Stephen Ferley
Special to The Lake Report

The Shaw versus Stratford annual cricket match celebrated its golden anniversary on Monday.

Every other year Niagara-on-the-Lake hosts the encounter that was started back in 1974 by the two festivals’ companies, ensembles, support staff and management. 

The fixture brings NOTL’s cricket history into the present day — a history stretching back to the 1850s with the Niagara Grammar School Cricket Club and to 1862 with the birth of Niagara Cricket Club playing at what we now know as Veterans Memorial Park.

The name of two of that club’s initial board of directors lives on in Paffard Street.   

In the 1970s, many ensemble members at both the Shaw and Stratford were over from England for the summer or were from countries with a cricketing history.

A cricket game between the two was a natural fit.

The captain of this year’s Shaw team, Jeff Irving notes, “With the guidance of folks like Butch Blake from Stratford, it just continued from then. Lots of people from both festivals involved and lots of fun, camaraderie and hopefully some good cricket.”

The historical record on the Butch Blake trophy indicates that Stratford have won 20 of the 35 games since 1989 and before this week’s game Stratford captain Emilio Vieira was heard to claim, “We aim to take the trophy back to Stratford with us today.”

Monday’s event was launched by NOTL town crier Tom Pekar together with a formal gun salute from the musket squad of Fort George. 

The game was social, friendly — and competitive. Serious but never over-the-top.

Batters on both teams aimed to build an innings — not always easy on the matting wicket at Memorial Park and with an outfield not too conducive to stroke play along the ground.

Bowlers aimed to bowl a line and length. The ground fielding was enthusiastic with the concentration needed for the 40 overs and the three hours of each inning — with several excellent catches taken in the deep and very few unforced errors. 

Batting first, Stratford scored 196 from their 40 overs. Captain Vieira topscored with 53.

Previous Shaw team captain Martin Happer picked up four for 13 off his four overs — proving that he’s squeezed in some valuable bowling practice between rehearsals and performances for “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

In reply, the Shaw were all out for 186, falling 10 runs short in a tense finish.

Blake Wilson put together a consistent knock for 37 before falling to a caught-and-bowled. And Drew Plummer added 35, including three straight sixes that threatened the cars parked nearby.

Did Shaw miss the cricket experience of artistic director Tim Carroll and board chair Ian Joseph, both unavailable for business reasons? Certainly.

Would their runs have made the difference? Dr. Patrick Martin, a knowledgeable cricket fan visiting from St. Kitts and Nevis to watch his daughter Tama in the ensemble for the Shaw’s “My Fair Lady” answers knowingly, “Possibly.” 

No worries. There’s always next year. In Stratford.