Outwood Cricket Club 
2007 Kent County Village League 1st XI Runners-Up
2006 Kent County Village League 1st & 2nd XI Champions
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Saturday 1st XI Are 2006 Champions

BRIDESMAIDS NO MORE!

A report from your Club Captain, Ian Milton

After 15 years of trying and with a cabinet full of runners up medals, I am very proud to report that in 2006 Outwood Cricket Club's 1st XI achieved its ambition of winning the Kent County Village League's 1st Division title. Not content with that significant milestone, the 'Soops', led by Gary Ponsford, helped make it a well-deserved double by winning the 3rd Division. Very many congratulations to Gary and his team.

Ironically it was only in the week prior to the last game, with a win against our hitherto nemesis Hadlow, that we actually led the league table for the first time in the season, having moved steadily through the chasing pack after the setback of (our only) two early season losses. It showed the determination, character and steady nerve of the team to put those losses behind us and bounce back so strongly.

 

Back Row: John Hall; Basil Stanley; Tom Matthews; John Mills; John Kershaw; Blaise Hammond; Courtney Perry; Keith Barham; Front Row: Chris Knight; Neil Garrett; Ian Milton; Dilip Seshan; Neal Stevens

 There were many notable individual performances throughout the season, of which more at the club supper.  The emergence of new talent in the shape of all-rounders John Hall and Tom Matthews combined with the proven skills of John Kershaw and Chris Knight and welcome return of Neil Garrett bolstered us in the bowling department and helped kill off several games in the first 20 overs in the field. The bowlers were ably assisted by chief nag John Mills behind the stumps who, as ever, took his chances when they came.

However, our ability to win games was greatly enhanced by the consistency of the top six batsmen (notwithstanding the club captain!) in posting challenging, and occasionally, impossible targets for the oppo. The sight of hard-hitting new boys Courtney Perry and Henry van der Walt coming to the crease after Chris Dahl, Neal Stevens, Dilip Seshan and Blaise Hammond was every skipper’s dream.

In the National Village KO, despite exiting in the Sussex County final to Glynde & Beddingham, no-one who played in or witnessed the previous round against  Middleton CC will ever forget the most improbable victory which saw the team, ably led by club vice-captain Blaise Hammond, chase down 289 in 39.5 overs. Awesome stuff and something the President will no doubt regale his grandchildren with!

I would like to thank all those who contributed both on and off the field, namely Bernard, without whom we wouldn’t have the kind of wickets to allow our batsmen to flourish whilst keeping our bowlers interested; our umpires, Basil, Ken and Tony; Mr Barham for all he does for the club and for learning to use text messages; the other club captains and vice-captains; our tea-makers who set new standards this year; our sponsors, supporters, administrators and committee; Andrew Norman and all those involved with our flourishing junior section; Knighty for organizing Tour; those players who selflessly helped out when the 1st XI was short on occasions;

Finally my thanks go to the players who formed the core of the 1st XI squad for their commitment and consistent availability; the benefit of a settled team cannot be underestimated and proved critical to our success, as it will be in defence of our title next season and success in the NVC both of which I look forward to with enormous relish.

Ian Milton