Unfortunately we lost both matches, partly due to losing the toss and having to field in 30+ degree heat plus playing on strange artificial wickets with tufted outfields.

Scores were:-

Riviera 219 for 7, Wimborne & Colehill 202 for 7 (Stuart Nye 64)

Entrecasteaux 267 for 6, Wimborne & Colehill  190 for 5 ( Tom Saxby 79, Jeff Stratten 66)

However everybody enjoyed themselves and found it was an experience not to be missed!! Many thanks to Paul and Gillian Dyer for allowing us to stay at their farmhouse and feeding us so well.

Breakfast

Cheating at Boules

Man of the match award

Discussing strategy

The team at Entrecasteaux

Spot who is still in bed

The season started brightly with a demolition of Blandford following a magnificent century by Colin Randall (117) who with debutant Ben Bridgen (44) put on a match winning 154 for the 1st wicket, however after that 1st victorious week the phrase “clutching defeat from the jaws of victory” was never more apt. Games against Broadstone (h), Weymouth (a), Dorchester (h & a), Parley (h & a), Poole (a) and finally Suttoners (h), were all matches in which the victory was there for the taking, however for whatever reason we didn’t get over the victory line. Win 70% of those 8 matches and we’d be looking back on a season where we finished amongst the top sides of the league, however in the end we finished in 6th place, mid table mediocrity.

The game against Poole Town (2011 champions) and the two against Parley (2010 champions) were proof in point that with a larger degree of belief, both collectively and individually we’d have beaten the top two sides in Dorset after dominating for 75% of the match. However bitter those defeats were at the time, at least we are now competing with the top sides in the Premier League. Seasons gone by we would’ve turned up expecting to lose before a ball is bowled in anger, but now we know as a team we can compete with the best Dorset has to offer. We now have to learn and go one step further and finish matches in the last quarter of the match when we have our opponents on the ropes.

In terms of stand out individual performers, Graham Cole was the clear runaway winner of the ‘players player of the year’, no greater accolade in my opinion. Early season unavailability and the influx of new players meant that Coley was demoted to the 2nd team, however he performed well in the 2nds prior to grabbing his chance in the first team halfway through the season and topping the batting averages in the process with 256 runs at an average of 36.57. His 3 consecutive half centuries, minus his contact lenses, showed what his undoubted ability is capable of, something witnessed many decades ago at Alderholt CC but not witnessed often enough by the Wimborne & Colehill faithful in previous seasons, however by showing the right attitude after his early season disappointment he quite rightly triumphed convincingly by 4 votes to his nearest challenger.

The batting award was won by newcomer Ben Bridgen with a total aggregate of 318 runs averaging  31.80, pipping Colin Randall (311 @ 23.92) by a mere 7 runs to the trophy. Batting as a whole was pretty inconsistent, although we had batting all the way down to number 11 in most of the matches we rarely posted large individual scores that end up helping to win matches, only 7 half centuries were scored in total (3 of which were Coley) and you get the picture. Randall’s century against Blandford was proof in point that if an individual posts a big innings, 9 times out of 10 they will be on the victorious side, something to note for next season.

The 2011 season saw a number of key performers contribute with the ball in hand, with Tom Heyes’ raw pace, Gav Will’s consistent economic bowling and the spin option of Joe Weld, Ben Ratcliffe, and Ollie d’Erlanger-Bertrand there were options aplenty. However the most consistent performer of the past few seasons triumphed in collecting the bowling award, the diminutive left-arm seam bowler Rob Hatchard with 23 wickets at 18.09. Hatchard’s ability to swing the ball meant he was a constant thorn in opposition batters sides, with his 6 for 35 (ably assisted by 3 smart stumpings by James Miller) away at champions Poole being his highlight. Top of the bowling averages but 2nd in the overall wicket collection was paceman Tom Heyes (18 wickets at 17.22), that included some unbelievable spells of bowling with the highlight being his 5 for 17 versus Suttoners at home. Ben Ratcliffe’s off spin allowed him to finish 3rd with 17 wickets at 26.59.

Out of the debutants 6 of them were teenagers that will only improve as they gain more experience. Simon Woodruff, Stuart Nye, Ben Ladd-Gibbon, all showed promise with the ball in hand. Joe Weld came to the club as a golden helmeted batsman who can bowl a bit in the nets and ended up a very useful left arm spin bowler who can also bat. Ollie d’Erlanger-Bertrand is a very useful all-round cricketer and Francis Kerins showed his ability in regularly making starts but failed to push on and get a big score his skills deserve. All of these players have time on their side and will improve in years to come.

Looking forward to 2012, there are a few players that I believe should be knocking on the 1st XI door as they have the ability to play regularly in the 1st team, they just need to go out there and prove it. Whilst it will also be good to see some of our successful u.15 side from last season progress up the club’s adult team pyramid, there’s a lot of promising cricketers at the club now thanks to the hard work of the coaches / managers of the youth sides. Back to 1st XI cricket and Dorset Cricket has introduced a mid season Sunday T20 competition, that will allow us to don our navy and sky uniforms and smash it out of the ground, or in my case attempt too, whilst the Saturday league sees the introduction of power plays and free hits for front foot no balls, so bowlers better mark out those run ups properly! Look forward to seeing you soon.

Andy Hayward.

Batting

Bowling

Final Division Two League Table

Batting

Minimum 6 Innings 

Highest Partnerships For Each Wicket

Bowling

Fielding

Final Premier League Table

2011 season summary

2011 statistics

Some excellent results meant that by the mid season stage we were in 3rd spot and in real
contention for consecutive promotion to the higher division. Our batting had become a little more
consistent, with Vice-captain and opener Jim Williams finding form and consistency. At the same
time youngster Tom Butcher showed composure and form before rightly being selected to move up
to the 3rds mid-season.

In the bowling department we had good options with opening bowler and 4th team pace man
Graham Corbin keeping opposing batsmen honest and on occasion bruised. Other experience
came in the form of “the grounds men”; Roland Hughes and Mike Hopkins, both of whom made
important performances at vital times.

However with a significant number of lads coming through from the clubs under 14s, 15s, etc, we
were able to put our faith in youth. Ed Bartlett, Joe Williams, James Williams, Sam Prince, George
Corbin and Matt Jones all performed well for the “Seam Team”. The spin department consisted of
Harry Beardsley (last season’s batting phenomenon), Dan Hills (chip of the block) and later in the
season our “big money transfer” from Broadstone, Harry Prince. All three of these lads showed
enough for me to be confident that spin will play a big part of future seasons.

The second half of the season became more difficult with several of our squad getting selected
for the 3rds and indeed the 2nds. In addition the attraction of Morris dancers at the Wimborne
folk festival and the holiday season led to an inevitable availability challenge. However this gave
opportunities for others to come in and play. During this period are bowling attack were still able to
compete with the ball, whereas the batting line-up was often a little fragile. We finished the season
on a high by beating Cranborne 2nds away which secured a respectable 5th place in the division.

The seasons Individual batting highlights included Jim’s 113 against Ferndown Wayfarers, Tom
Butchers 50 not out at Witchampton and Fred’s 63 away to Bournemouth. A guest appearance (and
potential banana skin), from James Miller underlined his batting ability, as he made an unbeaten 95
against Cranborne.

Bowling efforts included, Ed Bartlett 4-8 (Poole at home), Joe Williams 4-23 (Witchampton at
home), George Corbin 4-14 (B’mth away)and Roland Hughes 5-16 (Cranborne away). One other
bowling performance which stood out, was James Williams 2-1 (Poole at home) which was a 6 over
spell and included 5 maidens!

I should also mention the fielding efforts of Sam Prince who took 6 catches and at times made
scoring even a single look impossible (ask the Ferndown Wayfarers captain!).

Congratulations to Ed Bartlett (The Stats-man), who in taking 20 wickets, deservedly won both the

2011 Bowling and the Players Player awards. Also congratulations to Jim Williams who by averaging
over 40 won the 2011 4th Team batting award. Thanks also to Jim for the help and support towards
the running of the team throughout the season.

My gratitude and appreciation goes out to Nigel and Mathew for umpiring many of our matches.
Anyone who has captained a side will know the value of having an umpire provided. A big than you
to player / anyone who has scored, helped with the set-up, tidied up after the game etc. This also
makes a difference and adds to the team spirit. Last but not least, a big thank you to the Colehill
grounds man Carl for producing consistent wickets despite the large number of matches and
challenging weather conditions.

As we look forward to 2012, it will be interesting to see how the regionalisation of the lower leagues
will affect the strength of our division and the fixtures therein. However the season is scheduled,
the skipper of the 4ths (appointed at AGM), will need to continue to focus on development,
providing each player with an opportunity to show what they can do, and above all the enjoyment of
the game. Win lose or draw I’ve loved captaining this team, although winning is preferable and I’m
certain we will be trying to win as many matches as possible in 2012.

Adrian Prince

Captain of Wimborne & Colehill 4ths

The more members that turn up, the quicker the jobs can be done so please come along and help out for as short or long as you can.