Over Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th April, Corsham CC goes head to head with Chippenham CC across NINE separate fixtures, with the ambition of winning the inaugural Bates-Rogers Challenge Trophy – a trophy that will now be played for on an annual basis.

In setting up this year’s pre-season friendlies the Fixture Secretary (Scott Fleming) thought what better than to play against our next door neighbours, ensuring that whilst a friendly, it would be played in the competitive spirit of a league game and prepare our teams for the following season's programme of league matches which begin on May 1st.

The idea then developed to involve the whole club and to involve our Juniors, Women, Saturday and Sunday teams in competition against Chippenham. With Chippenham coming on board with the idea, it was readily agreed to make this challenge an annual event and to arrange fixtures to fall over the weekend before the league season starts.

Of course, such a momentous event warrants a trophy to play for and in developing the idea it was decided to name it after two players who have played and enjoyed their time at both clubs. Trevor Bates and Terry Rogers played for Corsham and Chippenham during their long cricketing careers and so it was decided that the two clubs should compete for the 'Bates-Rogers Challenge Trophy' in recognition of the two club stalwarts.

Sadly, in the last couple of years, both Trevor and Terry have lost their wives and so what better thing to do, than to play cricket in the memory of Carol Bates and Karen Rogers.

The nine fixtures vs Chippenham over the weekend are as follows:

Spectators (of course complying with the latest COVID-19 Government guidelines!) are most welcome at all matches.

The Committee wish all those involved the very best and hope that all players and spectators have an enjoyable weekend of cricket.