CHAMPIONS AGAIN! VENTNOR CLINCH FOURTH SUCCESSIVE LEAGUE TITLE
Ventnor are the Champions of Division 2 of the Southern Electric Premier League for the fourth successive season.
Mark Whyte’s all conquering side needed 8 points to clinch the title but their 19 point haul from a five wicket win at Purbrook meant disappointment for Rowledge, whose victory at Lymington was not enough.
The Steephill Club are worthy winners of the Championship. True, the destination of the title remained in the balance as the final round of matches were played, but ultimately, Ventnor’s home and away victories over nearest challengers Rowledge proved crucial. The success, as in previous years, has been a real team effort while the spirit within the side has been a feature of many of the performances. The depth of the squad has also been tested by the absence through injury of Mark Fletcher, Andy Whyte and Robert Snell for most of the season and by Danny Briggs’ departure to the Hampshire Academy.
Steephill’s ground accreditation issues and the reasons why promotion has been denied have been well documented but it remains frustrating that to date, the League’s Management Committee has appeared to place greater emphasis on the shape of a ground than rewarding playing success and ensuring the best teams compete in Division 1. Despite the knock backs since they first won the title in 2004, the players have continued to perform to a high level, winning 13 of their 15 games this season and proving once again to be the outstanding side in Premier 2. The Club will doubtless make representation to the League again, the outcome of which will be known at a later date.
At Purbrook on Saturday, the home team batted first on winning the toss but were soon to regret that decision. For the second week running, Ventnor’s opening attack of Charlie Freeston and Mark Holmes caused havoc as they dismantled the Purbrook line up, Freeston clean bowling the top four and Holmes shattering the stumps of five and six and trapping another leg before as the hosts crashed to 47-8. Tail enders Steve Mitchell and Steve Matthews at least gave the innings some respectability with a stand of 57 before Tom Friend, extracting pace from a slow pitch, took 2-22 to polish off the innings for 104, Freeston finishing with 4-24 and Holmes 3-26.
The home team’s attack made life awkward when Ventnor replied with Alex Lloyd, Ryan Shutte and John Birchall all dismissed cheaply as the visitors slipped to 28-3. Matt Compton, whose knock of 73 at Rowledge the previous week was so important, grafted his way to a vital half century with support from Ian Hilsum (14) to leave Martin Blackman and skipper Mark Whyte to see their side to victory and another title celebration!
THIRD TEAM DEFEAT NEWPORT
Ventnor’s third team defeated Newport’s second string by 41 runs in Harwood’s League division 2 at Steephill on Saturday. Mark Price (34) Joe Cotton (34) and James Buckley (23) top scored in Ventnor’s 204-9 but despite 53 from Tim Keysor, the visitors fell short on 163-9.
SHUTTE SIGNS OFF WITH A CENTURY
South African Ryan Shutte signed off for the season with a fine hundred in Ventnor’s win over Sarisbury on Sunday. With John Birchall hitting 70, the home team totalled to 280 and restricted the visitors to 253 in reply.
The previous week Birchall had become the first Ventnor player for some years to hit a double hundred, his terrific effort coming in a match at Plessey where Martin Blackman also hammered a ton.
VENTNOR PAIR IN HAMPSHIRE TRIUMPH
Tom Friend and Danny Briggs starred in Hampshire Young Cricketers success in the Under 17 County Championship. Paceman Friend took 4-30 and left arm spinner Briggs 5-19 as Durham were defeated by a massive 334 runs in the National Final at Hove.
VENTNOR DEFEATED IN SIXES
Ventnor lost in the semi finals of the Cheriton sixes on Bank Holiday Monday to eventual winners Fair Oak.
Ryan Shutte won the outstanding batsman award.
