CHAMPIONS AT LAST

After 2 years of trying, 26 wins, 0 draws and only 3 defeats, Kew 2s finally won Div 4b and quite rightly will take their place in Div 3a in 2008. The Green Caps were rarely tested this season (a soggy defeat against Harefield and a slight wobble in the return fixture were the exceptions) and the squad looks forward to greater challenges next season.

There were many highs this season. Notably Dunn's 10-fer against Chesham and Knowles' match winning 50 odd against Harefield. With so much poor weather around this season we decided early on to chase a target as often as possible. Not really a negative tactic but with seaming pitches prevalent more often than not, it was the right thing to do. The problem was that with the bowling attack we had (Messrs Dunn, Thomas, Houlton and Bajaj took 100 wickets between them) we were left chasing small scores rather regularly. The knock on effect was that batsmen in the 6-8 spots rarely got out to the middle. Despite this 5 Green Caps scored over 200 runs each but only one scored over 300.

Fielding in general was fine although our standards slipped horribly over the last 3 games of the season. Let's just say that I'm relieved that our bowlers knew how to hit the stumps.....!!!

With the TVL league about to be re-structured, we will face mostly 1st XIs next season, many of whom were playing our 1st XI only 2 seasons ago. With this in mind our 2008 player recruitment has already started.

We will miss playing against some of the teams in Div 4 but are happy not to visit one lichen-covered strip ever again! The coronation chicken sarnies at NPL will be our greatest loss!

Congratulations to Harefield who were also promoted- their youngsters have had a fine season and deserve the greater challenges that Div 3a has to offer. My thanks to Messrs Armisted and Matten for umpiring for us this season and to all the social members at the Club who have supported us when we have been playing on the Green.

The biggest thanks goes to the Green Caps themselves- the quality of cricket they have produced this season and their consistent availablity has made captaincy much easier. A fine bunch of cricketers who deserve the plaudits that they will rightly receive.