The season has just finished and with a record of having won four a lid drawn three and lost three of the ten matches played, one can see this has been quite a successful season. It has certainly been a lot better than some people thought it would be (myself included). Nearly all the games were closely fought affairs so the results could have gone either way. I think this has made it a more enjoyable season than some in the past. Of the games won, some good results were achieved. notably Kent College.

Sir Roger Manwoods; (the Staff XI!) the school has not beaten either school for a very long time. Bethany were undoubtedly the worst side the school played but heavy weather was made in achieving the obvious result the better side won however. Of the drawn games a combined 1st and 2nd Kings XI had only one wicket left, and against Dover Grammar School and Chatham House the school was left in that same precarious position. The 1st XI lost to Dover College for the first time in a few years, a result which I though-was-rather unjust. Simon Langton as always were a very good side and the much better side won on the day. Against Harvey Grammar School, the team it seemed. reserved their. worst- performance, for the last game and Harvey fully deserved their win. The game against Woolverstone Hall was cancelled due to the weather, a team the school has always done well against.

In general the 1st XI fielded very well, this was because of the weather mainly and a lot of practice was put in. This paid dividends especially. in the close fielding positions where in the gully Mike Dearing and Martin Fenn were outstanding. As usual the main problem was the batting. The state of the nets did not help at all in this matter. When a first former can bowl bouncers in the nets it does not exactly inspire confidence. The nets were very unprediciable in bounce, this does no good at all for the batsmen or the bowlers, Tt seems the Army and the Post Office are more important than the cricket teams in the- School as wickets were prepared for them which is more than I can say for the nets. Obviously something is drastically wrong with the 'system' in the school.

I would like to conclude by thanking the whole of Group 1 and the 1st XI in particular for being so co-operative and accepting my decisions it made my job relatively easy. Also to all the coaches throughout the school but special thanks must be made to Mr Marsh and especially Mr Buck who has Drone such a lot for the development of cricket in the school.

PAUL JONES Captain