A record number of spectators joined us for the inaugural Peter Stoehr Memorial Game to honour a club legend who dedicated many years to the cricket club he loved.
Former Milton CC president Peter tragically passed away in 2020, leaving behind wife Gail and sons Ben and Joe. A classy left-hand bat and a dab hand behind the stumps, Peter was a much-loved and respected member of the club whose roles in playing, administrating and coaching were vital to our progress.
With COVID-19 disrupting much of the 2020 season, we decided to host a memorial game this year to remember Peter. We hope it will be the start of many more to come down the years.
The day itself comprised two T20 games between two Milton XIs, Barton’s Boys and Will’s Whackers, led by Mark Barton and Will Conlon respectively, and with each team’s innings accumulated. Before the game, all the players held a minute’s silence to remember Peter and his contribution to the club. From the pavilion, scorer Niall Taylor was on hand to expertly marshal the day’s proceedings with his pen.
It was the Whackers who batted first, with former First XI bowler Dan Coston rolling back the years by removing Adam Roberts and John Xavier, who had added 14 and 15 respectively. Opener Andy Peck made 18 before being bowled by Rakesh Panigrahi, who had ditched his whites for jeans and trainers (not to mention a wrist cast). Captain Conlon belted a swashbuckling 51 runs – one of sixes against Jay Dann taking the tops off the trees – before he was forced to retire. For the Boys, club secretary Will Day bagged himself a couple of wickets, and Tom Holroyd took one, while the Whackers’ Mo ‘The Gun’ Adil and Shaun ‘Stretch’ Wyatt finished not out with 12 and 8 apiece, helping their side to 154-6.
After a quick break and the weather turning, Barton’s Boys embarked on their chase. Openers Ched Conlon and Adam Hallworth battled through the rain and put on 46 before Hallworth fell to James Henderson. It came after some good line and length bowling by Amith Jah and a blistering spell from Mo, who combined gas with skill but couldn’t quite find a wicket. After a streaky 37, Ched fell to club legend John Coston (father of Dan), who had come out of retirement for the game. The middle order of Jay (16), Cam Currin (18 not out), Will Day (13) and keeper-batsman Adam Smith (12 not out) added some useful runs in the chase. Stretch took two wickets, including a caught behind by keeper and ex-Milton player John Evans, and Sam Jones grabbed one as the Boys made 116-5 in response.
The beers and burgers were flowing at the halfway mark as chefs Adam Roberts, Nathan Sivajoti and Alasdair Dymock and Will Day and club treasurer Andy Race did a fine job in keeping the players and spectators suitably refreshed. They were helped, of course, by some Milton moonshine brewed by current First XI captain Nick Widdowson.
With a 38-run surplus, the Whackers’ openers Xavier and Andy Peck took the field in high spirits, Xavier ultimately smashing 31 runs including a six that removed a tile from the clubhouse. He was finally felled by Dan Coston, who again turned back the clock with a fine spell comprising three wickets. Peck had earlier fallen LBW to ex-Second XI legend Dave Sanderson and, despite some strong words with umpire Stretch, had to leave the field. It was one of two wickets for Sanderson, whose son George added a third despite bowling a horrendously high no-ball to loosen up: he took the wicket of ex-Milton player Dan Handley, who contributed 8 runs on his return. At five and six, former colt and senior player Ciaran O’Kane – who had made the trip from Germany – and close friend Henderson batted well, making 17 and 23 respectively. Sam Jones (24) added important runs down the order before being run out by Smith, as the Whackers make a solid 168-9 and set Barton’s Boys 207 to win.
At this point the raffle was drawn and Peter’s son Joe said a few words on behalf of the Stoehr family, making it clear just how much Peter adored Milton CC. Andy Race also announced that the family had agreed to donate all of the day’s proceeds to the club, for which everyone at Milton is hugely thankful.
That left a final innings – the Boys needing nearly 11 an over to win. Captain Barton shook the order up, sending Holroyd and Nathan in for the charge. After chef Nathan fell early, Holroyd expertly handled another troublesome opening spell from Mo before the young bowler finally nabbed him for 24. Ex-Milton player Kiran Sakamuri, who had travelled from Bristol for the day, played an expert innings alongside Milton-Sawston-Milton man Jimmy Drummond to compile a fantastic 100-plus partnership to keep the Boys’ hopes alive. After both were forced to retire, on 56 and 51 respectively, Barton and Ched were left to take the Boys home. Victory looked assured until Ched hit a Henderson half-volley to Evans in the deep and Barton pulled up injured and called for a runner. DJ Stephen ‘Bumble’ Denman, who had provided the day’s sound system, duly obliged, but he, Barton and George Sanderson were unable to claim victory. In the end, the Whackers won by just 7 runs in what had been a fantastic afternoon of cricket, played in the right spirit.
Once again, the club would like to thank the Stoehr family and all the players, helpers and spectators for making sure that Peter was remembered in the right way. This inaugural event was attended by around 100 people, including many old faces and plenty of future Milton talent. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
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