DESPITE starting with a few whimpers and most likely a record number of damp squibs, Walkham Valley Cricket closed their season with three consecutive victories and a series of exceptional individual performances. Like most cricket teams, Walkham suffered from the rain like no other season, losing more matches to the weather than they lost to the opposition ? a notable achievement for the rainfall as it was for the level of the team?s cricket. Yet both the weather and the quality of the cricket did improve to the extent that Walkham managed some impressive wins. Before then, however, came the losses, together with a couple of ties, the first of which, against West Devon at Brentor, ended in the same number of runs and the same number of wickets for each team. The turning point of the season was a decisive win against the Philanthropists, after which, despite losses to Carval and TACC, Walkham improved dramatically. Another tie, this time against new team Chaddlewood, boosted Walkham confidence and at the next game, the return against West Devon, two individual performances led to a well fought win. First up was a not out 50 by John Smith, a new player this season. With eight boundaries, including three sixes, Smith managed to turn what would have been a poor total into something defendable. In the field, buoyed by Smith?s efforts, players from both sides found themselves applauding a rare hat-trick. Extending across two overs, Nick Moule bowled out two and had the third caught behind, leading to a rare moment of celebration among the younger players. Moule finished with figures of 3 wickets for six runs in two overs. Walkham?s next win came against Oddballs and featured the season?s highest batting total, 57 by Duncan Short. Having bowled the opposition out inside 32 overs for just 128, Walkham made short work of their reply, wrapping the game up inside 23 overs. The next match, against Mainstone, saw perhaps the most one-sided contest of the season. Four batsmen retired not out in a batting blitz that gave Walkham 137 in their 20 overs. In the field, benefiting from fading light, Simon Ward created the best bowling figures of the season, four wickets for just two runs in two overs including a hat trick. To wrap the season off, Walkham travelled to the Mainstone away fixture where they managed a less impressive, but equally decisive win.

A week later, in their season closing fundraising event, the club managed to raise almost £400, money that will be used to re-stock its equipment, some of which was written off by the rain earlier in the summer.