RODMERSHAM 1ST XI 

CAPTAIN’S REPORT 1998

 

 The 1998 cricket season was a season of 'oh so near' but a 16 run loss to Walmer in the last game of the season was the difference between winning the league or ending up runner up and also promotion into Division 1 of the Kent League next season.

With the weather so wet at the start of the season both of our warm up games were washed out so it was into the first league game with myself having not seen half of the team play before. After a lot of phone calls and faxes to New Zealand we acquired Richard Pudney an Auckland U 19 player who arrived on the Friday before our first league game.

A fine win over Linden Park and an unbeaten 100 from Pudney was the kick start to the season we needed. Two more hundreds (including a massive 193) and a 90 in the next 3 games from the young New Zealander left us with 3 wins and a winning draw in the first four games and on top of the league table.  Dave Cogger,Pudney's opening partner, started the season off in fine style helping us put together century partnerships in the first three games.

Out of nowhere, maybe through being too over confident we had a poor performance against lowly Dunstonians being bowled out for 89 chasing a modest 160. This loss was maybe a blessing in disguise as the next 6 games resulted in 5 wins and a winning draw. Phil Etherington and Neil Cheesman were bowling superbly making life easy for the Rodmersham batsman. A fine 8 ‑ 20 by Etherington against Halls was one of the highlights of the season.

With four league games left we were 9 points clear on top of the table with only Walmer a serious threat of overtaking us. On a hot day at Bobbing after having bowled well to bowl the opposition out for 180 an undisciplined batting performance left us 7 runs short of victory and handing Walmer the top position for the first time all season.

The following week Bexleyheath came to our ground and never played for anything but a draw, so suddenly within 2 weeks we went from 9 points on top to 11 point second behind Walmer. Our trip up to London to play Downham & Bellingham was a crucial game to keep any hope of the title still alive. Six wickets by Etherington and a consistent batting performance earnt us a fine win and a shot at Walmer for the last game of the season.

Starting the game 11 points behind and winning an important toss we soon had Walmer in deep trouble finally bowling the top side out for 154. If we could get the required runs with not more than 8 wickets down the title would be ours. Our opening batsmen started confidently putting on 55 untroubled runs until one of the worst umpire decisions I have seen for a long time cost us our first wicket that of Richard Pudney. For some reason this wicket pushed the panic button and we lost our next 7 wickets for only 30 runs. We were finally bowled out for 138, 16 runs short of victory and the league title.

Although very disappointed of not going that extra step that I know we were good enough to do I was very proud to have captained this team and we should all realise that we have had a very successful season.

During the season we also made it to the semi‑final of the Doug Wood Cup only to meet a full strength Gore Court in a very exciting game. This game showed just how far we have come in a season as we pushed Gore Court all the way and it came down to very bad sportsmanship from a so called Premier Division club to beat us by 6 runs finishing in near darkness.

Richard Pudney with 914 league runs was a fine recruit to the club and if it wasn't for a couple of bad umpire decisions and also some over confident shots I am sure he would of scored many more. His effort of 914 runs was good enough for him to win the league batting award.

Matt Lincoln, after a very slow start to the season, began to get amongst the runs in the second half of the season to finish second leading run scorer and with his 13 wickets earnt him the U/21 Cricketer of the Year Award.

Kevin Beacon, although only playing 6 league games finished with an average of over 50 and kept wicket to a high standard. While Kevin was unavailable the keeping was left to Dale Pout who showed he was no mug behind the stumps as well as scoring valuable runs.

Gareth Chick, showed what a lot of people knew, that he has talent to burn if only he lets himself. Hopefully next seasons higher standard will bring the best out of him.

On the bowling front Phil Etherington had a brilliant season claiming 45 wickets in only 11 league games. His pace scared a lot of batsmen in this league and his determination to Win at all times was very important.

Neil Cheesamn claimed 32 wickets, myself 20 wickets and Stuart Coulter 17. The bowling was the strong aspect of our game that did well all season and only on two occasions did any opposition side score more than 200 runs.

Off the field I would like to thank all the Cricket Committee for its' hard work, especially our Secretary Arlene Piesley who has worked so hard for this club scoring, working the bar, cleaning, cooking and generally just working herself into the ground all for this club. Also 1 would like to thank Jane Jackson for her hard work as Treasurer and getting the club going in the right direction again.