2009 Review
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2009 Review Index
1st XI Report
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Having started my
cricketing career at Cowbridge Cricket Club 10 years ago, I was delighted
to be asked to return to the Club and skipper the 1st XI for
the 2009 season. I relished the opportunity to take charge of a young
group of talented individuals and play some good quality cricket for my
home town. Upon the season’s arrival, one of the team’s goals was to
finish in the top 5 of the division due to the eagerly anticipated merger
of the east and west Wales leagues to form the “South Wales Premier
Cricket League”. This was going to be a tough prospect given the strength
of the teams in the division. However, I made it clear that above all, I
wanted everyone to feel part of a team and ultimately play cricket with
thorough enjoyment as this would only help us in achieving a top flight
finish. Unfortunately, the season did not quite pan out that way....
The first match, Llanelli
at home, was a tight affair. Jon Smart captained the side as unfortunately
I had not returned from my pre arranged soul searching travels abroad. The
game started well with father and son combination of John and Adam Gilbert
taking 3 wickets each on debut for the Club, thus restricting Llanelli to
130. Unfortunately, as on so many occasions throughout the season, the
batting was our weak link and we were dismissed for just 89 runs.
The next match was my
first game in charge of the Club and I could immediately see the potential
of the boys as they battled hard in harsh, cold, windy conditions in
Dafen. A sublime 71 from Elliot Swallow paved the way for an extremely
competitive total of 168. Some excellent tight bowling from Nick Davies
and Adam Gilbert meant that for a long part of the opposition’s innings,
the score was going to be enough. However, some lusty blows during the
latter part of the innings meant that only 6 runs were required from the
final over. A few further hefty swings and Dafen limped over the line.
Everyone had given everything and it was therefore disappointing not to
walk off the field with a win under our belts.
This close defeat made the
boys more focussed and determined to turn things around the following week
and this certainly was the case in what I believe was our best game of the
season - the home game against Gowerton who had been relegated from
Division 1 the previous year. We got off to a solid start with the bat but
then suffered our typical collapse. However, some late order stubbornness
got us to 116 at tea when the heavens opened. I haven’t seen the
confidence of a side change so much as Gowertons did from walking off at
tea, confident of victory, to walking onto the field at the end of the
game to shake our hands when we had them 110 for 9. An inspired spell from
John Gilbert taking 6 for 47 and some breathtaking catching saw us get so
close to that first league victory of the season.
Unfortunately things
didn’t go to plan after this and the 1st XI struggled to find
any form. Losses against Pontardawe, Clydach, BS Port Talbot, Llanelli and
Gowerton and losing draws against Aberdare and Maesteg, only due to some
courageous defence by James ‘Boycott’ Thomas, meant we were firmly
cemented at the foot of the table. We kept falling victim to the same
mistakes where batters were guilty of giving their wicket away easily (and
cheaply I may add) and bowlers offering too many four balls an over.
In the next match came the
moment Cowbridge 1st XI had been waiting for - a win against
Pontardawe in front of a partisan home crowd. Pontardawe had got off to an
excellent start and were 150 for 2 but due to some excellent death bowling
and more great catching we managed to restrict them to 201 from their 50
overs. This was never going to be an easy target to chase at Cowbridge but
the team believed it was possible. A four from the first ball of the
innings, 50 off 6 overs, and 100 for no wicket - things were going very
well courtesy of some great attacking cricket from Mike Lloyd. This
innings showed what he can achieve if he really puts his mind to batting
and focuses on the end result. However, the customary middle order wobble
in the middle overs, left it down to the aggressive Andrew Finucane and
‘Bevanesque’ Nick Davies to see us home. A faultless partnership took us
to victory with just 12 balls remaining. Seeing all the boys run onto the
field to congratulate everyone and celebrate the first league victory of
the season was extremely pleasing, and long overdue. I think we all paid
the price for that on Sunday morning!
We had now reassessed our
aims for the remaining few games of the season which was to get off the
bottom of the table. Despite playing some competitive cricket, pushing
league champions Ynystawe all the way, further defeats followed and we
unfortunately finished down with the fishes at the bottom of the ocean!
The season as a whole may
not have resulted in the top 5 finish as desired but it was still a
thoroughly enjoyable one with some positives. This is often said, but the
team spirit shown amongst the squad of players was excellent. Even in
defeat, everyone was still thoroughly enjoying their cricket and wanted to
be a part of the team. Time upon time opposing captains commented on our
enthusiasm and passion for playing. I must thank the team for that as it
made my job a lot easier and kept some of my hair in tact!
Next season I firmly
believe the experience gained in 2009 will hold us in good stead. Many of
the teams we played against last year used more experienced players to
their advantage; but in 2010 we will be able to do the same. I have a
vision - Elliot Swallow excelling behind the stumps, Mike Lloyd batting
with intent, and Adam Wood, prolific with the bat and electric in the
field (he is the one I predict will have the most success next year). Nick
Davies will continue tweaking those miserly left arm spinners and Lloyd
Bishop will become the top all rounder at this level, that we know he can
be. In addition, I hope that more of the junior players develop through
the 2nd and West Wales XI’s into the 1st XI as Sam
Wood did this year. To have one of the Under 13’s represent the Club at
the highest level is fantastic and is was great to see Sam handle the
pressure so well on his debut in the 1st team.
I am sure it will be an
exciting season in 2010 at the ‘Fred Dunn’ and I am convinced it will be a
much improved season for the 1st XI resulting in a finish at
the correct end of the league table.
Finally I would like to
thank all those associated with and helping the Club during the year.
Particularly, I thank Dai Lloyd, our immaculate scorer, the tea ladies and
bar staff and of course the supporters who braved the cold to come and
watch.
Thomas Merilaht
1st XI Captain
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