Sunday 2nd April saw our U16 lads collect the trophy as 16/17 South East Hants Indoor U16 Champions.
The season saw us win 9 from 9 matches, topping the table 13 points clear. A core of 6 players, Harlan Randell, Ollie Kanavan, Nick Cox, Dan Turner, Freddie Gadd and Tristan Collighan were supported by Joel Eastment, Tristan Nay and Josh Poole who played a match each and contributed well. We will expect Freddie, the Tristans, Joel and Josh to play a huge part in next season's title defence.
In years gone by our over whelming strength has been our batting but while we had 4 bats in the top 20 (Harlan 145, Ollie 144, Nick 141 and Dan 131) that was in reality a disappointing return for accomplished indoor bats. Runs went missing when we forgot the basics and went all guns blazing for the back wall. A lesson to be learnt perhaps for next years cohort? In some games we did click and scores in the 150's and 170's were seen.
However, in posting low scores of 91, 104, 107, 128 in other matches, we were asking a lot of our bowling and fielding but in this respect we delivered every time. We didn't take as many wickets as in some years because sides tended not to chase our big scores. The league role of honour shows Freddie sitting pretty at the top on 9 wickets, going at less than 5.6 runs per over, proving he's a true allrounder as he won last years U13 batting (at least there's a space on the mantle piece for this years trophy!). For much of the season it looked like Dan might need to find the space but ended right on Freddie's heels, taking the same number of scalps just leaking more at 7.97 per over. Nick too made the top 10 names with 5 wickets.
With the exception of the last game, when a surprise change of ball seemed to effect us, our extra count was very tight. Much of this was due to Tristan's excellent glove work, his best yet. In addition to his stopping he also managed 2 stumpings and 3 catches. Outfield catches were shared around with Ollie and Harlan taking 4, Freddie and Dan 3 and Nick 2.
Well played all.
This brings to a close the colts careers of Harlan, Dan, Ollie and Nick who variously have been party to some great successes over their time with P&S. Since 2012/13 their cohort have played 45 indoor matches losing only 7 and finishing outside the top two just once. They have been Champions 3 times in 5 years winning the U13s in 12/13 and U16's in 14/15 and 16/17.
Outdoors 2013 saw 3 of them win the U13 Hampshire Cup and go on to qualify for the National Regional Finals. In 2015 they won the U15 league and played in the Hampshire Cup semi final. They were all finalists in the 2015 U17 league playoffs and won the same in 2016.
Outside the club all four have been integral parts of the SE Hants district squad - winning Festivals at U12, U13 and U15 and this winter 3 of them swept the Ageas Bowl Indoor league too. A winters competitive return for them of played 22 won 22!
In adult cricket Dan and Harlan have both won adult sides bowling awards and Ollie has made runs for all the adult sides he's played in. We just need Nick to sign up now.........!
We look forward to seeing each of these lads pushing on in their cricket and hope they get to enjoy many more years in this great game.