First Eleven

Captain:  Mike Dixon  mikedixon1987@hotmail.co.uk

2011 Season Report – Fullers League Div 1

This was the season that the saying “a game of two halves” was made up for. At the half way stage we sat second bottom, with very few points and seemingly on our way to Fullers league 2. Yet in the end we finished in mid table, miles off of relegation and looking up the table, rather than down.

The season got off to the worst possible start, with the bulk of the side that got us relegated from Championship 5 deserting us before a ball had been bowled. That said, we had a very good pre season, winning 3 from 3 and expectations were high. As I touched on above, there is no doubt that the first half of the season was a struggle. Trying to blend new players together at the highest level is never easy and due to universities, availability was up and down. There were some heavy defeats early doors and we had been comprehensively outplayed by most we met. Our solitary win in the first half of the season was away to Frimley.

The whole season changed in round 9, where we took on Haslemere, who were sitting one place above us on the ladder, 5 points clear. A really tight game saw us reduce them to 80/6 before a fine knock of 96 by one of their youngsters in the middle order got them up to 212. In reply, we ourselves were 47/5 and this looked like the game that could sound the death knell. However, a truly magnificent 92 from Ollie “Barney” Barnes, ably supported by Chesterman snr, Absolom, Chapman and Jarvis saw us squeak home by 1 wicket. The season changed from there really. We went on to beat Byfleet and Chobham at home whilst we travelled to Roehampton and to Wallington to take maximum points. We also picked up a winning draw at West End Esher, who finished in the top four.

There were a few personal highlights from the year, with the bat new boy Prabhakar Vasudev scored the only ton of the season at Wallington, a brilliant 103. Another new boy Dhilip had a solid 1st season with the club, including half centuries at Shepperton and at home against Byfleet. Greg Coutovidis had his best year with the bat, hitting a couple of 50s and Tom Pemberton hit his maiden 1st 11 fifty away at Caterham. The emergence of youngsters Adam Terrington, Jonny Annable, Ollie Barnes and Aidan Chapman with the willow give us all a good feeling for 2012. With the ball, Joe Jarvis took 5 wickets 3 times, including against both promoted clubs, Aidan Chapman took his maiden 5 wicket haul against Weybridge Vandals and Stanny’s 5 wickets at Roehampton was one of the best spells of fast bowling I’ve ever seen.

Statistically speaking, with the bat the big shakers were: Dixon 341 runs @ 31, Dhilipian 299 runs @ 22, Vasudev 276 runs @31, Coutovidis 271 runs @ 25 and Barnes 230 runs at 29. With the ball it was very much down to our fast bowling quartet who all took wickets at key times: Jarvis 29 wickets @ 21, Chapman 27 wickets @ 14, Simon 21 wickets @ 21 and Darby 14 wickets @ 13. Tom Pemberton was top of the dismissals chart with 14 (13ct 1st) followed by Jarvis with 7 and Chapman and Dixon with 6 each.

2011 was a struggle but a pleasure. I am really looking forward to 2012 and expect us to be challenging at the right end of the table!

Mike Dixon