BOURNEMOUTH have pulled off a huge coup in snapping up Herefordshire bowler Dan Conway for the upcoming Southern Premier League campaign.
Skipper Chris Park jumped at the chance to recruit the 32-year-old, who is expected to feature in the majority of SPL1 fixtures for Lions this summer, writes the Bournemouth Daily Echo’s Dan Rose.
Conway, who played seven first-class matches for Oxford MCCU, has arrived to add experience to the Chapel Gate outfit’s seam bowling options.
Park explained: “He is an opening bowler for Herefordshire and is a cricket master at Clayesmore School.
“He wants to spend more time down here so, once he has finished his teaching commitments, he will be available for between 12 and 14 games.
“It’s a great signing. He is an experienced player and strengthens our bowling attack considerably.
“I am quite good friends with him having played against Herefordshire for Dorset in the past few years. He messaged me asking whether Bournemouth wanted a seam bowler.
“Hopefully, he can do well and help us with our challenge.”
Conway possesses an impressive wicket-taking haul in northern league cricket, having bagged 44 scalps for runners-up Bishop’s Auckland in the North Yorkshire & South Durham League last summer.
He garnered a career-best 8-34 in one match at Whitby – Conway’s aggregate wicket haul for Bishops’ topping the 450 mark in the past ten years.
Conway is also planning to take a role in nurturing the club's academy cricketers.
Skipper Park admits he may have a “selection headache” to deal with when assessing the depth of the Bournemouth squad.
Lions have been boosted by a number of other recruits for the new campaign, including left-arm all-rounder Dave Kidner.
The skipper added: “There is real competition for places this year. We have a good squad of 15 or 16 cricketers and I will have a selection headache when they are all available.
"As long as everyone gels and works as a team I feel we have the resources to challenge for promotion throughout the season.”
The wicketkeeper-batsman also revealed there could be other new faces on the horizon before Bournemouth’s first league fixture – a scheduled home clash with Andover at Chapel Gate on May 5.
Lions finished third in Southern Division One last season behind league winners Calmore Sports and runners-up Basingstoke & North Hants.
Asked about departures, the captain replied: “We have lost Matt Jones, who has decided to stay in London and not head back to Bournemouth this year.
“Chrystian Michalowski has moved to Birmingham due to work commitments.”
Skipper Chris Park jumped at the chance to recruit the 32-year-old, who is expected to feature in the majority of SPL1 fixtures for Lions this summer, writes the Bournemouth Daily Echo’s Dan Rose.
Conway, who played seven first-class matches for Oxford MCCU, has arrived to add experience to the Chapel Gate outfit’s seam bowling options.
Park explained: “He is an opening bowler for Herefordshire and is a cricket master at Clayesmore School.
“He wants to spend more time down here so, once he has finished his teaching commitments, he will be available for between 12 and 14 games.
“It’s a great signing. He is an experienced player and strengthens our bowling attack considerably.
“I am quite good friends with him having played against Herefordshire for Dorset in the past few years. He messaged me asking whether Bournemouth wanted a seam bowler.
“Hopefully, he can do well and help us with our challenge.”
Conway possesses an impressive wicket-taking haul in northern league cricket, having bagged 44 scalps for runners-up Bishop’s Auckland in the North Yorkshire & South Durham League last summer.
He garnered a career-best 8-34 in one match at Whitby – Conway’s aggregate wicket haul for Bishops’ topping the 450 mark in the past ten years.
Conway is also planning to take a role in nurturing the club's academy cricketers.
Skipper Park admits he may have a “selection headache” to deal with when assessing the depth of the Bournemouth squad.
Lions have been boosted by a number of other recruits for the new campaign, including left-arm all-rounder Dave Kidner.
The skipper added: “There is real competition for places this year. We have a good squad of 15 or 16 cricketers and I will have a selection headache when they are all available.
"As long as everyone gels and works as a team I feel we have the resources to challenge for promotion throughout the season.”
The wicketkeeper-batsman also revealed there could be other new faces on the horizon before Bournemouth’s first league fixture – a scheduled home clash with Andover at Chapel Gate on May 5.
Lions finished third in Southern Division One last season behind league winners Calmore Sports and runners-up Basingstoke & North Hants.
Asked about departures, the captain replied: “We have lost Matt Jones, who has decided to stay in London and not head back to Bournemouth this year.
“Chrystian Michalowski has moved to Birmingham due to work commitments.”
