Sometimes, when you’re reading a report on a cricket match you’ve been to, you’re left wondering whether the person writing it has seen the same game as you. Or has even seen the game at all. So providing session-by-session web reports on Hampshire’s home games had always been on The Rose Bowl’s wish list – it had just been a case of finding an affordable way to do it properly.

Think about it; last year’s fixture list meant 50 days of First XI cricket at The Rose Bowl and 4 at May’s Bounty, which represented a huge commitment in terms of resource. Not just any resource either; the job needed a knowledge of cricket and the ability to write. So step in a group of volunteers: students from the Sports Journalism course at Solent University, and me.

It seems a very long time since the pre-season friendlies against Glamorgan and Middlesex and everyone’s learning curve has been a steep one. For those first few games the media centre wasn’t open and we were based in the corner of the members’ bar, which was very sociable, but not entirely conducive to concentration. It was from these early experiences that we decided it was better to work in pairs, because it was all too easy to miss a vitally important ball.

Looking back on those first match reports, it is purely down to the writing skills of the students involved that they read so well. Yes, they needed editing (my job) but it was really gratifying to see personal styles evolve alongside the by-lines that would become so familiar to our Hampshire website audience as the season wore on; Ally Fisher, Neil Evans, Nick Howson, Steven Woodgate and other less prolific, but by no means less important, contributors.

Steven takes up the story.  “Fortunately, I was put forward to do some work experience at The Rose Bowl (always with a capital T, thanks Jane) and took it with both hands. I was never truly a big cricket fan before and the international scene was the extent of my knowledge, however after a season covering the mighty Hawks I have learnt much; not only about cricket but the feel and the enthusiasm that is required in a press box.

“Sometimes it wasn’t easy watching out bore draws and it was a real challenge to get 300 words out of a session that had seen no wickets. Once I even went five sessions with only one wicket to fall; when it happened it was my favourite player Jimmy Adams who gave his wicket away.

“My fondest memory surprisingly came at the Nursery Ground. Adams, again, trying to force his way into the one-day First XI, hit the biggest six as it flew into the main stadium. It looked more like a golf swing. Describing that was a lot of fun indeed. Interviewing Chris Tremlett was probably the scariest moment I have encountered in my young journalism career as being a modest 5’9’, he towered over me and must have only seen a floating dictaphone.”

Jane Cable and Steven Woodgate intently watching the action

Once everyone learnt the ropes we took great pride in trying to have the reports published on the website very soon after each session ended. What started the season being a cause for constant stress became a slick operation, with the students writing the reports as play unfolded, while I set up the webpage and found some appropriate pictures from our library. Then, as soon as play finished I would check their copy, import it into the website, check it again, and press the button for it to go live. And if I wasn’t there, Rose Bowl Marketing Executive Kevin Latouf would do it.

Very often photographs of the game itself had to come later, but local photographers were very good and generally worked with us, for example when Barry Zee took the first pictures we had of James Vince playing in LV County Championship colours, ready for us to put live the same day. By the middle of the summer Barry was able to provide us with pictures of exactly the right size for our front page, so it became even quicker to bring the most up to date images to our audience.

Generally the feedback we received through the website was very encouraging. Some correspondents picked us up on technical points, but in the main Hampshire members seemed pleased with their new service. A few mistakes slipped through the net and more than once I received an overnight text from one of the students, fretting because they had noticed something wasn’t right. That’s one of the joys of web publishing – it’s very easy to correct.

As a group we have been fortunate enough to witness a largely successful and completely fascinating season for Hampshire. We managed to cover almost every day of First XI cricket at The Rose Bowl and discovered the delights of watching the Seconds play next door. We bickered about the importance of statistics and banned the phrase ‘sumptuous cover drive’ from our reports. We all learnt from the core of professional journalists who regularly grace The Rose Bowl’s media centre. Once or twice, we even sat outside and enjoyed an ice cream. But most importantly, we provided prompt and accurate coverage of Hampshire’s season for the many fans who cannot get to every game. Expect more of the same next year.

 

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