The Rainham Second XI League Championship Team of 1992
Having joined the Riverside League in 1991 for their first ever participation in league cricket, Rainham Second XI didn’t take long to become established by winning it in their second season of participation. Only losing two matches in their campaign and ably led by skipper Bill Booth they showed consistency with some solid displays.
The strength of the team was that they fielded a consistent side throughout the season composed of older experienced players and several very good youngsters who progressed to play for the First XI. This allowed for team spirit and consistency during the league campaign.
Of the opening batsmen Ian ‘Ned’ Newman, an aggressive left hander and prolific talker, preferred to get on with things which proved advantageous in league matches. His 62 against Wateringbury was one of his memorable league innings. Of the other batsmen Paul Clayton proved to be a reliable opener while George Foote became one of the principal batsmen with some effective straight hitting. With 87 against Hempstead and 55 against Wateringbury George became a consistent performer. A young Paul Newton made some useful scores with 89 against Hempstead and 62 against Wateringbury. His brother John, a tall and elegant left hander always scored runs with his cover drives when he was able to play. Their father, Ken Newton, an experienced and former long serving captain still turned out and could hang around for a long time and bowl round arm swingers while a serious looking Keith Plumridge, an out and out hitter, could sometimes prove useful in the middle order with some big, across the line hits over mid wicket.
Wicket keeper Jim Newman took some good stumpings standing up to the medium pace bowlers and sometimes proved useful as a batsman with occasional useful scores. This helped to exert pressure on the opposition.
The bowling, although predominantly composed of medium pace seamers, proved accurate and teams did not find them easy to get away. Ken Kemmenoe and Bill Booth, bowling right arm seamers tied many sides down with accurate bowling while brothers Matthew and Paul Newton were always likely to take wickets. Alan Beale bowling left arm seamers also made contributions while a young Nick Plumridge periodically added strength.
The team eventually won the Riverside League championship after an easy nine wicket victory over Wateringbury in August. After Wateringbury had been dismissed for a paltry 51 due to the bowling of Alan Beale 3-9 and Bill Booth 2-9, George Foote and Paul Clayton knocked off the runs in only 10 overs to allow Rainham Second XI to take a league championship for the first time in their history.
