HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE

Hythe 3rd XI Central 4 Champions After Tomorrows Game @ Hedge End Called Off Unfit Pitch - Now We Need The Firsts To Win

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RAINS A PAIN BUT WAS IT TO HYTHE'S GAIN

The Final Week of the League Season is upon us and who can remember the last Saturday all three Hythe sides played - 31st July!!! Whilst the August weather has definately been frustrating - on the other hand the question is - has both the 1st XI and the 3rd XI benefited from the weather

Dixies worked it out that the First XI require 8 points from Saturdays match with East Tytherley to avoid the drop and stay in County 2 and thats if the Portsmouth, Purbrook and New Milton all win.

Looking at the games cancelled in August Hythe could probably say they were fortunate NOT to play Langley Manor (top) Hungerford (6th) and Lymington (5th).

New Milton missed the rain in one of those weeks to gain an unexpected win over Sarisbury. Sarisbury scored 180-6 and after a shower break New Miltons total was set at 161 off 40 they got it with 4 wkts down.

Purbrook last week beat Idlers (won many of their 1's played !!!) to take them out of the bottom three. Purbrook were the only side to play all three weeks in August. They also beat Hursley Park scoring 216-7 chasing 214-8 but they then lost to basement side Pylewell after being bowled out for 95. Pylewell got home by 5 wkts. The previous week Pyleweel travelled to Hook and played but after scoring 229-9 the rain came to set the home side 180 off 30 overs which they scraped home by 1 wkt.

Portsmouth got their game on last week against Hursely Park only to be bowled out for 103 chasing 265-6. Another side who wished they hit the weather all three weeks was Ropley. They were hit for 309-6 against East Tytherley and were then bowled out for 193.

Whose Hythe got this week !!!

The Bottom of County 2 as it stands

This Saturdays Fixtures

South West 2 - Mike Bowmans side's slipped away over recent weeks but can still finish a respectable 5th. Their frustration has been that 2 of their 3 matches in August started but then had to be abandoned against - Bournemouth IV's and Bashley Rydal IV's (14th)

The top two couldn't be closer and the question is - who will get more points in this final week.

The Top of South West 2 as it stands

This Saturdays Fixtures

Hythe 3rd XI have won the Central title without playing one full game in August. This was confirmed this morning when Hedge End rang to say the council have postponed the weekends games because of wet pitches. Hythe were to go into the game - 8 points ahead of Southampton Community which according to Super Kev means 17 points are required to take the title this week at Hedge End.

Hythe's frustration this month has been the cancellations against Burridge (12th) and Hedge End (13th) plus the abandonment of North Baddesley (9th) and Colden Common (15th) which had they gone the full distance the Green Caps would have already been champions. Baddesley were 91 for 9 when the players walked off and Colden Common were 87 for 7 chasing 150.

Whilst Hythe's games were abandoned poor old Sarisbury played on and come unstuck against Hamble ASSC in a rain effected game- Hamble were bowled out for 148. Sarisbury were then set 109 off 25 overs when they struggled to 97 for 7. Sarisbury then got 23 points against Knowle scoring 193-4 and then bowling the Fareham side out for 60. They also claimed 24 points last week against Trojans scoring 206-5 and bowling Trojans out for 110

Community got 24 points against Totton & Eling after scoring 263 for 2 then bowling the Eeels out for 146. Hamble's frustrations were two cancelled games against botton sides Otterbourne and Compton & Chandlers Ford. Even if Community get 24 points against Burridge tomorrow they can only achieve an average of 21.00 to Hythe's 21.45

The Top of Central 4 as it stands

This Saturdays Fixtures

	vs
Adriaan de JAGER		Addie GREYVENSTEIN

In 2003 Adrian Greyvenstein starred for Hythe as their overseas player scoring 1067 runs and taking 22 wkts at 20.6

Adriaan de Jager ends his first season in England with Hythe on Saturday and without his runs we would certainly be looking at County 3 status next season. With 748 runs @ 93.50 off 11 innings who would have betted against him scoring 313 runs in 3 innings to equal Greyvensteins achievement. Not only has de Jager been a first class on Saturdays but also a great asset to our many youngsters who have benefited from playing under him in midweek games and on Sundays.

Leading Wkt Takers	Leading Run Makers
Rob SAUNDERS 25	Adriaan de JAGER 748
Wayne EFFENY 23	Sean TONGS 426
Steve CHIVERTON 19	Tom RICHARDS 378
Kev McCARTHY 18	Wayne EFFENY 363
Russell MOORE 17	Matt HOWE 326
Mike EDWARDS 16	Matt YOUNG 245
Ian WHITE 15	Rob JAMES 228
Lee POWELL 15	Jonjo STOVELL 223
Simon WRIGHT 14	Sam MEAD 223
Richie FROGGETT 12	Tony NORTH 212

Kev JAMES 15 (13 catches, 2 stumpings)

Gary HOWE 15 (15 catches, 1 stumping)

Tony NORTH 11 (5 catches, 6 Stumpings)

Finally Good Luck To The Oilers

Local rivals Fawley need a win on Saturday to guarantee them finishing second behind South Wilts and Southern League Status (inspection permitting)

With Club Mark status already in the bag - hats off to Churchie's leadership and all the effort their members have put in. Lets hope they can do it.