I am pleased to say that we are coming off of another very successful season on the field. We met our aim of staying in the A Division whilst supporting the 2s in their successful promotion push. Selection was extremely tough at times for both sides with the 1s using 20 players overall. Well done and thank you to everybody involved last season.
In addition to the success of the 1s and 2s, it was great to see the development of the women’s softball team. It was great to see the support and respect between all of the sides. I challenge us to go one further next season and show more support to the junior set up. Can more senior members help out on a Friday evening or be there to support junior matches? After all, in any given Devon League XI 40-50% of the players have come through our junior system.
Last season Jason Van Der Meulen proved to be an incredible asset on and off the field as our overseas player. Jason has signed a deal to play in the Lancashire League this summer so we wish him well and hope to see him at Station Ground again one day.
This year I am pleased to have signed Jack Geraghty from Queensland, Australia (pending visa). Jack is a similar player to Jason as well as being a qualified coach and teacher. He is coming over with great recommendations from previous overseas players Dan Beatty and James Grady. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to Becky Rice for her continued committeemen to hosting.
Targets for the season have a theme of consolidation with both sides being relatively new to our divisions. The first priority for the 1s will be safety but if we perform to our potential then we can look to disrupt some of the big clubs in the top half. We start and end the season at city grounds Plymouth and Exeter – a real marker of how far we have come. Early signs indicate that there may be availability issues at the beginning and end of the season so please bear that in mind when booking holidays!
With consolidation the aim in the league, perhaps T20 can provide the most memorable moments in 2023. Last year we won the T20 mini league but crashed out of the Devon knockout cup in the first round at Bovey Tracey. This summer we have been handed a home draw for the first time post covid and I would love to see us make a name for ourselves in this competition, so please do make yourself available.
Here’s to another successful season at TCC.
Jake Choules
Thorverton Cricket Club 