Magazine 2025 Final - Flipbook - Page 20
looking as good at 5-3 or indeed at 56-6. Enter the captain and vice-captain who put together a vital
unbeaten 60-run partnership to win the game and the league }tle. A fantas}c achievement, underlined by an
excellent team spirit, 昀椀nishing 22 points above 2nd place, going undefeated away from home. It shouldn9t be
understated that the team9s 昀椀elding was comfortably the best in the division, contribu}ng enormously to the
success.
Stability, progression and champions (for the 昀椀rst }me
since 2006) – three apt words to describe the 3rd XI9s
last 3 seasons. An uninspiring start saw 3 defeats
before the end of June, but the team 昀椀nished in style,
unbeaten in the last 11 games with 10 victories. Key
wins mid-season were against Mitcham (who 昀椀nished
2nd) and Roehampton. Then, having hit top spot, nailbiters against Cheam and Worcester Park. A 昀椀nal
victory against Dorking secured the }tle. Bowling was
consistently the strong suit throughout and wickets
were shared around. There were some great individual
performances, but winning the league was due to the
strength of the squad, the return of U17s to U19s from their exams and University, along with the experience
and season long availability of a number of key players.
Despite 昀椀nishing second in the league, a promo}on place in a normal 10 team division, the adjec}ve that
most resonates with many of the 4th XI is 8frustra}ng9. Star}ng the season with just 7 teams was not ideal,
but 3 of the last 4 league opposi}ons conceded, meaning that from the middle of July onwards there was just
one league 昀椀xture. Alterna}ve matches were organised throughout, with 4 games (two league and two
friendlies) being played against both Merstham and Epsom. With a slimmed down league every game took on
added signi昀椀cance. Two narrow defeats to Merstham were followed by 2 victories in the following weekend9s
friendlies. As the season unfolded some good cricket kept the team in the hunt, but alas the weather also
played its part. Overall it was the 4th XI9s most successful season for a number of years.
A 5th XI was 昀椀elded for 12 consecu}ve weeks from June to
September, highligh}ng excellent availability. We are grateful to
Sanderstead for the use of their astroturf pitch: thought should be
given to alterna}ve and more appropriate venues should the
excellent numbers con}nue. Nigel Campbell, Felix Gomulka and Ian
Roberts skippered: 昀椀xtures included 3 matches against Sanderstead
and 2 intra-club games. The 31st August will long be remembered by
the 10 who played as TMW racked up 300-3 in 35 overs, featuring 2
maiden centuries (and a duck), and what must have been an
awestruck 13 year old playing his 昀椀rst game of senior cricket.
Not to be outdone, the Sunday teams con}nued the posi}ve impetus. The Trust League Tier 2 side were
excellent all season, unfortunately losing narrowly to Horley in the 昀椀nal. The Tier 3 side also had a great
season, especially considering that we regularly 昀椀elded both Tier 2 and Tier 3 sides on the same day, 昀椀nishing
top of the table; two wins against a strong Dulwich side were key. It is always pleasing to see young and
talented players coming through to make their marks in the senior ranks.
The Sunday Friendly XI had one of their best seasons with 11 victories. The
long trip to Rodmersham was par}cularly memorable for a record breaking
5th wicket partnership of 185* between Zac Morgan (72*) and Rob Warne
(87*).
114 players (2 fewer than in 2023) played for the senior club of which 36
were U18s. 19 players made their debuts of which 14 were teenagers.
The U19s, ably managed by Felix Gomulka (U18), organised their own
training sessions, conducted their own selec}on from a sizeable squad, and
triumphed against Malden Wanderers at Normandy (a good hun}ng ground
for TMW) in the Tier 2 昀椀nal on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Junior membership fell to 154 (+ 30 All Stars) a decrease of 18.5%. All age
groups lost players who were members in 2023 and the youngest age groups
had fewer sign-ups, although there doesn9t appear to be any single de昀椀ning reason for the decline. There is
undoubtedly more compe}}on in the area than before, a situa}on that has already been discussed, and a
plan to adver}se again has been agreed.
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