South Wilts' season to be proud of

Having won the Southern Electric Premier Cricket League in 2004 and followed it up with a runners-up spot in 2005, finishing fourth would appear on the face of it, to be a slip in standards.

However, skipper Rob Wade does not see it that way.

"We've had a significant turnover in players and so the side of 2006 bears little resemblance to that of 2004."

In his preview of this summer's campaign, Wade had actually predicted a season of struggle but after a poor start, the team picked up to such an extent that with four games to go, they were still in the title hunt.

Wade continued: "Our problem for the last few years has been that we're always playing catch-up, after losing our opening game or two."

Indeed Wade's gloomy predictions looked accurate as South Wilts were comprehensively beaten in their opening two encounters at Bournemouth and Hampshire Academy.

However, five straight wins against Liphook, Alton, Havant, BAT Sports and Hursley Park and a tight draw with leaders Bashley saw the Salisbury side finish the first half of the season in third place.

"We played some superb cricket. Our all-round game against Havant was as good as it gets and then we bowled and fielded supremely against BAT.

"The highlight for me though was the five wickets for no runs in 22 balls to secure a win from a game that seemed like a certain draw at Hursley Park."

The second half of the season provided a mixture of highs and lows.

South Wilts stuttered into action with a disappointing defeat at home to Bournemouth, but allayed the bogey' club tag with a SEC Cup semi-final win over the same opponents just a few days later.

With a Rose Bowl final already booked, a draw against the Academy was followed by victory over Liphook.

However, an insipid defeat at strugglers Alton all but ended their title aspirations - perhaps the defeat was a hangover from the terrific SEC Cup success just days earlier.

South Wilts certainly reserved their best performance of the season for the showpiece event, totally outplaying BAT Sports at the Rose Bowl.

An astonishing win against Havant, where South Wilts recovered from 31-7 to record a 43-run victory, briefly revived their title aspirations but all that ended with a rain-affected defeat at soon-to-be champions BAT Sports.

The season was rounded off with a spectacular high as Hursley Park were bundled out for a Southern League record low of just 37.

"Fourth place was a creditable effort," summed up Wade.

"The top five or six in the league are very competitive and we look forward to another successful silverware winning season in 2007."

Long-time leaders Bashley were eventually overhauled by BAT Sports who successfully defended their league title.

Liphook's usual end of season charge for survival came too late and they finished bottom of the table.

The club's star performer for the season was Alex Senneck, his 36 wickets enabling him to finish joint top of the league's bowling charts. Only injury in the game against Hursley and the last game washout prevented him finishing outright first.

Leading run scorer was Tom Morton, whose 528 runs helped him finish fifth in the batting charts, while his 24 victims saw him take the SEPCL wicket-keeping prize.

Other top run-scorers were James Hayward (482), Joe Cranch (411), Alex Senneck (339), Dan Webb (323) and Chris Wood (319), while Adie Holewell (20), Chris Wood (19) and Hayward (16) were all among the top wicket takers.

The presence of so many of their players in the higher echelons of the final league stats underlines what a great team effort South Wilts produced during the season, and with the club's second team delivering further success - securing promotion to Premier League Division Three - the future indeed is looking bright for the Wilton Road club.

Jon Williams' side won the Hampshire League with a string of impressive displays and their promotion will provide a platform for the club's conveyor belt of youngsters to show their prowess and push for first team places.