Bards season report

Stratford Bards achieved a very respectable 4th place in the 3rd division of the Cotswold Hills League.

A lack of players saw the team concede the season opener and often field only 9 players – however that didn’t stop the Bards reeling off 10 victories from 18 games.

Captain Sam Bishop led the way with a remarkable 813 runs – including 3 centuries – and looks set to top the run charts for the entire Cotswold Hills league system. He also contributed 16 wickets, which would have been more had he not kept wicket in some games.

Iain Lythall topped the wicket takers list with 18 wickets at just 16.89 – his 128 overs containing 30 maidens. There were also valuable contributions from opener Richard Sykes (292 runs) and the London-based duo of Will Noble (216 runs and 8 wickets) and Tim Smart (186 runs and 5 wickets).

The club also welcomed various new players including Richard Smith, Aby and young players such as Alex Beesley, Henry Smith, and Matt Ricketts.

Captain’s report (sanitised version):

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all Los Bardos for your efforts this year. It’s been tougher than a throats singer’s tonsils to get a side out, massive credit for Bish the Elder getting the ground looking great and performing brilliantly, Matty Hallett for his bowling, scoring and stat logging. And everyone else who has contributed.”

“Many thads” to to all players involved, to Sam Bishop for his work captaining the team, to Paul Rathkey for umpiring, and also to John Bishop, Iain Lythall and others involved in preparing and maintaining the Alscot Park wicket and ground.

Read on for final table plus batting/bowling statistics.

Cotswold Hills Division 3 – Final Table

#	Club	Played	Won	Points
1	Dorridge & Hockley Heath	18	15	335
2	Stoneleigh	18	12	279
3	Norton Lindsey II	18	10	262
4	Stratford Bards	18	10	235
5	Shipston on Stour II	18	6	200
6	Long Itchington II	18	6	198
7	Ebrington	18	7	195
8	Stanway	18	5	182
9	Earlswood III	18	5	152
10	Exhall & Wixford II	18	2	79