Wrecclesham wrapped up a convincing 79 run victory over third placed Bramley but were pipped to the Miller Cup by Blackheath, who beat already relegated Chiddingfold by 20 runs, by a mere 1 point.
Both sides finished the season unbeaten in what has to be one of the most closely fought title battles in I'anson history.
The game itself, played in a great end of season spirit, was a rather one sided affair with Chris '1000 runs' Spooner setting up the Owls for a big total with a fine 70.
Spooners good work was efficiently maximised as he received some good support from James 'Graham Napier' Wright, Ben 'Stalwart' Pound, Oli 'The tan man' Caston and Neal 'hamstring' Harris as Wrecclesham amassed a competitive 230+ total in their 45 overs.
Caston and the evergreen Graeme '1000 wickets' Larby contained the home side in the vital early stages ensuring only two results were a realistic possibility as the game entered the latter stages.
The home side attempted to push on but never really looked like chasing down a big total as the Owls continued to exercise their dominance on proceedings.
Caston (3), Larby (3) and Dan 'DAAAAAAN' Vasey Jnr (4) all continued their fine recent form by bowling excellent spells of accurate line and length, deservedly sharing round the wickets.
Importantly they were all well supported in the field, Harris performing efficiently behind the stumps and Chris 'the rock' Windeatt in particular taking a blinder at a crucial stage of the game.
Fittingly though it was Larby, the day's stand out bowler, who took the final wicket of the season as the Owls celebrated a well earned 10 points.
However when news filtered through that Blackheath had narrowly defeated a valiant Chiddingfold side, the Wreccers had to settle for second place.
A superb effort from the Owls who might argue that it was only the weather between them and back to back titles as they played one less game than their rivals.
End of Season Review
To go one season unbeaten is a pretty remarkable achievement, to do it twice is something really to cherish as there are a lot of good players who will never experience something like this.
It has been a hell of a season yet again, it was going to take something special to keep the same level of enthusiasm as we generated last year but I think we managed it which in itself is an amazing effort.
With the team we have, having dominated so many games in the last 2 season, I really don't know what next year will bring. As the season began I thought we were good enough to gain promotion but you never know and I think we'll hold our own next year but it really wouldn't surprise me if we do a fair bit better than that.
As a team we have been excellent and every player has the potential to win a game almost single handidly which is a great facet for any side to have.
Parky has been a revelation at the top of the order and combined well with Spoons to form a lethal opening partnership.
Wrighty, who has had his best ever season and would have walked the batting cup at pretty much any other club in the I'anson, has been dominant and really stepped up to the plate in fulfilling his obvious potential. The scary thing is that I think there is more to come!
Windeatt, who has fielded supremely well, whilst never letting the team down, has been the subject of some questionable decisions, particularly of late and I am sure will fair better when he is thrown into more meaningful situations next term.
Henry Bate, Andy Collins, Jonny Elworthy, Suril Patel and Ben Pound have come into the team with contrasting styles but all to great effect and all unquestionably have the calibre to success in a higher division. The only thing needed from these guys is more games please!!
In contrast Dave Vasey has shown tremendous commitment and a safe pair of hands at slip, taking the odd blinder and chipped in with some quick runs when required as well, although he, like many other lower order batsmen can be considered a victim of other players success culminating a lack of time in the middle.. A nice problem to have though!
Hammy has improved radically as a keeper, now the stand out choice behind the stumps and has also enjoyed some good end of season form with the bat, proving that he is up to the challenge of Div II cricket where I am sure his banter will be well received!!
Oli Caston has shown good potential with the bat and will be required more next term I am sure. However he bowled superbly all season, a combination of great pace and unerring accuracy ensured he was one of the stand out bowlers in the Division, setting up the Owls for victory with vital wickets and good economy on countless occasions.
Dan Vasey has also come up trumps with the bat on more than one occasion and has been nothing short of a revelation off his shorter run up. He has been amongst the wickets in pretty much every game since he switched, taking vital wickets in numerous games as the Owls have looked to bowl teams out and gain maximum points.
Graeme Larby has proved that he is still an all round class act, a rare combination of controlled swing and unbelievable accuracy coupled with years of experience make him an invaluable asset to the team, often helping to turn games in our favour which are seemingly in the balance. Plus he is easily the best number eleven in the Divis ion, as Bramley will no doubt testify!
Chris Spooner, so often the Owls talisman in recent years, has enjoyed a once in a lifetime season, scoring in excess of 1000 runs, becoming only the 5th ever person in I'anson history to do so. He has also proved he is a true all rounder, taking a fantastic 49 wickets opening the bowling.
This is a truly outstanding achievement and one which has been a major factor in our success and for that reason Spooner has been bestowed with a real honour, being enrolled into the 'Wreccers Legends' hall of fame!! (see right) Well done mate.
I have genuinely enjoyed playing with you all and it really is easy to captain such quality players and blokes. I look forward to next year more than any other I can remember and will be counting down the weeks!
With the Owls looking to continue their recent successes and the Twoos having an excellent fledgling season and looking for better next term the rec aka the home of cricket is the place to be!!
Well done lads, a wonderful season.
Up the Owls
Twit Twoo
Ps We are planning a golf day on 17th of October, for those of you that are interested keep checking the blog for details!!
PPS Pete O Sullivan has resurrected our details on the i'anson website and we will be able to keep up with our averages interactively next year!
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3 comments:
I could not agree more anyone of us can win a game on our own but there is one person missing from Joe's list and that is Joe (mike Brearley) Boniface who has himself chipped in with some very important wickets but must of all his leadership, field placings and bowling changes this year has helped us to where we are so Well done Skip. I also think the reason why we have done so well over the last 2 seasons is because of the special bond we have, this is my 31st season at this great club and i have seen so many highs and lows i have had a couple of 9 fors 2 hat tricks i have hit the winning runs and knocked some guys middle pole out of the ground to tie the match i have also been carted to every part of wrecclesham dropped the catch that lost the game been bowled for a golden with 3 balls left to loose the game but none of that compares to the last 2 seasons where i can honestly says that i have never enjoyed myself as much ( apart from masturbating of course) and that is because of the players we now have at the club and if i come up and dont get a bat or bowl it doesnt matter cos im at the club i love and i dont look at the other 10 members of the team as my team mates i look at them as 10 of the best friends i've got, it,s not like a club it's like a family
WHAT A POOF !!!!!!!
TWIT TWOO
Your words ring true for me as well Graeme, we've played with some real rubbish over the last 10 years or so and whilst there have been some great wins (and heavy losses!) and great moments the last 2 years have been the best in my view and not only because we have done so well on the field but because the club is now full of great people who I enjoy seeing every week.
Twit Twoo
I think the fact that we have managed to pull the club from only having one average - poor side to having two very good teams says more than I can with words and I think Joe you need to take a lot of credit for that...although I did say we needed to get the two's out this season (and for once I was right) but I think your dad and Steve and all the older fella's in that team have done a cracking job to help the young owls progress as well as having mentally scarring images....as always, cheers big Tony!!!
Joe I think you give me far too much credit half the time...if you look at how I have done for the wrec over my 7-8 years the last two have been my best, I dont think that is coincidence with you taking over as skip...its easy to bat well when you are a greedy fucker like me anyway but to have you giving me advice and keeping me on the ground (something I find impossible with Parky!) really helps, and the same with my bowling...its why I cant be captain, its bloody hard! Its ok though, when i come back from travelling il be a spinner...
I think the fact we have managed to keep players like Wrighty here and Henry, Jonny and Andy just shows how much they enjoy the wrec, hell its why I stay and as your dad says "if you leave il kill ya."
Last two years have been the most enjoyable for me by far, I mean we all had a laugh when we got porked every week and knowing the other clubs hated us because we called them cunts, but its even funnier now when we dominate them and still call them cunts...but I am glad we went up...Tilford and Puttenham HATE US!!!
Furthermore, Larbs dont even think about going to the twos and Joe once again mate, bloody well done this year, you have really turned the club around and I think this blog has helped a lot, I think more people should chip in with comments but for me this really shows we are a better team and a close group of friends....
When did we all turn so gay!!!!
Up the Owls!
xx
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