The 2024 cricket season has come to an end with OBWCC teams securing an incredible six league titles and two cup victories, including a second successive promotion for the men's 1st XI.
Most of the success came from the youth section, who picked up four of the league victories and both cup wins under the leadership of Gareth Griffiths and Alex Tryfonos, however both the men's 1st XI and 2nd XI also achieved promotion, while OBWCC ladies' side finished 2nd in their T20 league after just two losses all summer.
Men's 1s go back to back
Back in the West of England Premier League after a one year hiatus and having strengthened significantly over the Winter, the men's 1st XI were always aiming high.
Despite the season getting off to a damp start with the first game at home to Bedminster 2nd XI called off, the squad proved to be the strongest in WEPL Bristol & North Somerset by some margin, picking up 311 points from 18 matches, only losing three.
Having already won two by this point, the true extent of the side's ability became clear in game week four, when Bath 2nd XI were seen off by 10 wickets having set 169 to win. That was followed by another three big wins on the bounce, before promotion rivals Knowle 1st XI were beaten by four wickets at Fortress Failand having set 165 to win.
Three losses across June, July and August to Brislington, at home to Bristol West Indian Phoenix 1st XI and away at Bradley Stoke in early August, meant with two games to go, Knowle could have jumped into 1st had they defeated OBW's on their own pitch.
However, OBW's secured the title with a 64 run win, all rounder Ben Cunliffe (sponsored by Mezze Restaurant) putting in the stand out performance with 50 in the first innings and four wickets in the second.
Special thanks go to fast bowler Fletcher May (sponsored by Travis Perkins), who as our overseas this year, was one of OBW's stand out players.
May grabbed 17 wickets at an average of 29.29 and proved a real talent with the bat as well, finishing the season as the team's second highest run scorer with 377 runs at an average of 34.27. Thank you for all your efforts Fletch and best of luck with everything going forward!
Top run scorer: Ben Jarman - 430 (28.67)
Top wicket taker: Jino Jojo - 31 (18.19)
Men's 2s dominate B&D Division Four
Losing only two games all season having also benefitted from hugely fruitful Winter recruitment, the men's 2nd XI walked B&D Division Four, finishing the season more than 60 points ahead of nearest rivals Long Ashton 1st XI.
Despite the end result things got off to.a shaky start as the 2nd XI suffered what turned out to be both their defeats all year, within the first three games.
Fortress Failand was breached in week two when Bristol Sri Lankans 1st XI left with a six wicket win, before Bedminster took 18 points the very next weekend with a three wicket win.
Those two results turned out to be a mere blip however, as OBW's won 13 of the next 15 games. Of the remaining two, one was conceded by Winterbourne, while the clash away at Barrow Gurney was rained off.
The most significant win of the summer came away at nearest rivals Long Ashton who were bowled out for just 85 after being set 244 to win, while there was also a nine wicket victory away at Bristol Sri Lankans and a 10 wicket win away to Winterbourne.
It all means OBW's 2nd XI move up to B&D Division Three for the 2025 season, where the boys will surely be looking to challenge for honours again.
Special mention goes to OBW's South African Joshua Kleu, who in his debut season finished as the club's top batter with 507 runs and also picked up 20 wickets with the ball, at an average of just 12.05.
Top run scorer: Joshua Kleu - 507 (56.33)
Top wicket taker: Simon Pratt - 21 (21.90)
Men's 3s consolidate in B&D Division Seven West
Compared to the high flying achievements of the 1st & 2nd XI's it was a much tougher season for the 3s, who only secured safety in B&D Division Seven West during the final game of the season, at home to Long Ashton 2nd XI.
It took four games for the 3s to secure their first win, when strong availability across the club helped them to set a target of 306 to win at home to Claverham, which proved 100 runs too much for the visitors.
It was much the same story the next week when Shirehampton 2nd XI were beaten by 101 runs, but the side struggled to replicate such strong performances consistently, eventually finishing the season with a total of six wins and 12 losses, placing seventh.
With the whole club very clearly on the up and strong signs shown throughout the season in the 3rd XI, the side will hope to push on for promotion next year.
Special mention in the 3rd XI goes to Dave Yates, who managed the highest score of his career and the highest score in the club this season, when he hit 130 runs in the win at home to Claverham.
Top run scorer: Arun Bondalapati - 300 (37.50)
Top wicket taker: Jack Harvey - 15 (14.07)
Ladies enjoy successful summer
For OBW's ladies, the season was one of immense promise and success, as they finished second in their T20 league behind only Golden Hill in a hugely competitive campaign.
Much of the side's success came down to consistent contributions with bat and ball and this was epitomised most by all-rounder Zoe Snelling, who finished with both the most runs and wickets for the team. Her match winning performances began in week one when she took one wicket and achieved a run out at home to eventual league winners Golden Hill, before scoring 41* with the bat having come in with the side 5-1. OBWs went on to win the game by four wickets.
That match was followed up with victories over Twyford House 1st XI and Chipping Sodbury 1st XI, before Golden Hill got their revenge in week four.
The only other loss of the summer came in the reverse fixture against Chipping Sodbury, who chased down 76 to win, by six wickets.
In the end OBWs finished exactly 20 points behind Golden Hill, who's only loss came against us in the first match of the season.
Special congratulations go to girls Isabella and Adrianna Tryfonos, who in their first seasons with OBWs picked up five and four wickets respectively despite playing well above their age group. Lucy Morling took five wickets in the season, managing to take two wickets for just five runs in a comfortable win over Chipping Sodbury.
Top run scorer: Zoe Snelling - 146 (36.50)
Top wicket taker: Zoe Snelling - 7 (9.57)
Youth show future is bright
Undoubtably the most successes this season came from the youth section, who collectively managed four league wins and two cup victories.
League titles came from the U-13 Girls, both the U-11 Girls hardball and softball teams and the U-11 performance side.
Cup victories came from the U-11 performance side and the U-13 Girls, who won the Dave McCarthy Knock Out Cup and the Gloucestershire 100 Cup Plate, respectively.
The performances across the season from the U-13 Girls were particularly impressive given OBWs have not boasted an U-13 Girls team before.
Top run scorer (U-15 boys): James Tagg - 152 (76.00)
Top wicket taker (U-15 boys): Nekkash Ratheeskumar - 4 (20.00)
Top run scorer (U-13 boys): Oscar Jones - 110 (18.33)
Top wicket taker (U-13 boys): Sid Triggol - 6 (9.67)
Top run scorer (U-13 girls): Amy Court - 433
Top wicket taker (U-13 girls): Isabella Tryfonos - 35
Top run scorer (U-11 boys): Kanish Moka - 134 (33.50)
Top wicket taker (U-11 boys): Isaac Boss - 8 (6.38)
Top run scorer (U-11 North Somerset League): Henry Kotas - 108
Top wicket taker (U-11 North Somerset League): Freddy Bond - 10
Top run scorer (U-11 girls): Jasmine Stone - 305
Top wicket taker (U-11 girls): Claudia Griffiths - 28
Thank you and congratulations to everyone who has played their part in one of the most successful seasons for OBWs in recent memory. Special thanks go to all the committee members, coaches and team captains without whom, none of it would be possible. In particular the club would like to pay tribute to Connor Crane who, through coaching sides across the adult and youth sections all year around as well as playing himself, has been an absolutely vital part of OBW’s success. We hope you all have fantastic winters and see you next year!
We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
