United Churches are champions (From Swindon Advertiser)

United Churches are champions

7:40am Tuesday 6th September 2011 in Cricket By Gary Rose

SWINDON United Churches sealed their first title since joining the Wiltshire County Cricket League over two decades ago at the weekend, beating Beehive by eight wickets in their season finale.

United Churches, based at Sevenhampton, went into the game looking to claim a 15th win from 18 games after tasting defeat for the first time in the 2011 campaign at Burbage the weekend before.

And they signed off in style by bowling Beehive out for 85, with Alan Boivin claiming six wickets for six runs before knocking off the total in just 12 overs and for the loss of just two wickets.

The victory means United Churches have won Division Three by 37 points ahead of Seagry, who lost by 277 runs at Lambourn.

“It is the first time United Churches have won a league since joining Division 10 of the Wilts League back in 1990,” said club secretary David Martin.

“Overall the significant thing about this season was that United Churches had not lost a game since until the last Saturday of August, and in all divisions in the Wilts League they were last team to relinquish a 100 per cent record.

“The success of the team this season has been down to persistence, because the club have been close to promotion for the last two years.”

United Churches’title win this year has been driven by the form of Richard Martin and Chris Spackman, who took 50 wickets between them ,with Martin in particular enjoying extremely economic spells.

Jimmy Mann and Dan Hunt, meanwhile, scored 900 runs between them with the former finishing the league season with 550 runs.

“Skipper Chris Gilchrist has run a very happy ship, while the work of Alan Jones has to be highlighted, after he helped prepare some very good wickets at home,” added Martin.

United Churches will play in Division Two of the Wiltshire County Cricket League next season.

Any cricketers interested in joining the club before the start of the next campaign should contact Martin on 01793 770171.