1969 was a proud year for all Welshmen, both at home and away. Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle, whilst the national rugby team won the Five Nations championship and took the Triple Crown with victories over England, Ireland and Scotland. To add to the Celtic delight, Tony Lewis led Glamorgan to the Championship title as the Welsh county remained unbeaten – a feat not achieved since 1930 when Lancashire became county champions by not losing a game.
After their near miss the previous year, the Spring of 1969 saw Wilf Wooller and Tony Lewis in a series of deep conversations as the Club’s Secretary and captain devised a title-winning plan. The bonus points situation at the time favoured quick scoring in the first innings and with the bowling attack augmented by Lawrence Williams, a lively young seamer dubbed the ‘Tonna Terror’, covering all bases, they possessed the firepower to mount a serious challenge. The key element was adopting a positive approach and, as Malcolm Nash recalled, “it was a logical development of the way we had started to play the season before. As well as scoring quickly, our discussions also included the strategy of declaring behind if necessary, and then being confident that we could bowl the opposition out second-time around and go for – and get – any target set.”
Previous campaigns had been dogged by injury but lady luck was on Glamorgan’s side in this Year of the Welsh, as all of their regular eleven stayed free from injury and without anyone called up to play for England, the only others called up were Ossie Wheatley, and the Cardiff pair of Kevin Lyons and leg-spinner David Lewis. Another vital ingredient was Tony Lewis’ captaincy, as Roger Davis remembers. “As long as the players gave their best on the field, he encouraged them to enjoy themselves when at rest. Off the field, we laughed and laughed, and this enjoyment and vitality showed through in our play in the field. There was a willingness to take chances and our confidence that luck would favour the brave.”
Besides this esprit de corps, there were some similarities with 1948, with an outstanding fielding unit close to the stumps. With Bryan Davis at first slip, Majid at second, Roger Davis at short-leg, Peter Wallker at backward short-leg and Eifion Jones behind the stumps, few chances were missed all summer. There was an important difference as well in that 1969 saw the introduction of the John Player Sunday League following the success of televised matches played on Sundays in previous summer by the Rothman’s International Cavaliers. Whereas Wilf Wooller’s team could rest their weary limbs – and heads – the squad of ’69 took part in 40 overs games.
Glamorgan began the new competition with a bang as Don Shepherd took 5/31 in the inaugural match at Northampton before a victory in mid-June over Leicestershire on their first visit to Llandudno. Young seam bowler Graham Kingston also took 6/36 in the victory over Derbyshire at Ebbw Vale, but as attention became firmly focussed on the three-day games, Glamorgan’s form in the Sunday games fell away, as the Welsh county ended in tenth place.
The first Championship victory came during the first week of June when Somerset were beaten at Sophia Gardens, and the Welsh county were still in mid-table when they travelled to Bournemouth to play what became one of the most bizarre matches in the Club’s history. With Barry Richards, the gifted Springbok batsman in the home team’s camp, the wicket at Dean Park was excellent and when the final day began, there was the prospect of Glamorgan mounting a run chase later in the day after Tony Lewis, as so often during his captaincy, declared in arrears in order to set up a game.
After a short passage of play, rain started to fall and with the precipitation still falling in mid-afternoon and Hampshire still 39 runs in arrears. Tony spoke with his opposite number Roy Marshall, and, with little time to set up a finish, the two captains agreed to shake hands after the tea interval. Tony duly reported back to his team and suggested they could get changed but Don Shepherd, as the wily senior professional suggested, checking with the umpires, Lloyd Budd and Peter Wight. The latter’s response was that only light drizzle was falling – “The wicket will be playable almost as soon as it stops. It is far too early to abandon the match.”
As the Hampshire players got changed and departed, Tony told his men to stay and an hour later the rain stopped with the umpires returning to the middle at 5.30pm. A message had been sent for the home team to return, but they could not be found, so Tony Cordle marked out his run, and Lloyd Budd called “Play” The statutory two minutes then elapsed and without any batsmen in sight, the umpires awarded the game to Glamorgan. A heated debate subsequently took place about their decision, with the MCC initially upholding the decision. But Hampshire lodged an appeal, and Glamorgan graciously told them that they would not object, as the match was declared a draw. By this time, the Welsh county had built a lead at the top of the table and as one Glamorgan official said “Who wants to be remembered as the side that became champions by virtue of some obscure regulation.”
Click here to read more about the 1969 season and the Championship success.