News: Colley takes route 66 (April 2006)
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| Colley - huge impact in seasons one and two |
It is a measure of seam bowler, John Colley's intent that, in just two full seasons, the right-armer has amassed a highly impressive 66 league wickets and in doing so rockets up the newly complied 1st X1 overall bowling averages that stretch as far back as 1973.....
Statistics suggest that it is likely that the first team's vice-captain has reached the 60 wicket landmark in a shorter time than any other YMCA player and Colley will surely be looking to forge ahead towards the 100 wicket stagepost in the next season or so.
Meanwhile, Jerry Wall underlined his sizeable value to Simon White's side by matching his fielding exploits with an equally substantial contribution with the ball. Jerry's 28 wickets in his inaugural season ranks alongside the best of debuts in recent years. Other notable performances include the redoubtable James Chidgey (458 wickets), whose relentless march towards five hundred 1st XI league wickets continues unabated and part-time spinner, Steve Buckland (7) who more than doubled his career total with an inspirational spell of 4 for 9 last year.
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| Steven - added 415 runs in 2005 |
On the batting front, for the second year in succession specialist opener, James Steven demonstrated his value by adding another 415 runs to his overall tally and improving his average to a highly respectable 30.30. Steven is joined around the thirty run mark by two of the First Team's key batsmen Tom Milsom and Tim Over - Milsom scoring an impressive 240 runs in six innings last year before, frustratingly, missing out on the remainder of the year through injury.
Meanwhile, vice-skipper John Colley reinforced his credentials as a genuine all-rounder by improving his batting averages to within a whisker of the significant 20 run mark. Colley's impressive record is matched by ex-schoolchum, Martin Jones who stroked his way to an effortless maiden half century last August and, in turn, improved his rapidly-rising batting average at B&D Division Two level. The first teams considerable batting resources are further highlighted by the combined records of experienced stalwarts including Steve Buckland, Keith Milsom and long-running captain, Simon White. Between them the trio have amassed over 15,000 thousand league runs in almost 1000 innings.
The fielding records make long reading with over 100 players taking one or more catches for the YMCA top outfit since it joined the B&D league in 1973. Despite the large field, experienced all-rounder Jerry Wall made a notable climb up the table thanks to a handsome return of 10 catches and a run out. Others mentionables were Grant Stiddard and John Colley both of whom made valuable contributions. Finally, spare a thought for catches record holder, Keith Milsom who, for the first time since 1969 didn't take a league catch at the highest level. Nobody is writing the left hander off just yet though!
