The Pre First World War Years (1910-1914)

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In taking three wickets against Christ Church (City) at The Ridings on July 9th, 1910, J. H. Bennett performed the "hat-trick" and the visitors were all out for 50. In reply, Chipping Sodbury scored 95 for 9, Dr. Alfie Grace being top scorer with 38. They scored a comfortable win over Westerleigh on July 16th, G. Bowen and G. E. Jotcham scoring 31 and 30, respectively in a total of 122 and the wickets going to J. Weare (five) and J. H. Bennett (three).

Dr. Alfie Grace had a successful day in the match at The Ridings on July 25th against Mr. D. S. Stinchcomb's XI. He took six of the visitors' wickets and the side were all out for 35. Then the Doctor proceeded to knock up 75 in Sodbury's total of 148. At Coalpit Heath on August 23rd three Graces played for Chipping Sodbury against St. Saviour's. "E.M." opened the innings and made 31, Dr. Alfie Grace went in first wicket down and scored 25 and N. V. Grace did not bat. St. Saviour's scored 70 in reply to Chipping Sodbury's total of 127 for 6, Dr. Alfie Grace taking four wickets.

At the end of the 1910 season, Dr. Alfie Grace relinquished the office of captain. He finished top of the batting averages which also listed the following in the "also batted" section: E. M. Grace 31, F. H. Grace 23, M. B. Grace 1. G. E. Jotcham came second in the batting averages while J. Weare headed the bowling averages taking 30 wickets at a cost of 5.13 each with J. H. Bennett and Dr. Alfie Grace each having secured 28 wickets.

Sam Turner became captain in 1911 with G. E. Jotcham as vice-captain and secretary and E. A. Freeman as treasurer. Other members of the committee were Messrs. W. Crane, H. Cox, A.Dando, R. B. Trenfield and F. Stovin. Two Graces opening the innings against Eglington at The Ridings on May 27th, 1911, Dr. Alfie scored 6 and his brother, Arthur-evidently home on holiday from South Africa-made 16. Arthur Grace made 23 out of Sodbury's total of 42 against Manmtsfield on July 8th at The Ridings. The visitors won by 16 runs, G. E. Jotcham taking six wickets. Opening the innings against Westerleigh on July 15th, Jotcham scored 40 out of 94 and with J. Weare's 8 for 26 spell, Westerleigh were all out for 58.

On July 22nd, 1911, Chipping Sodbury were left 55 minutes in which to score 108 runs to beat Hebron and thanks to Jotcham (38 not out), S. Blakeney (28) and S. Turner (22 not out) they achieved victory for the loss of four wickets. Jotcham made 51 out of the side's total of 88 in reply to Winterbourne's score of 24 on July 29th when S. Blakeney secured six wickets and Jotcham took four. At home to T. G. Northam and Co. on August 2nd, Chipping Sodbury gained an exciting one-run win, Harry Lewis being 9 not out when the last wicket fell.

G. E. Jotcham had a brilliant season finishing with 336 runs (avge. 22.4) and taking 60 wickets at a cost of 6.1 runs per wicket. Arthur Grace came second in the batting averages and J. Weare captured 47 wickets (avge. 5.76).

In 1912, G. E. Jotcham took over the captaincy from Sam Turner and continued as secretary. Sam Turner became vice-captain and A. E. A. Searle took over the treasurer's duties from E. A. Freeman. Rain ruined this season and of the 21 matches arranged, 7 were won, 8 drawn, 4 lost and two abandoned without a ball being bowled. Skipper Jotcham excelled again with 207 runs (avge, 14.8) and 51 wickets (avge. 5.7).

Among the players who turned out for the Club in 1913 were: G. E. Jotcham, A. E. A. Searle, J. Weare, A. H. Turner, A. Dando, T. H. Boulton, S. Turner, S. Blakeney, S. Burnell, W. Turner, F. Jotcham, L. F. Shipway, J. W. Wilton, J. H. Bennett, R. McCarragher and H. Lewis. Jotcham and Weare were very effective with both bat and ball that season and typical of the many fine games played by Jotcham was on July 5th at The Ridings where he took six Bristol Central wickets and scored 50 not out in a total of 88 for 6.

At Badminton on August 7th, opening batsman, A. E. A. Searle carried his bat for 36 out of a total of 62 in reply to the home side's total of 117, Jotcham taking seven wickets. For the third successive year, Jotcham finished top of the batting averages. Bowling honours went to J. Weare (33 wickets-avge. 4.9) and Jotcham (38-5.2).

Alfie Dando opened Chipping Sodbury's innings against St. Saviour's Coalpit Heath on May 16th, 1914 and scored 41 out of 119 while Jotcham, who made 18, clean bowled six batsmen and the Coalpit Heath side were dismissed for 84. In a two-innings match at Wotton-under-Edge on Whit Monday, Jotcham captured 12 wickets and on June 13th, when Redland 2nd XI visited The Ridings, he took eight wickets for 19 runs and was top scorer with 35 out of 78, giving Chipping Sodbury a win by 11 runs. Eight times that season, Jotcham accomplished the feat of taking five or more wickets in one innings. On August lst, 1914, Chipping Sodbury entertained Dyrham and scored 71. Dyrham were dismissed for 48, R. McCarragher taking 7 for 13.

Three days later - on August 4th, 1914 - war was declared and cricket ceased.