Rawtenstall CC 1960 -1972

With the coming of the "swinging sixties", speed was the thing and sadly for many cricket was never just the same. The league for the 1960 season could boast Wes Hall, the worlds most exciting bowler and Roy Gilchrist the worlds most controversial bowler and five years later followed Charlie Griffiths the worlds meanest bowler. Rawtenstall's response was to sign a genuine top class all rounder, the Indian Test player Chandu Borde. The club retained him for 4 years because of his gracefull yet attacking batting and his panther approach to cover fielding that relished a shy at the wickets. During these years his right hand man in the bowling department was Bob Banks, but sadly no batsman ever reached 500 runs, Tommy Incles was greatly missed. Hazare's club record looked vulnerable, for Borde in his first 12 innings hit 539 runs (six 50's) including a Whit Week run of 60, 69, 71no and 43 no. His last innings' didn't produce any high scores and he finished the season with 737 runs, include his 78 wickets it was still a super personal season for him. Bobby Banks finished the season with 48 wickets, including 9 for 21 and 7 for 35.

In 1961 Borde with 843 and 79 wickets had another successfull season including a career best of 111no at Bacup. Another old hand, Steve Wells was saying farewell at the end of the season, finishing with 464 wickets at an average of 16: 9 including 23 five wicket matches, he also scored 1878 runs.

Borde had not arrived for the opening match of the 1962 season, Ken Grieves stood in and made 54 no. Borde's first half of the season was good averaging 71 with the bat, but faded in the later stages. Banks remained consistant with 52 wickets and at Haslingden took 7 for 44. Sunday league cricket arrived by 1963 and the first match at Rawtenstall was on the 26th of May. The club had a very poor season managing only 3 wins and 15 draws, finishing next to the bottom and had to apply for re-election. Borde, in a wet season managed only 506 runs with 57 wickets and the committee decided a fast bowler would now be more appropriate.

They signed Lester King the West Indian test reserve. Some people thought that he did not try hard enough, he produced 58 and 70 wickets in his two year stay. The club finished 10th and 11th respectively. Banks passed 600 wickets in all competitions during the 1964 season and on the 22nd May 1965 he played his last match.

The club still lacked penetration, in 1964 they failed to win any of the last 14 matches and the next year they engaged in 17 draws ( 8 in succession). King did have his moments in his second year including 100 no v Nelson, a hat-trick at Burnley and best bowling figures of 7 for 23. Kenneth Barnes retired from the first team to captain the seconds, he topped 4600 runs with one century and 15 fifties.

Borde returned but his bowling didn't, sometimes it bounced twice and others none at all before it reached the batter. He only bowled 88 overs and took 18 wickets. His batting still remained with an average of 46.

John Grant a pace bowler from Victoria was signed for the 1967 season, he had been on the fringe of the test side for sometime but was unheard of in England. The club had a poor season and Grant stressed the importance of practice and it soon came infectious. Grant was a 100% team man, he encouraged bowlers from his deep fielding position. Borde's batting was missed but Grant's bowling made all the difference. His 95 wicket haul (8-31 best bowling) was excellent considering there had been 5 washouts. Burnley were dismissed for 35 (lowest post war score against) in the 15th over (Grant 6-13, Taylor 3-20) and earlier on Church were dismissed for 43 in the 16th over (Grant 4-20, Taylor 6-19). Rawtenstall losing only 3 matches finished runners up winning the Holland Cup for the first time. Nelson (pro Hawke 99 wickets) were champions by 9 points and knocked us out of the Worsley Cup despite 6 - 54 by Taylor.

In 1968 Grant continued where he had left off and took 8 for 29 v Nelson in the first match of the season. He bettered this with 9 for 29 v Accrington, but it was his high quality constant wicket taking and the improved weather that enabled him to reach 125 wickets at 9.87 (Only 8 short of Stringer's all time club record). Rob Taylor with 44 wickets gave him good support and his 6 for 18 v Burnley was his personal best for the club. As if 125 wickets were not enough, Grant came second in the club's batting with 500 runs, behind opener Geoff Heaton (610). In the cup semi final versus East Lancs 3516 spectators watched fellow Aussie pro Graeme Watson hit a classy 103 in the visitors 196 for 6. Rawtenstall's reply was floundering until Grant appeared blasting 91 in 55 minutes including six 6's and nine 4's. Sadly Rawtenstall failed by 18 runs.

Grant was unavailable for 1967, his replacement being test bowler Dave Renneberg. Lacking Grant's drive and charisma, the club plummeted to next to the bottom. The only bright spot being George Croisdale's best season so far with 52 wickets including 7 for 16 v Lowerhouse.

Grant "the general" was back in 1970 for his third and last season recording 583 runs and 89 wickets including 9 for 36 v Church. Brian Chapman with 693 (ave 40.7) had his best season to date. Young spin bowler John Davies was top of the bowling averages with 36 wickets at 8.8 (best figures of 7 for 60 v Nelson).

Generally there was a feeling that there was too many draws and for the next two years the league experimented with innings limited to 34 eight ball overs. Many people thought that limited overs would limit opportunities.

Terry Jenner, Australian Test spin bowler, was the new pro in the first season of limited overs. Sadly he only produced moderate figures. Geoff Heaton moved on to Bacup at the end of the season having scored 2418 runs. Peter Wood returned from South Africa and scored 53 v Enfield.

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Honours : Past Professionals : Hall of Fame