First XI

Rockhampton First XI compete in The Glos/Wilts Division of the West of England Premier League, the highest level that the Club has played at in its 140 year history. The Club prides itself on flourishing home-grown talent and the First XI remains littered with players who represented the Club at Youth levels.

Indeed having grown up in the village it is the Tyler brothers who continue to dominate First Team batting averages whilst father (Mike) can be heard patrolling the boundary bellowing ‘constructive’ criticism. Skipper James Hancox grew up in Thornbury and has a habit of taking bowling trophies home at the end of the Season.

Recent success has seen the Club earn Focus Club status and enjoy a closer relationship with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. In 2010 former New Zealand International and Gloucestershire star Hamish Marshall was appointed as a Club Ambassador and has made numerous appearances at Club events. Gloucestershire Academy Player Michael Beard appeared as a First Team regular in the 2011 Season before signing for Frocester and for the 2012 Season the Club has acquired the guest services of current Gloucestershire regular Ian Saxelby. Formerly an integral part of Gloucestershire’s Legendary One-Day Wonders, Rob Cunliffe also plays a leading supporting role as a Coach at the Club.

Second XI

Second XI Cricket is a little less intense but with the introduction of independent promotion and relegation, the lads fought hard to sustain their own position in the Glos/Wilts Division for 2012. Jimmy Cooke and Nigel Hopkins led the way with the bat whilst Rob Belbin, Sam Nichols and Tom Shale-Coates did the damage with the ball, all home-grown players and all knocking on First Team doors. The Twos are renowned for enjoying their cricket on and off the Field and will happily share their encyclopaedic knowledge of the Glos/Wilts good pub guide with anyone lucky enough to get selected.

Third XI

The Third XI is a healthy blend of Youth and Experience (or the future and the past of First Team Cricket!). After Richard Mackinnon guided them to promotion in 2009, Senior Statesman and notorious tractor driver Tom Cullimore continues to develop a Team performing at the peak of the Stroud and District Cricket League. Expect Dave Hill, Steve Ives and Paul Williams to weigh in with the runs whilst Matty Wright, Alex Rawle and everyone else fights to get an over in when Tom isn’t bowling.

Fourth XI

The Club recently flaunted its ever-expanding membership by inaugurating the Fourth XI in 2010, originally skippered by the bearded-wonder Mike Fletcher. Now the Team (not to confused with their F1 namesakes) is better known as ‘The Williams Team’ as an array of both related and un-related ‘Williams’ make regular appearances. These Include Ian as Skipper and Sophie as the current leading female talent in the Clubs playing ranks. The 4th X1 achieved a promotion place finish in 2011.
 

Sunday XI

The Sunday XI, everyone’s favourite team! This is an un-healthy blend of youth, and Alastair Douds. The Sunday XI are best described as “a drinking team with a cricket problem”. They are currently plying their trade in the Premier League of the Village Sunday League, up against the likes of Corsham and Downend and have finished comfortably in mid-table for the past few seasons.

In recent years, the Sunday XI has seen such cricketing greats as Richard Pickernill, a man who once batted without a box but with his wallet and phone in his pocket, signalled 4’s and 6’s whilst umpiring at square leg and nearly died after taking (a rare) Spence cover drive to the head. JCD or BMOM as he now likes to be known, a former Warwickshire Windball League (WWL) professional, who last year managed to field one game barefoot and another in just a sleeveless sweater, as well as developing two enemies in the Belbin brothers. But in Alastair Douds, they have a man who is Sunday cricket, he is everything you expect to see in a Sunday captain, he is rather un-athletic, has hands like David James and is a rubbish tosser! Alastair is always on the lookout for players of any ability to play on a Sunday, so if interested please give him a call on 07852 119757 or drop him an email – alastair@owenjenkins.co.uk