1st XI Match Report
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XI Match Reports
Season Review 2004
For the fourth time in their four years in the Warwickshire League
top flight, Atherstone went into their final run of games still
needing points to avoid relegation. After a disastrous Bank Holiday
weekend which saw defeats against both Aston Manor and Bedworth,
the Ratcliffe Road side seemed doomed to the drop and it appeared
only 2 wins in their last 2 games, and some help from elsewhere,
would suffice.
The first victory duly arrived as the Adders rode their luck and
edged to a nervy, 2-wicket win over Marston Green in the penultimate
game. The last day thrashing of title-chasing Kenilworth owed nothing
to luck, but help arrived from an unexpected source as local rivals
North Warwicks defeated Old Eds, a result which saw Atherstone leap
frog over the Birmingham based side at the last gasp and avoid the
relegation trapdoor.
The Boundary Sports Warwickshire
Cricket League |
Premier Division |
| Ist XI Teams |
P |
W |
L |
D |
A |
Points |
| Aston Manor |
22 |
14 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
355 |
| Kenilworth |
22 |
11 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
324 |
| Bronze |
22 |
7 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
293 |
| North Warwickshire |
22 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
287 |
| Berkswell |
22 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
275 |
| Marston Green |
22 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
2 |
268 |
| Hampton |
22 |
7 |
8 |
5 |
2 |
258 |
| Atherstone |
22 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
2 |
232 |
| Old Edwardians |
22 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
1 |
223 |
| Bournville |
22 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
207 |
| Bedworth |
22 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
2 |
201 |
| Four Oaks Saints |
22 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
2 |
83 |
This late drama seemed a distant prospect when Atherstone, shaking
off the disappointment of the non-arrival of player-coach Noel Gibbons
from Bermuda, won 2 of the first three games of the season to sit
proudly on top of the table. Victories over Four Oaks and Bronze
on wet early-season wickets lifted morale and further good performances
saw winning draws against Old Eds and Berskwell.
A feature of the early season was the emergence of 19 year old
Alan Miller, who scored fifties against both Old Eds and Berkswell,
while at the other end of the age spectrum, 41 year old bowlers
Steve Healey and Vic Clements trundled away, picking up wickets
on a regular basis.
Although the side looked well placed at the start of June, this
month saw the beginning of a poor run of form with 3 defeats in
4 games, and despite completing the double over Four Oaks on 10th
July, a heavy defeat against Bournville the following Saturday started
the alarm bells ringing.
The club made a crucial acquisition with the signing of player
coach Matt Pickering at the end of June and his contribution in
the 2nd half of the season was to be vital in the final reckoning.
Battling winning draws against Hampton and Old Eds in early August
coincided with advice from the League that, depending on the final
positions of the Warwickshire based teams in the division above,
up to 4 teams could be relegated, making that 8th position an important
one to achieve.
The Adders and Old Eds took it in turn over the last few weeks
of the season to flip-flop between 8th and 9th position before the
stunning finale saw Atherstone survive. The Ratcliffe Road club
can now look forward to taking part in a competitive division next
year with all three returning clubs, Nuneaton, Olton and Highway,
looking strong and Kenilworth, Berskwell and Bronze perennial challengers
for promotion to the Birmingham League.
2004 AVERAGES
BATTING
| Name |
Innings |
Not Out |
Runs |
Average |
| Matt Pickering |
12 |
0 |
454 |
37.83 |
| Dave Blower |
20 |
3 |
605 |
35.58 |
| Vic Clements |
17 |
5 |
300 |
25.00 |
| Simon Grayson |
16 |
3 |
310 |
23.84 |
| Robert Boal |
17 |
3 |
314 |
22.42 |
| Manny Alcock |
19 |
1 |
376 |
20.88 |
| Gary Moore |
10 |
0 |
202 |
20.20 |
| Alan Miller |
17 |
4 |
234 |
18.00 |
| Chris Horton |
12 |
2 |
89 |
8.90 |
| Adi Williams |
13 |
4 |
78 |
8.66 |
| Steve Healey |
12 |
4 |
62 |
7.75 |
The contribution of Matt Pickering after his arrival was crucial,
as was the form of stalwart Dave Blower, who after a quiet season,
scored vital runs in the closing weeks. Vic Clements and Alan Miller,
with 2 fifties each, scored useful runs while Manny Alcock, Gary
Moore and Simon Grayson all had their moments despite the wet wickets.
Grayson had a season to forget with the coin, losing 15 out of 21
tosses.
BOWLING
| Name |
Overs |
Maidens |
Runs |
Wkts |
Average |
| Vic Clements |
235 |
68 |
531 |
37 |
14.35 |
| Matt Pickering |
170.4 |
26 |
631 |
33 |
19.12 |
| Steve Healey |
297 |
61 |
1058 |
39 |
27.12 |
| Adi Williams |
74 |
7 |
363 |
9 |
40.33 |
The bowling in the first half of the season was held together by
the veteran pair of Clements and Healey, and Clements won the averages
for the second straight year with 37 wickets at 14 apiece. Incredibly,
the pair bowled 532 overs between them. Healey’s tally of
39 wickets included 2 five-wicket hauls and 2 instances where he
bowled all the way through an innings.
It is unlikely this would have been enough, however, without the
2nd half efforts of Matt Pickering, who took 33 wickets and gave
skipper Grayson an important extra option with the new ball. He
had two six-wicket hauls, the second in the last-day demolition
of Kenilworth to cap an excellent all-round performance.
After a bright start in the field with sharp performances in the
early matches, Atherstone’s fielding fell away until there
was something of a revival in the last 2 weeks.
Catches
10 – Mike Brookes
7 – Steve Healey, Chris Horton, Alan Miller
6 – Vic Clements, Rob Boal
5 – Adi Williams, Rob Boal
2 – Simon Wordsworth, Simon Grayson, Dave Blower, Gary Moore,
Matt Pickering
1 – Dan Brooks
Stumpings
2 – Simon Grayson
|
