MONMOUTH Cricket Club toasted their promotion to Division 2 of the Crusader Worcestershire County League at their end-of-season presentation evening last Friday. Around 40 players reflected on a successful season in which the club‚s first and second teams finished runners-up in Division 3 (South) and Division 3 (South) 2nd XI respectively. Chairman Pat Baker thanked all those who contributed to the club‚s success in 2006, including sponsors, scorers, umpires and caterers. Gordon Grey, who helped prepare a string of outstanding pitches at the Sports Ground and enjoyed a fine season with the second team, deservedly won the coveted Clubperson of the Year award. Influential player Ian Mackinlay tasted double success, collecting an award for the best all- rounder performances and also winning the Terry Worgan Players‚ Player of the Year shield. Mackinlay scored 687 league runs at an average of 45.80 and snapped up 28 wickets at an average of 17.04. He was the only Monmouth first team player to score a league century during the season. David Teague, who hit 751 league runs at an average of 57.77, won the first team batting award, with workhorse Jonathan Roberts clinching the first team bowling honour with 29 league wickets at 19.48. Veteran Idris Leonard took second team bowling trophy and also won a special achievement award for bagging 58 league wickets at an average of 14.15. Leonard delivered a mammoth 300.3 overs during the campaign and is thought to have set a new record for the most number of wickets taken in Division 3 (South) 2nd XI. Ian Morgan, who hit two league centuries, clinched the second team batting award with 814 league runs at an average of 81.4. Morgan is understood to have set a new club record for scoring the most number of runs in a season for Monmouth's Second team. Teenager left-arm seam bowler Richard Shaw, who played 33 matches last season and was an important member of the second team, deservedly picked up the Young Player of the Year award. Vice-chairman Jon Despontin landed the Sunday Player of the Year award and Rob Prewett was the winner of a special perpetual cup‚ donated on the evening by Dave Wilding. The perpetual cup‚ originates from the former Rockfield Cricket Club for whom Dave‚s late father, Mike Wilding, was a driving force and leading player. Monmouth Cricket Club are now looking ahead to their annual general meeting on Thursday, November 23 at the pavilion from 7.30pm. Full list of award winners for 2006: Clubperson of the Year, Gordon Grey; 1st team batting, David Teague; 1st team bowling, Jonathan Roberts; 1st team fielder, Wayne Etheridge; 2nd team batting, Ian Morgan; 2nd team bowling, Idris Leonard; 2nd team fielder, Peter Jeremiah; Young Player of the Year, Richard Shaw; Sunday team Player of Year, Jon Despontin; Best all-rounder, Ian Mackinlay; Terry Worgan Players‚ Player of the Year, Ian Mackinlay; Special Achievement Award, Idris Leonard; Perpetual Cup, Rob Prewett.
