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The Racqueteers
Summer of 2017
PRESIDENT
’
S MESSAGE & SEASON SUMMARY
2017 has been a terrifi c season for The Racqueteers
–
probably our best season in our
eight-year history. We won seven matches, drew one, tied one
–
and
only had one cancellation due to poor weather. We were beaten only
three times; two of these - albeit close - losses were suffered on the
same day at the traditional start-of-season King Alfred Trophy
tournament. Fielding a team that day was unusually diffi cult and
resulted in The Racqueteers relinquishing the Trophy after two years
as cup holders. Judging by the excellent turn out this evening, I can
see that I
’
ll have to dangle a curry-flavoured carrot in front of you next
year
…
Sadly, The King Alfred Trophy 2017 commemorated the untimely death of Ian Rentell who
had run The Hospital cricket team for some 25 years. Sadly, too, the day saw the end of
Prof. David Owen
’
s cricketing career. David
–
an
“
occasional
”
Racqueteer
–
kindly offered
his services but, having not run further than few feet for many many years, pulled a
hamstring in the fi eld and decided, post-match, that his cricketing days were over.
A week after The King Alfred Trophy saw victory, at home, over The Hyde Willow. The
Willow were a fi ve-man team that day whom we generously allowed to bat twice and
provided Racqueteers for their fi eld
–
it was an easy win. A few days later, we enjoyed a
new fi xture against the Winchester College staff team, played in the stunning setting of
Meads at Winchester College. Runs flowed quickly on this small - but beautifully formed -
ground but so, too, did the rain - which eventually stopped play. (A Duckworth-Lewis
victory for The Racqueteers, we felt, however). That game has cemented a good
relationship with the college and they are keen for further fi xtures in 2018.
Two more victories followed, against The Westgate Lambs and The Crawley Crows; we
roasted the former and stuffed the latter. The Crows wings were well and truly clipped, at
last, by a performance
–
I feel
–
that was the most impressive ever displayed by The
Racqueteers. Despite Aussie Stu and Alex nursing serious hangovers our cricket was
supreme, and included the fi rst ever Racqueteers
’
century with a sublime innings from
Paddy. An excellent slip-catch by new boy, Mike Perry, too.
A wisden-worthy event happened in mid-June at our next match v The Milburys. In 2016
we played The Milburys away at The Holt and the match was tied. In 2017 we played The
1
Milburys away at The Holt
–
and the match was tied. Quite remarkable, although requiring
only four runs from three overs for victory and failing to do so was perhaps not The
Racqueteers
’
fi nest hour!
Another new fi xture came next, away at Swanmore. A friendly bunch but, unbeknown to
us, home of the Swanmore Slogger who, despite our half-decent score, ripped through our
bowling mercilessly taking Swanmore to a nine-wicket victory.
But it was uphill all the way after this defeat; our remaining four fi xtures resulted in victory
for The Racqueteers against the Easton Wanderers (another new fi xture), The Hospital, St
Giles and fi nally Goodwood
–
a beautiful location and a beautiful evening to end the 2017
season.
It
’
s been great to have several new players join The Racqueteers this season: Richard
Coope, Kane Connor, Chris Lawson, Tom Wesseley, Mike Perry and David Francis
–
all of
whom have really contributed to this successful season and we look forward to having you
in the squad again next year. It
’
s great, too, to see David Holley here tonight; we
’
ve
missed you at the crease in 2017, David, trust that your child-rearing days are nearly over
and that you
’
ll be back with The Racqueteers in 2018
…
?
Thanks, as ever, go to Lol for scoring at many fi xtures this season, to Gaurav for his
impeccable stats and Guy, Mike F and Dom for their match reports. And thanks, too, to
Gaurav, Farmer Chris and Mike F for joining me at the Community Games in September;
the only thing missing was the community - but we took the opportunity to have a useful
end of season practice with helpful tips from Mike F.
Practice has played an important part in this successful 2017 season. The new time slot
for nets on a Sunday evening has clearly worked better for most. Winter training at
Dummer, and indoor cricket at River Park, have both been really well attended and we
’
ll be
arranging more for this coming winter so I hope as many of you as possible can take part
in these sessions so that we
’
re well prepared for an even better season in 2018! Thank
you, Racqueteers, for a great year.
2
MAN OF THE SEASON
Deciding who should receive this prestigious award for the 2017 season was a no brainer
–
the
stats tell the story. This year the Player of the Season has to be the Man of the Season, too.
In the seven games he played, he scored
223 runs
, his season average. He hit fi ve sixes and
28
fours. He took nine wickets and
eight catches
; fi ve of these in the same game against the Easton
Wanderers - and this after suffering relentless sledging from the pavilion by Aussie Stu (playing for
the opposition) having dropped an earlier catch.
He was a key
member of the team
that stuffed the
Crows, and his
maiden century
during that match
was a textbook
innings
–
and the top
score of the season
at
106 runs
.
He is, of course,
Mr
Paddy Holmes
.
Congratulations,
Paddy
!
3
OVERALL STATS
4
INDIVIDUAL STATS
5
DETAILED STATS
–
BATTING & FIELDING
6
DETAILED STATS
–
BOWLING
7
8
9
