Leading all-rounder Mark Thomas has been named as Swardeston’s player of the year for 2004.
Thomas overcame a disappointing season with the bat to lead the Swardeston attack and took 36 wickets at an average of 18.75 in Swardeston’s Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League campaign.
Thomas twice took six wickets in an innings during the summer with a best of 6-18 against Maldon.
Thomas was presented with the award by club captain Peter Thomas at Swardeston’s packed annual dinner, held at The Bird in Hand, Wreningham.
Kiwi all-rounder Jaden Hatwell picked up a notable double, the player-of-the-year award for the Howes Percival Norfolk Alliance premier division team and the trophy for the most outstanding performance of the year.
Hatwell scored more than 700 runs in the league, twice the number of any other player.
Peter Thomas said Hatwell’s performance in the game against Old Buckenham on 21 August had also almost single-handedly saved the side from relegation. The New Zealander hit an unbeaten 117 in Swardeston’s 173-9 total.
And with Buckenham on 94 without loss Hatwell’s introduction into the attack along with David Horrex changed the game.Hatwell bowled 13 overs for just 28 runs picking up two wickets as Buckenham were forced to finish on 156-6, giving Swardeston valuable winning draw points.
Stuart Bartram won the Alliance Division Two team award.
Fifteen-year-old all-rounder Bud Bailey, who was selected to train with England Under-15s this winter and also signed for the Northamptonshire Academy, picked up the Neville Herathge Trophy for the most outstanding youth player.