Cricket Witness No 5 - Whites on Green

72 Chapter Nine “Good Old Johnnie” Over the years, the St. Helen’s ground has witnessed some remarkable and record-breaking feats by some unlikely batting partnerships. In 1981 the tenth wicket pair of all-rounder Rodney Ontong plus leg-spinner Robin Hobbs entered the Glamorgan record books by adding an unbeaten 140 for the tenth wicket during the County Championship match against Hampshire. But the record created by the young South African and veteran Englishman was erased at Swansea the following year as reserve wicketkeeper Terry Davies together with Durham-born seam bowler Simon Daniels added 143 for the tenth wicket against Gloucestershire. The efforts of Davies and Daniels have still to be surpassed for the Welsh county, as do the efforts of another unlikely duo in Johnnie Clay and Joe Hills, who in 1929 added what still remains as a record 203 for the ninth wicket in Glamorgan’s match against Worcestershire. Whilst Johnnie Clay was a very familiar figure in Welsh sporting circles, his partner in the record stand at St. Helen’s was less well-known. Born in Plumstead in Kent in 1897, Joe Hills had shown great promise as a schoolboy sportsman but on leaving school in 1915 he initially trained to be an electrician before enlisting with the Royal Engineers in mid-May 1916. The eighteen year-old then spent time at Hitchin Signals Depot before going to France on 7 January 1917 with the BT Cable Section. He soon saw active service on the Western Front, ensuring that cabling and other wiring from Brigade HQ reached the forward positions. During the summer of 1918 he was involved in manoeuvres associated with the Hundred Days Offensive and on 27 August 1918, amidst heavy shelling and gunfire during the Battle of Amiens, he showed great bravery in ensuring that the communication links were maintained between Brigade HQ and the forward lines in what proved to be a decisive passage of warfare. His efforts did not go unnoticed and he duly received the Military Medal for his brave deeds. He subsequently returned to civilian life in Kent and continued to show rich promise in both football and cricket, before securing a place on the Kent groundstaff, besides having trials as a goalkeeper with various Football League clubs. During the mid-1920s, he secured a professional contract with Cardiff City, and on New Year’s Day 1925 he made his debut for the ‘Bluebirds’ against Sunderland. Following his move to South Wales, he also secured a professional post with Barry CC, and his fluent strokeplay, classical cover drives and neat