2008 Season
The 2008 season dawned with a great deal of anticipation after the championship success of the previous season, how would the first team cope in the first division? Efforts were made to strengthen the team the most notable addition being that of Andrew Doidge the former captain of Bradford League team Pudsey St Lawrence who had a proven record and plenty of experience at the highest level of league cricket. The club were dealt an eve of season blow when one of our new recruits informed us he wouldn’t after all be playing for us, this was followed up after only a handful of games by two other first teamers, “falling out of love with the game”!… Strange times!! The remaining players, and those who stepped up from second team cricket galvanized and performed admirably, and up until the final few matches were never out of the top three and very much in contention for the championship. Once again the british summer weather wasn’t conducive to balmy cricket days but there were some memorable, and nail biting matches non more so than the splendid victory at Burley when we successfully chased down the hosts target of 276. Stewart Smith was once again our leading run scorer with over 500 League and cup runs and Simon Wilson had his best season for the club, of the bowlers overseas player Steven Duckworth was the leading wicket taker with 47 wickets and was well supported by Andrew Doidge with 34. “Ducky” and Meg were popular with young and old members alike both being regular attendees at the Thursday night bingo, they were for me the perfect example of how a good overseas visitor can integrate and be very much part of a family club. Before closing first team matters I must make mention of Denis Rock who had arguably his best ever season and certainly belied his years, his contribution of 400 League and cup runs and 25 wickets, saw the popular all rounder deservedly carry of the player of the year award, in doing so he passed 2,000 first team career runs and 200 wickets a feat matched previously only by Mick Hitchenor, John Kirkbright, Aidan Walker, Daren Murray and Bruce Percy…. A commendable effort.
The second team were under new leadership in the form of Matthew Longley, but the backwords previously mentioned in the first team report meant that Matt’s preparation and planning was hampered from game one, in terms of first team call up’s, added to this injuries and other non availability issues meant the second team spent most of the season at the wrong end of the table. The positive to come out of all this though was the input and involvement of junior players who were thrown in at the deep end so to speak, non more so than Callam Goldthorp the eventual winner of the player of the season award, comfortably the youngest ever recipient. Mark Windle once again took the batting honours and John Hughes led the way with the ball. As the season was drawing to its close the team seemed to play it best cricket taking points from the then top of the table North Leeds and denying the all conquering Kirkstall side the championship with a victory on the last day of the season. The arrival of sixteen years old Niall Colman from Pudsey St Lawrence gave the team a lift at the right time and I was lucky enough to witness him score a century against Bilton, a splendid effort from a talented young player
The third team also had a new captain Danny Appleton. Dan led the team with a refreshing enthusiasm and included in his team most weeks up to five or six junior players, as with the second team the juniors who did play were given every chance to express themselves with bat and ball and weren’t simply there to “make up the numbers” all juniors who played acquitted themselves very well and it was testament to their efforts helped and supported by the more experienced players in the team that the team exceeded all expectations, narrowly missing out on a play off semi final place due to bizarre events elsewhere on the final day of the season. Danny deserves great credit for the way he not only led the team but also nurtured the junior players, and ensured that they enjoyed their cricket and integrated comfortably into the senior team environment
For me personally the biggest success of 2008, and the greatest encouragement for the future has been the progress and development of our junior players and teams. As mentioned in the second and third teams reports junior players have become more and more prevalent in our senior teams they have been selected on merit and played a full part and as long as I have any involvement that will continue. With regards our junior teams the success stories were the under 13’s who won the Eddie Nelson six a side tournament at Ilkley, congratulations to all concerned. I think my personal highlight of the summer was following the under 15’s to the Grove Hill trophy final at Ilkley although we lost the game to a very talented Ilkley team, I was very proud of our team who were a credit to our club all arriving at the ground in club ties and playing the game in club shirts, the other thing that was creditable was the large following of support from our club including several senior players. Our other junior teams although not reaching the heights of the two aforementioned, performed admirably. I would like to offer a sincere vote of Thanks to all team managers, coaches and helpers for the time and effort they have put in throughout the season, I would also like to place on record my thanks to the parents who helped transporting the boys to games and assisted with the refreshments during matches.
As always I must place on record a very big Thank you to all the ladies who have helped with the cricket teas they continue to maintain the highest of standards for which the club have become renowned. Your efforts are recognized and appreciated ladies and we are very grateful to you. I would also like to offer a vote of Thanks to Mark Sutton and Mike Smith for the hard work and effort they have put in on the up keep of our ground, last summer was a particularly difficult one and your efforts are recognized and appreciated. The club was chosen to stage the Birtwhistle cup final last summer and as always pulled out all the stops, my thanks to all who helped on the day, similarly the annual Peter Rowney under nines tournament, in memory of our dear friend was once again blessed with good weather and was a huge success, a special Thanks to David and Hilary for the splendid barbecue…. A good job our resident butcher was in attendance, with his shop keys though!!
Finally I cannot conclude my report without placing on record my most sincere thanks and appreciation to Ray Saunders who as you know is standing down as Treasurer after ten years in office. I have worked closely with Ray during this time and his knowledge, experience and negotiating skills have been a valuable asset to our club, I have heard people complain “He’s always after your money” possibly a justifiable statement but let me assure you that everything Ray has done and whatever difficult decisions and recommendations he has made to the committee have been taken with the best interests and for the long term benefit of the club. The biggest testimonial that can be made is that Ray leaves the club in a much healthier state than he inherited. I endorse the sentiments of our President, Ray has the club at heart and is committed to it, the endless text messages I get for score updates on Saturday afternoons bear testament to that. Thank You very much Ray.

Lawrence Walker

Chairman

March 2009

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