Ships in the Night

By dint of demographics and geography, cricket clubs (and sports clubs in general) tend to exist a not inconsiderable distance away from each other. Acting as a sort of hub of a particular community, be it a city suburb, a small town, village or a collection of hamlets, clubs tend to exist in their own particular environment / catchment area. Thus, distances between clubs tend to be dictated by the density of population. As one ventures into more rural areas the distances generally increase. Thus, in rural climes one would expect at least a few miles to separate two clubs.

   Nestled in the south Hampshire countryside, almost equidistant between Eastleigh, Romsey and Winchester, the village of Hursley (population a shade under a thousand) plays host to a remarkable existence of close neighbours. Just a short drive from the A3090 thoroughfare that connects the last two of the aforementioned settlements are the grounds of Hursley House, a Grade II, Queen Anne style mansion that is now owned by American technology company IBM. Within said grounds is a palatial cricket ground that previously played host to the company’s cricket team; a club that is now known as South Winchester Cricket Club.

   Somewhat understandably, one would assume that a club with three teams would be more than plenty for a village of the size of Hursley. Nevertheless, if one takes a brief wander, approximately a fifth of a mile, to the south then one will encounter Hursley Park, a cricket club that has been in existence for almost 250 years and has played at their current home, The Quarters, for nearly seventy years. Noteworthy players to have emerged from the club’s youth system include former Hampshire wicket-keeper Adie Aymes and pace bowler Chris Tremlett whilst the women’s first XI currently competes in the top division of the Women’s Southern League and includes former Southern Viper Ariana Dowse and current Viper Charlotte Taylor.

   In terms of distance, the clubs are separated by the aforementioned fifth of a mile, which translates into approximately four hundred steps for a six foot tall, middle-aged man. Despite such a minimal bimble between the two, the clubs seem unlikely to meet at present due to the vagaries of the local league structures. Perhaps the most obvious of such is that involving Hursley Park’s Fourth XI and South Winchester’s Third equivalent. Both began the 2024 season at the sixth division level in the Hampshire League but not in the same regional division. Naturally, regional lines have to be drawn somewhere but, curiously, Hursley Park play in division six north-west whilst South Winchester play in division six central, despite the latter residing further to the north than the former.

   The close proximity of the two clubs prompts one’s sense of curiosity for novel situations: in this instance watching games at both grounds / clubs on the same afternoon. Post a spring of seemingly endless rain, the week prior to the start of the Hampshire League season proffers warm sunshine and azure skies; allowing for grounds to dry somewhat and become playable.

   For no particular reason one elects to visit Hursley Sports Club for the opening part of the afternoon; although its position as the first of the two clubs that one encounters probably prompts one’s sub-concious. Hosts South Winchester somewhat dramatically lose two wickets in the first over but Ian Heath and Naseem Alam studiously repair the innings to 36-2 at drinks. Whiteparish skipper Dan Babidge marshalls his field to great affect in response to a slow pitch and a lush outfield but Heath settles and, in partnership with James Lamprey, nudges the score beyond three figures.

   Upon undertaking a perambulation of the ground one begins to fully appreciate the beauty of this quiet corner of northern Hampshire. Wandering along the southern boundary, one is afforded a fulsome view of the previously mentioned Hursley House whilst a further amble to the far side of the ground highlights how the ground possesses a more than passing resemblance to the magnificent Castle Ground at Arundel. The shape of the pavilion and the steps down to the playing area along with the steeped banking that flanks the northern boundary of the ground all proffer more than a nod to the famous Sussex venue.

   In the shadow of Hursley House Ian Heath progresses adeptly, records a patient half century and moves through the gears during the final third of the South Winchester innings. Aided by some yahoo the hosts record a more than useful total of 198; Heath agonisingly finishing three runs shy of a brilliant century despite striking a straight six off of the penultimate delivery of the innings.

Down at The Quarters, hosts Hursley Park have just begun their chase of 179 set by Winton, from east Dorset, whilst on the adjacent pitch the third XI are chasing a similar target against Portsmouth and Southsea. This quiet corner of north-eastern Hampshire is very much a hive of cricketing action this afternoon. Featuring two grounds residing cheek by jowl, the main playing area is surrounded on three sides by mature trees whilst a bijoux racing green pavilion nestles unassumingly into the arboreal surrounds at the north-eastern corner of the ground. The structure proves particularly charming and would not appear out of place at an equivalent location in the New Forest, located a few miles to the south-west. Turn 180 degrees and a turret of a neighbouring property pokes its head above the treeline to sneak a quick look at proceedings.

   Kian O’Connor leads the early charge for the hosts and the mantle is taken up by Paul Davies upon the dismissal of the opener. The hosts progress steadily but the introduction of Nicholas Nineham stifles scoring and induces a regular fall of wickets. Davies adroitly anchors the innings with an excellent unbeaten half century but Nineham concedes barely a run an over en route to three late scalps as the visitors stroll to a comfortable victory. 

At one particular juncture early during the Hursley Park innings, a hearty appeal from up the road at Hursley Sports Club drifts through the late afternoon ether. The sound deftly highlights the extraordinarily short distance between the home grounds of the two neighbouring clubs. Early wickets have provided something of a fillip for South Winchester but opener Dan Babidge and Chris Hodder steady the ship in a similar manner to Heath and Lamprey durng the hosts’ innings. The latter is soon trapped leg-before but Babidge forms a crucial partnership with Joe Oliver that pushes Whiteparish into the ascendancy. Babidge records a half-century but is also trapped leg-before and the visitors’ chase begins to falter. Oliver adeptly steers the pursuit though en route to his own half century and, despite the loss of a further pair of wickets, Whiteparish cross the winning line off of the penultimate delivery of the match.

Viewing the close proximity of South Winchester and Hursley Park on a digital map undoubtedly highlights the short distance between the two clubs but physically visiting the grounds seems to further emphasise the phenomenon. Two clubs residing so close would probably not prove that uncommon in a city or town locale but in such rural climes as the village of Hursley, the occurrence seems rather remarkable. Naturally, certain circumstances, such as South Winchester’s previous link to the IBM site, contribute to said occurrence but there still seems something unique regarding the whole situation.