Portsmouth & Southsea Cricket Club

Now is the time of the year to look back with plenty of time in coming months to look ahead!

First season back in Southern LEague after a 3 year sabbatical with a side that had lost for a variety of reasons several regulars from previous year was always going to be a challenge / opportunity for the mass of young talent coming through and a returning Old Git at the Helm.

The season in summary was a success we are playing Southern League Cricket again next year, and after victory against Totton in 20/20 are on the Southern LEague Map!

Down in the detail the highlights are several starting with a great victory first day of the season against much fancied Bashley with all of the team contributing with the runs from Rowan and Ups and a crucial 9th wicket partnership between the skipper and the very prominsing Ben Searson seeing us home by 1 run as Johnny Milne ran their skipper out with a ball to spare.

The next victory that stands out is the one against Sarisbury thanks to a magnificent 100 from Rowan and a very mature knock from Rob Evans saw us over the line with ten overs to spare.

The 300+ score against United Services was another standout with the top 4 on that day being immense and Matt Williams roaring in to get the only 5 for of the season

The highlight of the season for me anyway was the victoy over those down the road which stands out for the team nature of the victoy with all of us chipping in and on a personal level cause its great to be there at the end when a game is won. It shows how far the club has come in the last 5 years that we are even playing against teams like that let alone beating them when they are at full strength

Purbrook must have been a good win and thanks to God for playing in that one - My phone bill is still being paid off though!
The 20/20 was great fun while it lasted and I think showed that as a club we have depth as people like Varun, Ali Power, Ryan Way, Jack Davies and Alex Fletcher played in these games and benefitted from the experience as did anybody who saw Rowans once in a lifetime knock against Totton

It is right to focus on the positives but ... Opportunities for Improvement are Fielding, Fiel;ding, Fielding oh and batting 50 overs!

All in All a fantastic year, enjoyed nearly all of it and feel honoured that I was at the helm and helped to bed in so many talented youngsters as Matt Williams, Toby Bullen, Jack Davies, Matt Smith, Joe Collings-Wells, Rob Evans, Sam Treagus, Jamie Cowdery, Owen Jones all still teenagers had exposure to and in some cases performances at the highest level of cricket this club has ever played it - Hope they can all take what they have learned this year forward.

Also delighted to help new players to the club Mike Saunders, Johnny Milen , Graham Chandler and Jonno Willey prove there worth at first team level

Finally as I fear I am rambling a big thank you to the senior players particularly to Rowan for his runs / wickets and will to win Dave Ups for the same, Neil for his runs and wise council - The 1st team will be a poorer place without you three and of course thank you to the support staff Rowan, Bennie, Wardy et all for the best wickets I have ever playhed on at St J's, Julie Smith for scoring and good humour throughout, Ian and Phyllis for Teas and serving me drinks to celebrate / drown my sorrows and everyone else for your support its been a blast