Stone Cricket Club celebrated a superb trophy-winning 2014 at their annual awards dinner on Saturday night. Report by Ade Cuthbert…
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]nd the winner is…. The smell of Brasso was in the air at Stone Cricket Club on Saturday 31st January as the annual dinner and senior presentation event was held at HQ.
In a season of glittering success each of the tables was adorned with one of the major prizes won by Stone SP CC during 2014. Junior success in U13 & U17 Kidsgrove League competition was added to the Stone Charity Cup, the league T20 prize and pride of place, the NSSCCL Premier League trophy.
Master of ceremonies Andy Slee opened proceedings before a sumptuous five-course dinner that was to prove only the appetiser for the main event. First team skipper (and winner of the NSSCCL Captains Cup) Richard Harvey gave his own entertaining and at times irreverent review of the season before the prizes were dished out.
First up were our U17’s. Dec Wardell scooped the batting gong, Rob Pochwyt the Most Improved Player award and Archie Davidson the performance of the year for his flashing 115* that carried the day in the Kidsgrove Cup semi-final versus Hem Heath. Meanwhile Evan Bradford needed a wheelbarrow to carry away his Bowling, Fielding and Player of the Year prizes from a season of real promise.
The awards for Stone 1st XI were next up, with Luke Cheadle reprising his success with the bat from 2013 by once more being top gun and pipping the skipper in the process with 705 runs at an average of 35.25. The bowling prize went to Steve Morgan in his debut season, his 52 wickets taking him clear of Matt Coxon. Morgs was unavailable to collect his prize as he is currently turning his left arm over in New Zealand. NSSCCL young player of the season Coxon is also in New Zealand so was also not around to collect his performance of the year award for his match defining 8 for 42 that destroyed Whitmore on the glide-path to our title win
SP1st XI prizes were next up. James “Buster” Sutton was the recipient of the batting prize, his 280 runs at 23.33 just enough to see of the challenge of James Pokora and Shafique Hussain. Wasim Khan’s was a big part of our 1st XI, but his 29 wickets saw him pinch the bowling prize from Olly Perry. Veteran Adrian Butters hung up his umpire’s coat and returned to the crease to scoop the performance of the year with his 88 ball 98 not out away at Leek taking the plaudits.
Butters was back on stage again to claim the Stone 2nd XI batting gong – his 314 runs at 78.50 enough to beat Dec Wardell and Rob Price. Paul “Minty” Minshall kept up the youth policy prize winning streak with his 26 wickets just shading his skipper (and divisional fielder of the year) Ian Banks. Performance of the year went to Dec Wardell for his 120* that sealed the victory versus Barlaston in July.
The SP2nd XI awards saw the Hylton Bennett Stranglehold finally broken with three new faces taking the podium. Mickey Chandler’s 322 runs at 32.20 saw him plunder the batting award from Gareth Jones. Mickey was though pushed into second place by the most slender of margins, as 13-year-old left arm spinner Max Cuthbert took the bowling prize. Both players claimed 27 scalps but Max at an average of 14.93 just got home by a nose from Chandler at 15.07! Performance of the year saw the evergreen Kev Thomas rise to take the acclaim. His 85 in a 25 pointer at Hanford awarded the honours.
The Phoenix league bowling prize was won by Russell “Rusty” Ballard, a fitting way for him to end this chapter of his career with Stone SP, as our silverware-laden Sunday skipper leaves us to return to Elworth in 2015. Dan Lunn managed to add lustre to his 1st team break-through season to capture the batting award, seeing off the power hitting of George Hawbrook in the process.
The final two awards presented are to recognise the tireless work of our amazing volunteers. The Clubman of the year is presented to the adult who has really made a difference and for 2014 the sterling work that Mark Riley has undertaken as bar chairman was duly recognised. Mark took the bull by the horns and won plaudits for his efforts on our many set piece occasions during the season. Bringing up the rear the junior clubman trophy has been added new authority by honouring a club stalwart. The award has now been named after our much loved Club Secretary David Hawbrook who sadly passed away in 2014. Harry Brundrett added his name to the trophy for the second year running for his efforts on the ground, coaching and in and around the club epitomising the very ethos that David fostered in our club.
Congratulations to all of our winners, and special thanks to Phil & Sarah Brundrett for organising such a special evening for our club. Here’s to continued success in 2015.
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” width=”400″ ]Lots more information about Stone SP Cricket Club at https://stone.play-cricket.com/ You can also follow them on Twitter – @StoneSPCC[/box]
