Callum Taylor was named 1st team player of the year at Swardeston’s annual awards presentation dinner, held at Number 47 St Giles.
The dinner was attended by 70 guests and was also marked by presentations to the young player of the year and the outstanding performance of the season award. Read separate report.
And for the second year a trophy was awarded for the best young player of the player season (Under-16) – the Philip Sturman Memorial Trophy. See separate report.
Chair Stuart Bartram welcomed players and members and thanked guests from main club sponsors Leathes Prior for their support.
In his report 1st XI captain Lewis Denmark said the 2022 season was a year of transition for the First Team with changes on and off the pitch before a ball was bowled.
Lewis said: “Moving on to the First Team Player of the Season award, despite the challenges and the slightly below-par performance across the season, there were some outstanding contributions from individuals throughout the season and multiple contenders for this award.
“Twenty players represented the First XI during the summer (the highest for many years). Five hundreds were scored (two each for the Taylor brothers and one for Lewis in the National Knockout). Six 5-fers were taken with Sagi collecting half of them in a season which saw him take 67 wickets including 50 in the EAPL, Alfie, Callum and Toby (who took the season-best figures of 7/40) the others. A special mention must go to Harry Barker in his first season at the club, who was outstanding behind the stumps.
“In the end, it came down to two outstanding all-rounders, Sagi Rajaguru and Callum. However, for his 993 runs which included six fifties and two hundreds, all at a strike rate of over 100 and his 27 wickets including a 5-for in the final game of the season when fired up against Frinton, Callum is my First XI player of the season for 2022.”
Skipper George Walker awarded the John Bobbin Salver as 2nd XI player of the year to Ben Shearing.
George wrote: “In the batting, the team scored two hundreds, Alex Levinson versus Acle in the first match and then Matthew Taylor against title champs Wanderers. However, there were only 18 more scores over 50 in the season which could have been improved to get those match-winning totals.
“Other innings of note were Matthew’s 94 against Old Buckenham and Ben Shearing’s 87* against Stowe. Top run scorers were: George Walker 467; Ben Shearing 456; Matthew Taylor 443.
“In the bowling, there was only one five-wicket haul in an innings over the season, Geogre vs Stowe and four other four wickets in an innings. Two each for Walks and Tommy Chambers. Top wicket takers were: George Walker 33; Harry De Coteau Spring 27; Tommy Chambers 20.”
George said Ben was the only 2s player that was available for the club all season, and in that scored 456 runs, took the keeper’s gloves in a couple of games and was also rewarded with his performances with two matches in the first team.
Alex Bilham was named as the Swardeston CEYMS player of the year by captain Matt Hogg, winning the Bob Read Shield. Matt was unable to attend and his review was read out by chair Stuart Bartram.
Matt wrote: “In terms of the 3rd XI player of the year though, I think this year it has to go to a guy that hadn’t played for us for a number of years. He ended up playing all bar one of the games and topped the run charts. Also, if it wasn’t for the arrival of his newborn son a day or so before the game, and the sleep deprivation that came with it, he would have scored the classiest of centuries against arguably the best bowling attack we faced all season. My player of the season for 2022 is Alex Bilham”
Oli Longdon was named the Swardeston CEYMS A player of the year by captain Cameron Clarke, taking home the CEYMS Trophy.
Cameron said last year was a difficult season in the 4ths, with merely being able to get a side out for all matches a win in itself.
Cameron wrote: “The player of the year for the 4ths, playing his first season of adult cricket at the age of 12 and scoring 181 runs and taking 5 wickets in 8 matches is Oli Longdon.
“Oli hit our top score of 73 not out, batting all 45 overs in 30+ degree heat at Narborough and recorded the best bowling of the summer, taking 4/41 in the win over Horsford.”
Lawry Williams was named the Swardeston Sunday player of the year and winner of the Peter Thomas Trophy by captain Sam Thelwell.
Sam wrote: “Another very promising cricketer who came on leaps and bounds last season was Lawry Williams. He bowled well taking eight wickets in five games, fielded brilliantly and played momentum changing innings.”
In its fifth year, Georgia Demetriou was named the Women’s Player of the Year. Georgia received the Rosamond Thomas Trophy.
Women and girls coach Neil Tayor said Georgia had topped the batting averages in the Shell Women’s league with an average of 88 and also was second in the bowling statistics, with an average of 8.75 per wicket.
Her strong performances have led to Georgia being selected for the Norfolk Youth Cricket Centre of Excellence; with her also playing very well whilst representing Swardeston u13 boys in their league final.
Chris Bean Cup – 1st XI player of the year: Callum Taylor
John Bobbin Salver – 2nd XI player of the year: Ben Shearing
Bob Read Shield – Swardeston CEYMS player of the year: Alex Bilham
CEYMS Trophy – Swardeston CEYMS A player of the year: Oli Longdon
Peter Thomas Trophy – Swardeston Sunday player of the year: Lawry Williams
Rosamond Thomas Trophy – Women’s player of the year: Georgia Demetriou
Huge thanks to Dale Clarke for the following photographs.
