'Gentlemen vs Players' cricket match

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05 August 2004

Wyndeham chairman Bryan Bedson hands the trophy to victorious team captain Andy Franks, group production director at Emap, following this weeks inaugural Gentlemen vs Players cricket match.

The game, held courtesy of Wyndeham at Sussex's County Ground at Hove, was arranged "in response to the overwhelming urge of publishers and printers to hurl hard objects at each other". Franks' Gentlemen were 108 for 5, beating the Players, captained by Wyndeham group managing director Paul Utting, who were all out for 105.

"All in all a sound thrashing," said Franks. See match report below.

Monday 2^nd August witnessed the first of what is hoped to be an annual cricket fixture between the Gentlemen of the Publishing Industry and the Players of the Printing and Associated Trades played at the County Ground, Hove, hosted by Wyndeham Press Group. PrintWeek's very own cricket reporter Joe Bradley was there to tell the tale of a great day, a great match and a great win for the Publishing team.

This great sporting summer, which has already delivered a heady brew of exhilarating and titanic battles, old and new heroes and even occasional shock winners, did so again at the home of Sussex CCC the reigning County Champions on Monday. On a beautiful summer's morning the spiritual home of cricketing legends such as Tate, Dexter, Snow, Greig, and Mushtaq Ahmed, sparkled beneath the warm glow of a vibrant sun. The scene was perfectly set for this limited 30-over grudge fixture of mammoth proportions between the Gentlemen (Publishers) and the Players (Printers).

Put into bat after losing the toss, the Printers' opening batsmen Tony 'Ringer' Corn (Wyndeham Press Group) and Trefor 'Tebby' Tebb (Graphoprint) were soon under pressure from the Publishers' opening attack of John Kelly (EMAP) and Gareth Ward (CMP Information). Backed by often robust and sometimes unconventional fielding the Publishing team denied the quick singles that the Printers team needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Tebb soon fell to Ward's quicker ball. New batsmen Tony Dalwood (SVG Advisors) attacked from the off and really for the only time during the innings did the batsmen look like getting the upper hand.

However, once Corn retired for (18) and Dalwood (27) was snared by a fine catch by Ward the Publishers were always in the ascendancy. A steady stream of wickets fell with fine bowling contributions from Tom Jennings (IPC), Andrew Gunman (M-real), Ben Payne (Haymarket) and James Wyke (Associated Newspapers) all took wickets. The only real resistance came from the Printers' captain Paul Utting (Wyndeham Press Group) and David Heine (Cooper Clegg).

However, once skipper Utting was well caught at extra-cover by his opposite number Andy Franks (EMAP), and Heine subsequently comprehensively bowled by Wyke the innings was all but over. Corn returned at the end of the innings but by then it was too late with Wyke skittling out the tail to end with fine figures of 3-0-9-3. As all the players settled down to a sumptuous lunch in the main pavilion it was agreed by many that the target of 106 was well within the reach of the Publishers.

And so it proved to be, despite losing Paul McCarthy (M-real) early on for 5. Steve Osborne (Hachette Filipacchi) 30 and Andy Harrold (Ancient House Press) 32 put on a splendid partnership of 46 runs in 9 overs. A couple of quick wickets failed to hinder the Publishers and it was left to Ward and Wyke to entertain the crowd (including a delicious straight 6 off of a by now forlorn Utting) and bring the game to an end.

All that was left was for Bryan Bedson (chairman of the Wyndeham Press Group and host of the day) to present The Wyndeham Trophy to victorious captain Franks in the main pavilion under the watchful gallery of a host of former Sussex legends and in front of a healthy and very appreciative audience. The day was a truly marvellous event and with year long bragging rights now fully established it is hoped that this inaugural event becomes a mainstay of the sporting calendar for years to come.

Full Scoreboard

THE PLAYERS of THE PRINTING AND ASSOCIATED TRADES XII v

THE GENTLEMEN of THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY XII

Monday 2^nd August, County Ground Hove

THE PLAYERS of THE PRINTING AND ASSOCIATED TRADES XII

T. CORN Not out 19

T.TEBB Bowled Ward 4

T.DALWOOD Ct Ward Bowled Gunman 27

L.McCULLOUGH Ct Ward Bowled Payne 1

P.UTTING Ct Franks Bowled Jennings 22

I.THORPE Bowled Gunman 2

D.HALL Ct Bull Bowled Payne 2

D.HEINE Bowled Wyke 15