCC President Bryan Richardson (3.57-62) for saying a few words at the lunch.
If you wish to hear more about Malvern’s prowess on the cricket pitch, you might wish to purchase a copy of Senior Turf by Andy Murtagh.