THEY may be ancient terms, but they are a most useful way of dividing up a cathedral choir into two cricket teams. Decani are those who sing on the dean's side of the choir, and Cantoris on the precentor's (or cantor's) side.

At Hereford Cathedral, the annual cricket match is a highlight of the summer, when the two teams swap surplices for cricket whites to play a match of 12 overs, each side enthusiastically supported by parents and clergy alike. But questions must be asked why the Dean's Trophy was won by Decani for the tenth year running, when there is a steady turnover of choristers.

When presenting the trophy, the Dean of Hereford, the Very Revd Michael Tavinor, thanked all who had made the match possible, including the two umpires, but commented that the tenth consecutive victory for his side was "no thanks to my cricketing skills, which are non-existent". Celebrations afterwards included the traditional special tea of sandwiches and strawberries, served to the choir.