   |
|
Home 2003 Season 2002 Season News Photo Gallery Club Directory Umpires SPCL Umpire Appointments Rules/ Accreditation Officials SEC Cup Awards Statistics Links |
|
|
South Wilts Cricket Club - Formed 1854
Back to South Wilts CC Directory Page
South Wilts CC Review 2002 (Written by Russell Rowe)
A season of both sadness and success at Lower Bemerton; no review of 2002 would be complete without mention of the loss of Gordon Gay (see Obituaries), whose tireless work for the club will be forever remembered.On the field, the 1st XI finished fourth, won the Southern Electric Contracting Cup and then celebrated again as Steve Benbough's 2nd XI finished runners-up in Hampshire League County Division 1 to achieve promotion to SPL3 this summer. It was unquestionably South Wilts' most successful season since the Southern League championship triumph of 1990.
Fourth position in SPL1 was our best effort for sometime and was, I think, deserved. We proved again, that on our day and at full strength, we are a match for any team. Paul Draper (553 runs and 35 wickets) really is an asset to any club, the retiring captain Russell Rowe chipped in with over 600 runs, making a formidable opening partnership, and South African left-arm seamer Shaun Adam at times proved he had match winning ability, taking 28 wickets, and scoring useful runs.
Our problem, as ever, was fielding a full strength team. Hampshire's James Tomlinson played just five games and Tim Lamb only six. This problem was not helped by the success of our 2nd XI who were promoted. Although no players were dropped down to help the cause, several first team aspirants were held back from joining us.
Winning the Southern Electric Contracting Cup was the highlight of our season, the first silverware
for sometime. Hopefully this will inspire us to yet further success.