The Season finished in disappointment with relegation for the team.

Reasons for this were:

- The standard in this league was a level too great for the 3rds.
- Loss of players to the 2nds
- The players stepping up to the 3rds did not perform consistently. Those who have played under me for the last 3 years know that I will always give youngsters an opportunity to bat or bowl and whilst this paid off in the 2 previous years when we won consecutive promotions this year it really was a step too far.
- The Captain winning the toss once all year
- We played too many games compared to other teams in the league
- The Captain not pushing himself to bat and bowl more
- Our Bowling attack lacking both penetration and accuracy
- We fielded badly and dropped too many catches

However, that said there were some positives.

- Greg had an excellent year with the bat and rediscovered the ability to score runs consistently.
- Jake Scott, after a slow start improved in his bowling.
- Graham Saunders was a rock in the lower middle order.
- Graham Flowers also started to show his abilities with the bat.
- Micky sabotaged Cathy on the last day of the season in order to miss a wedding so he could come in as a LATE LATE replacement and win the bowling award for the 3rd's!!!
- Timmy Cooper came back to the club after several years away and contributed well to the end of season mad dash to claim safety.

For next season we need to re-group and it is my wish that Graham Flowers, Jake Scott in particular be considered regular 2nd team players to help progress their careers with the club. I hope there are youngsters playing under 15's or in the 4th's that can be identified in the winter that could be given an extended run in the 3rd's next year.

I also feel that the selection committee failed the club and as part of that set up I must take my fair share of responsilbility. At times we as a group lacked direction and in my opinion was not consistent enough it our approach to selection.

I feel the selection committee needs to agree and work to principles laid down at the start of next season if we are to avoid some of the mistakes and misunderstandings which afflicted us this year.

As is customary I would like to finish off by thanking the following:

Neil and Squidge for playing in a lower standard in order to attempt to keep the 3rd's up. Terry, Roger and for the last game Bob for umpiring.

And last but certainly not least Penny Jones, who not only scored for us in almost every game, played once (and scored more runs than Olly and Graham Saunders in the game!!!) when we were short and whose admin skills definitely kept me out of trouble with the committee!!!

Alas it is her final year in the job, Penny has decided to move on and from the bottom of my heart I wish her well and so many thanks for all her sterling efforts.