Hyde will host County Division 4 West cricket on their rural New Forest ground in 2019.
Hyde’s near clean sweep of south-west regional division cricket in the Hampshire League over the past two seasons has been rewarded after all.
The New Forest club has won 25 of its 28 league matches in the past two seasons, romping away with the South West Regional Division Two and One titles in the process.
But they feared that despite winning back to back championships, promotion into the County Divisions – and potential progress further up the pyramid – would be blocked due to the bumpy outfield on Hyde Common, a popular grazing spot for Forest cattle, donkeys and ponies, not meeting Hampshire League criteria.
In fact, shortly after clinching the SW1 title in late August, Hyde were told by the HCL that they were not being recommended for promotion to County Division 4 West next summer.
But league chairman Denis Emery has led a move to unlock the promotion door for not only Hyde, but Breamore and Lyndhurst & Ashurst, whose grounds also fell short of HCL requirements.
“We have ensured that New Forest clubs are not penalised by Forest Laws and restrictions and will help any club that needs it to continue playing. Times change and we must change with it,” he explained.
Tom Morris’s 473 runs and 24-wicket hauls by Rob Morey and Will Alvis ensured Hyde would play CD4 West cricket next summer with a host of tasty derbies against Burley, Ellingham, Farley, Mottisfont, Pylewell Park, Redlynch & Hale, and Sway on a mouth watering menu.
The New Forest club has won 25 of its 28 league matches in the past two seasons, romping away with the South West Regional Division Two and One titles in the process.
But they feared that despite winning back to back championships, promotion into the County Divisions – and potential progress further up the pyramid – would be blocked due to the bumpy outfield on Hyde Common, a popular grazing spot for Forest cattle, donkeys and ponies, not meeting Hampshire League criteria.
In fact, shortly after clinching the SW1 title in late August, Hyde were told by the HCL that they were not being recommended for promotion to County Division 4 West next summer.
But league chairman Denis Emery has led a move to unlock the promotion door for not only Hyde, but Breamore and Lyndhurst & Ashurst, whose grounds also fell short of HCL requirements.
“We have ensured that New Forest clubs are not penalised by Forest Laws and restrictions and will help any club that needs it to continue playing. Times change and we must change with it,” he explained.
Tom Morris’s 473 runs and 24-wicket hauls by Rob Morey and Will Alvis ensured Hyde would play CD4 West cricket next summer with a host of tasty derbies against Burley, Ellingham, Farley, Mottisfont, Pylewell Park, Redlynch & Hale, and Sway on a mouth watering menu.
