Wimborne Wessex Internet Dorset League champions 2023 [Stephen Nicholls]
WIMBORNE
Standing (from left): Connor Houldsworth, Alfie Appleby-Ingram, Joseph Kelly, Harry Fairchild, Harry Sarjeant, Ranuk Jayasuriya. Seated: Freddie Williams, James Miller, Simon Watkins, Harry Montacute, Colin Randall.
[Missing: Ben Bridgen, Harry Reynolds Graham Cole, Tom Butcher, Toby Stainer- Reid, Jake Stainer-Reid]
Standing (from left): Connor Houldsworth, Alfie Appleby-Ingram, Joseph Kelly, Harry Fairchild, Harry Sarjeant, Ranuk Jayasuriya. Seated: Freddie Williams, James Miller, Simon Watkins, Harry Montacute, Colin Randall.
[Missing: Ben Bridgen, Harry Reynolds Graham Cole, Tom Butcher, Toby Stainer- Reid, Jake Stainer-Reid]
Wimborne have won the Wessex Internet Dorset League championship for the first time since 2018, losing only one of their 13 matches.
They clinched the title with a five-wicket win over Blandford to finish 22 points above Poole Town, whose final match against Bere Regis was abandoned in mid-afternoon.
But beating Blandford wasn't straightforward as Wimborne lurched to 73-5 (Mike Shepherd 3-13) chasing 149 before Colin Randall (64) and stand-in skipper Simon Watkins (39) shared an unbroken 70-run sixth-wicket partnership to ease them home without further loss.
They clinched the title with a five-wicket win over Blandford to finish 22 points above Poole Town, whose final match against Bere Regis was abandoned in mid-afternoon.
But beating Blandford wasn't straightforward as Wimborne lurched to 73-5 (Mike Shepherd 3-13) chasing 149 before Colin Randall (64) and stand-in skipper Simon Watkins (39) shared an unbroken 70-run sixth-wicket partnership to ease them home without further loss.
Blandford's Jamie Mitchell is caught and bowled by Simon Watkins [Stephen Nicholls]
Wimborne captain Ben Bridgen wasn't able to play against Blandford and admitted: "I was watching the game on YouTube and was getting pretty nervous when we were 73-5 but the experienced heads of Colin (Randall) and Watto (Steve Watkins) saw us home nicely in the end.
"I’m very proud of the lads this season. The youngsters need to take a lot of credit. Each week we’ve been playing six or seven lads at the age of 16 years and under which shows the strength in our youth set up.
"Connor Houldsworth only turned 15 years of age midway through the season and his 27-wicket haul put him second in the Dorset League averages. He was playing 3rd and 4th team cricket in 2022."
Brigden himself made 705 runs and Colin Randall 535, while 17-year old Joseph Kelly, from the Western Australia Grade club Melville, scored 597 runs, including an unbeaten 112 in a decisive early June win over Poole Town.
"The young lads have really looked up to Joe. He’s been exceptional having come back from a pretty bad injury that ruled him out of the last WACA season in Perth.
"He is a super focused lad dedicated to making it as a professional and we wish him all the best in the future," Brigden added.
Wimborne's Under-15 side reached the ECB national championship semi-finals and most of the team were involved in Dorset League action during the season.
"We haven’t been afraid of selecting them and giving them important roles in the team. Obviously, you need good strong senior players around them to support their development and that's happened," he concluded.
"I’m very proud of the lads this season. The youngsters need to take a lot of credit. Each week we’ve been playing six or seven lads at the age of 16 years and under which shows the strength in our youth set up.
"Connor Houldsworth only turned 15 years of age midway through the season and his 27-wicket haul put him second in the Dorset League averages. He was playing 3rd and 4th team cricket in 2022."
Brigden himself made 705 runs and Colin Randall 535, while 17-year old Joseph Kelly, from the Western Australia Grade club Melville, scored 597 runs, including an unbeaten 112 in a decisive early June win over Poole Town.
"The young lads have really looked up to Joe. He’s been exceptional having come back from a pretty bad injury that ruled him out of the last WACA season in Perth.
"He is a super focused lad dedicated to making it as a professional and we wish him all the best in the future," Brigden added.
Wimborne's Under-15 side reached the ECB national championship semi-finals and most of the team were involved in Dorset League action during the season.
"We haven’t been afraid of selecting them and giving them important roles in the team. Obviously, you need good strong senior players around them to support their development and that's happened," he concluded.
Colin Randall (left) and Simon Watkins leave the field at The Leaze after guiding Wimborne to a championship clinching win over Blandford [Stephen Nicholls]
Wimborne teen Joe Kelly won't want to show this one to his Melville team-mates badk in Perth [Stephen Nicholls]
