Thanks to Graeme for this latest report from Ventnor Cricket Club. Ed
Ventnor’s under 15s team clinched the Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist League championship with a seven wicket win over Ryde at Steephill on Friday.
For Ventnor to have won the title with such a young side and finished the campaign undefeated is quite an achievement, given that the team has contained no actual 15 year olds.
Ben Attrill was man of the match against Ryde, taking 2-4 from his four overs to restrict the visitors to 72-4, then hitting an unbeaten 26 to see his team to victory and the title.
It was thanks to the efforts of groundsman Cano Hooneberg and manager Dave Cox that the game went ahead despite the weather.
Rain intervenes on final day
Ventnor’s three league games all fell victim to the weather in the final round of games on Saturday.
The abandonment of the second team’s match at home to Burridge after seven overs meant no last day nerves for Ben Woodhouse’s side who retained their place in the top Division of the Hampshire league.
After narrowly missing out on promotion to the Southern League in 2014, this season has proved more difficult with player unavailability and first team call ups preventing consistency of selection and performance. The two wins against Purbrook and New Milton II last month were ultimately decisive and skipper Woodhouse deserves great credit for keeping the team up.
At Lymington, a much weakened first team were dismissed for 111 (George Willis 28 not out) before rain prevented any further play in the Southern Electric Premier Division clash.
The third team ended a successful promotion campaign at Froxfield II, reducing the home side to 80-9 before rain forced an abandonment.
Remembering Brian Gardener as Ventnor Old Boys return
At Steephill on Sunday, the weather relented to allow a match in memory of Brian Gardener to go-ahead.
Before the start of game, Martin and Julie Gardener dedicated the scoreboard to their father, who served as President of the club before his untimely death earlier this year. The occasion was also an opportunity to acknowledge his achievement in creating such a wonderful facility at Newclose.
When the action got under way, it was a chance to reflect on the superb cricketing talent the club has produced over the years. Matt Compton’s side included Chris Sketchley, Mark Garaway, Lead Coach at Millfield School in Somerset, Steven Snell, formerly of Gloucestershire and now Director of the Academy at Somerset, as well as current professionals Chris Russell (Worcestershire) and Adam Hose (Somerset).
Neil Westhorpe with 50 and Ian Hilsum (34) top scored for Compton’s team in a total of 152-9 with George Willis impressing with 4-28 and Dan Cox 2-38. The modest total posed few problems for a youthful Ventnor team, Henry Bartlett (51), Cano Hooneberg ( 34) and skipper Tom Friend (35 not out) leading their side home by seven wickets.
The day was a fitting way to remember a greatly respected man and a much missed President.
Image: reggaethecat under CC BY 2.0
