ODIHAM & GREYWELL, runaway 2024 Hampshire League winners.
Standing (from left): Kyran Munt, Dylan Kettle, Liam Doran, Scott Mcgaughrin, Will Kettle, Jonathan Hawk. Seated: Ollie Turner, Craig Williamson, Jack Malden, Edward Ikin, Gareth Sharp.
Standing (from left): Kyran Munt, Dylan Kettle, Liam Doran, Scott Mcgaughrin, Will Kettle, Jonathan Hawk. Seated: Ollie Turner, Craig Williamson, Jack Malden, Edward Ikin, Gareth Sharp.
Odiham & Greywell's cricketers are counting down the weeks before they debut in the Southern Premier League's third division in May.
They will be eager to make up for lost time having been denied automatic promotion from Division 1 in 2023 because they did not have an ECB Clubmark accreditation in place at the time.
They finished third two seasons ago, but with all the accreditation boxes subsequently ticked, Odiham swept almost all before them this summer, winning 11 matches on the spin before 2023 HL champions Ferndown Wayfarers beat them in the last game of the season.
Odiham finished 21 points ahead of Alton seconds, who finished runners-up are also promoted.
"The O’s are excited to have achieved a long held ambition of the club in reaching the Southern Premier League. We've enjoyed three terrific seasons since covid," said skipper Jack Malden, who will lead the side again in 2025.
Odiham played in the Thames Valley League until 2012 and in 2018, six playing seasons ago (there was no competition in 2020 due to covid) were languishing in Division 3 North.
In 2021, they were promoted from Division 2 and, after three seasons in HL1, are headed upwards again, this time into the Southern Premier League.
Australian Gareth Sharp, with 565 runs, topped O's batting charts this year, with Ed Ikin (483) and Kyran Munt (404) making their marks, while teenager Dylan Kettle, with 24 wickets, was the most successful bowler.
They will be eager to make up for lost time having been denied automatic promotion from Division 1 in 2023 because they did not have an ECB Clubmark accreditation in place at the time.
They finished third two seasons ago, but with all the accreditation boxes subsequently ticked, Odiham swept almost all before them this summer, winning 11 matches on the spin before 2023 HL champions Ferndown Wayfarers beat them in the last game of the season.
Odiham finished 21 points ahead of Alton seconds, who finished runners-up are also promoted.
"The O’s are excited to have achieved a long held ambition of the club in reaching the Southern Premier League. We've enjoyed three terrific seasons since covid," said skipper Jack Malden, who will lead the side again in 2025.
Odiham played in the Thames Valley League until 2012 and in 2018, six playing seasons ago (there was no competition in 2020 due to covid) were languishing in Division 3 North.
In 2021, they were promoted from Division 2 and, after three seasons in HL1, are headed upwards again, this time into the Southern Premier League.
Australian Gareth Sharp, with 565 runs, topped O's batting charts this year, with Ed Ikin (483) and Kyran Munt (404) making their marks, while teenager Dylan Kettle, with 24 wickets, was the most successful bowler.
Alton seconds, Hampshire League runners-up 2024 [Howard Gadsby]
Promoted alongside Odiham & Greywell are Alton II, who finished 21 points behind the champions, having won 12 of their 15 Division 1 matches.
Alton line-up: Standing (from left) Matt Crane, Arul Apavoo, Wilf Bridger, Tom Andrews, Sam Bridger, Freddie Egleston. Seated: Ryan Hale, Joe Paul, Andy Postles, Michael Heffernan, Gemma Porter.
Ryan Hale top scored with 559 runs, supported by Michael Heffernan (428), skipper Andy Postles (384) and Joe Paul (357). Tom Andrews topped the HL bowling averages with 32 scalps, one more than Wilf Bridger 31, who finished third in the log.
Alton line-up: Standing (from left) Matt Crane, Arul Apavoo, Wilf Bridger, Tom Andrews, Sam Bridger, Freddie Egleston. Seated: Ryan Hale, Joe Paul, Andy Postles, Michael Heffernan, Gemma Porter.
Ryan Hale top scored with 559 runs, supported by Michael Heffernan (428), skipper Andy Postles (384) and Joe Paul (357). Tom Andrews topped the HL bowling averages with 32 scalps, one more than Wilf Bridger 31, who finished third in the log.
