Waterlooville have added three new players to their squad and might be considered a good outside bet for promotion out of Southern Premier Division 2.
Two of the new recruits – Kiwi Josh McGregor and former Purbrook skipper Josh McCoy – are out and out match winners and ought to make a significant impact.
Archie Reynolds, who begins his second season as captain when the Ville visit relegated St Cross Symondians II next Saturday, wants more consistency in the ranks.
Waterlooville finished mid-table in 2021- seven wins, seven loses – but have the potential to do better this time.
McGregor (left) arrives with an impressive record in New Zealand, where he plays for the Auckland-based Howick Pakuranga club, alongside Black Caps Glenn Phillips and Colin Munro.
He made an immediate impression by scoring a fifty on debut for the Ville, in their opening friendly at Middleton.
McCoy needs little introduction having been Purbrook’s main player for several years and scoring over 2,000 league runs and taken 95 wickets for Ville’s near neighbours.
Gab Broadhurst, late of Liphook & Ripsley, completes the trio and, having looked good at Sarisbury Athletic, should join skipper Archie Reynolds, Alex Shephard and Jon Hudson in a pretty decent top six.
Competitive
Complemented by experienced bowlers like Sam Hillman, Archie Reynolds is hoping top order runs will provide a stronger foundation and a more consistent but competitive environment as players compete for places in a growing first X1 squad.
He said: “All three newcomers come with a great pedigree. My role is to help provide the right environment and opportunity for each to make significant contributions to the team.”
“We are most definitely not the finished article, but have worked extremely hard – particularly on the ground at Rowlands Avenue - to point the club in the right direction and keep moving forward. “We are all looking forward to the challenges ahead and are very exciting by what appears to be a very competitive season with four new and strong clubs (Andover, Hambledon, Hook & Newnham Basics II, and St Cross Symondians II) entering the SPL2 fray next weekend.”
Waterlooville have done well in the pre-season but tomorrow (Sunday) they face a formidable challenge with a visit to ECB Home Counties Premier League club Datchet, whose ranks include Longparish & St Cross Symondians’ raised Billy Mead.
Ville won’t play on an lovelier pitch than the Wally Gage Memorial Ground, a six-hit from the River Thames, where Datchet and Richmond scored close on 600 runs in a 50-over match last weekend.
Two of the new recruits – Kiwi Josh McGregor and former Purbrook skipper Josh McCoy – are out and out match winners and ought to make a significant impact.
Archie Reynolds, who begins his second season as captain when the Ville visit relegated St Cross Symondians II next Saturday, wants more consistency in the ranks.
Waterlooville finished mid-table in 2021- seven wins, seven loses – but have the potential to do better this time.
McGregor (left) arrives with an impressive record in New Zealand, where he plays for the Auckland-based Howick Pakuranga club, alongside Black Caps Glenn Phillips and Colin Munro.
He made an immediate impression by scoring a fifty on debut for the Ville, in their opening friendly at Middleton.
McCoy needs little introduction having been Purbrook’s main player for several years and scoring over 2,000 league runs and taken 95 wickets for Ville’s near neighbours.
Gab Broadhurst, late of Liphook & Ripsley, completes the trio and, having looked good at Sarisbury Athletic, should join skipper Archie Reynolds, Alex Shephard and Jon Hudson in a pretty decent top six.
Competitive
Complemented by experienced bowlers like Sam Hillman, Archie Reynolds is hoping top order runs will provide a stronger foundation and a more consistent but competitive environment as players compete for places in a growing first X1 squad.
He said: “All three newcomers come with a great pedigree. My role is to help provide the right environment and opportunity for each to make significant contributions to the team.”
“We are most definitely not the finished article, but have worked extremely hard – particularly on the ground at Rowlands Avenue - to point the club in the right direction and keep moving forward. “We are all looking forward to the challenges ahead and are very exciting by what appears to be a very competitive season with four new and strong clubs (Andover, Hambledon, Hook & Newnham Basics II, and St Cross Symondians II) entering the SPL2 fray next weekend.”
Waterlooville have done well in the pre-season but tomorrow (Sunday) they face a formidable challenge with a visit to ECB Home Counties Premier League club Datchet, whose ranks include Longparish & St Cross Symondians’ raised Billy Mead.
Ville won’t play on an lovelier pitch than the Wally Gage Memorial Ground, a six-hit from the River Thames, where Datchet and Richmond scored close on 600 runs in a 50-over match last weekend.
