The 2009 season started with an away fixture at Haslemere, and also started with a familiar story.
Bowlers beating the bat, making the opportunities and fielders dropping catches. But that’s where
the similarities with previous seasons came to an end, as the top 6 finally came to the party with
skipper Steve Hart, all rounder and resident "Elton" Lee Merryweather and most notably Mike
Giddings all making runs in a comfortable 5 wicket win. More good performances followed against
Guildford City, Worplesdon & Burpham, Old Suttonians & Long Ditton before the wheels fell off
a little away to local rivals Whiteley Village. Highlights of the early season were "Fossil" Hussey’s
painstaking 46 at Guildford, “Stalwart" Tribe’s 16-7-20-4 at Worplesdon and also 7-1-10-5 against
Old Suttonians and finally the coming of age of the "ginger warrior" and young player of the year
Stuart Baldwin with 12-3-29-5 at Whiteley Village. The team re-grouped well against the early
season leaders Deando Ruxley and earned a well deserved draw. Colt Tom Robinson leading the
way with 5-2-3-4 and 53. The innings of the season came away to Old Tenisonians when chasing
136 on a difficult track and 3 down early on. Merryweather put the bowlers to the sword and
dispatched to all parts (well mostly long off, long on and maybe a few over cow corner) on his way
to a blistering 76*. We managed to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory after playing so well away
to Carshalton. After showing great discipline with the ball and catching everything in the field,
chasing 183 to win we were coasting needing just 50 with 5 wickets remaining. Alas it wasn’t to
be as once Hart and Merryweather fell the tail succumbed to a narrow defeat. Human rugby ball
Jamie Pompei continued the Indian summer of his career by providing control all season, especially
4-38 against Roehampton. Wandgas arriving with only 9 men was disappointing and would have
been a waste of an afternoon, thank god for the re-invention of the beer match, but game of the
year was without a doubt away to Effingham, easily the strongest team we played all year. We took
a weakened team but performed admirably and were in the game right to the end. Aamad Sultan
"spin to win" King taking 4fer and everyone chipping in with the bat. However Pompei’s awesome
34 was without a doubt the highlight including 2 huge 6’s ("try using the middle of the bat mate"
said the bowler as his team mates fished the ball back from the next field.) The season somewhat
petered out unfortunately with more tantrums from Elton Merryweather but it could not distract
from what was a very successful and enjoyable year. Daron Tribe was excellent with the ball all year
taking 28 wickets and it is hard to believe a bowler could bowl as well as vice skip Nick Blyth did
and take so few wickets. Baldwin was quick and hostile (24 wickets) all season and will get better
and better. Pompei bagged 21 and even Tony (Vicky) Pollard took important wickets. Merryweather
starred with the bat (310 runs) and Hart provided support with a very frustrating but consistent 250
& 14 catches behind the stumps. A few thanks to Hussey for his support as chairman and all round
good egg, Baldwin for his ever increasing backbone, Pollard for his many retirements and to
Merryweather for his intensity. We look forward to next season with real intent fuelled by some new
young players (it does help with the skip being a PE teacher at a local school) and are surely up for
a top 5 finish. Thanks everyone.