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United Services (Portsmouth) Cricket Club - Formed 1880
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United Services (Portsmouth) CC Review 2002 (Written by Peter Piercy)
The season's highlights were a repeat 4th place in Southern Electric Premier League 2 after spending the first 5 weeks on top; consolidating the 2nd X1 in Hampshire Division 1 following relegation in 2001; the ever increasing standard, strength and membership of the colts' section; the mideek league team finishing runners up and the ongoing financial viability of the club.
There were downsides - relegation of the 3rd XI and withdrawal of the 4th XI. On the playing side, the 1st XI appeared stronger than 2001 however, losing Damian Carson after 8 matches and John Mann for the last 5, both to injury was the principal reason for losing 5 successive matches and a disappointing end to the league season.
Skipper Gary Hounsome (497 runs, av 41.4), Peter Andrew (388 @ 38.8), Mark Toogood (296 @ 24.7) shone with the bat. Damian Carson (27 wickets, av 13.1) and Paul Barsby (17 @ 25) were our best bowlers with the ever youthful Kelson Brooks (15 @ 29.4) and Brendan Regan (14 @ 35.1) providing steady support.
Our Zimbabwean overseas player Warren Gilmour is undoubtedly a classy wicketkeeper and although struggling on the early season soft surfaces his batting improved in the 2nd half of the season (261 @ 29) when the pitches became harder. We are delighted that he has registered with the club for 2003 following a successful hockey season with Havant .
Once again the 1st X1 was highly placed in the SPCL 'Fair Play Award'. It could have been better had not a 'veteran' bowler extracted his toys in the match at Lymington!!
This winter we have 3 senior and 2 colts teams competing in the South East Hampshire Indoor Leagues. Next summer we are continuing with 4 saturday league teams plus a midweek league team and the U11, U13 & U15 colts teams.
We approach the 2003 season with renewed optimism.
United Services (Portsmouth) CC Review 2002 (Written by Gary Hounsome)
In complete contrast to the previous season, when we lost our opening four games, 2002 began on a roll - five wins in six games being recorded from a settled side scoring a glut of runs and bowling opponents out cheaply. Apart, that was, from Easton & Martyr Worthy, who appear to have the Indian Sign over us.
We were top of SPL2 at that stage - a position we surrendered after a thrilling one-wicket defeat by the Hampshire Academy, who got in with two balls to spare. We bounced back with victories over Sparsholt and Rowledge, but could not match our earlier consistency and went on to lose our last five games, finishing a tidy fourth.
Individually, there were many notable performers. Gary Hounsome scored 497 runs, Pete Andrew (388), Mark Toogood (296) and Tom Clark (271) and Zimbabwean hockey international Warren Gilmour, who added 18 victims to his 261 runs.
Damian Carson stole with show with the ball, in between a succession of Society weddings, taking
27 wickets.