Fortunes improved dramatically during the next three years under Arnie Hubbard’s captaincy. He took the game very seriously and generated a lot of enthusiasm. He had a great ability to learn and get the maximum out of his players—on and off the field.
His strong side included Doug Yeabsley, a fine all-rounder who had played for Devon since he was a schoolboy. He regularly played for the combined minor county sides against visiting Test sides, and his long economic bowling spells are legion.
Donald Carr also played during this period and topped the bowling in 1975 — a season of 17 wins, 19 draws and 10 defeats, and third position in the league.
Radlett was only the third British team to bowl out Sri Lanka (195) — the Australians could not do it. The side was over for the World Cup tournament and was the first national side for over 50 years to play cricket in Hertfordshire. Radlett’s opening bowlers, Nick Draper and Peter Smith, took eight between them, although Radlett only managed 105 in reply.
The seconds had parallel results, also coming third in their league under all-rounder David Mundy (captain 1975-80) who had taken over from Nigel Strofton. Mike Dexter scored 991 runs including three not out 100s.
Justin Court topped the bowling; against Broxbourne he had already got seven wickets when he so alarmed their umpire with his bowling that he was taken off because he was “too fast for the conditions.” Someone later commented, “Umpires are not really bad men, they merely reflect the common failings of humanity!”
Weather was perfect for batting as Charlie Randall showed in his mammoth 160 not out v. Southgate Adelaide in a Kemp’s Cup clash. He and Tony Smith (67) put on 187 runs in 87 minutes to put the game out of Adelaide’s reach. Radlett reached the area final at their first attempt but lost to Hampstead.
Radlett’s second team, in David Mundy’s first season as captain, finished third in 1975, with Mike Dexter scoring 991 runs, including three undefeated centuries.
Bruce Hensleigh, a Borehamwood policeman, thrived on the third team captaincy he has held since 1975. In that year and in each of the next four he was to score over 1,000 runs, a tremendous achievement by any standards.