With the cricket season almost over and my hopes and expectations extinguished for another years, it's time for reflection upon a season with some highs,. some lows but ultimately ending in disappointment.

I said at the beginning of the year that we would need a consistent and sustained effort for us to be able to mount a promotion challenge.

Well with the ball, and particularly in the field, we have excelled.

Two umpires recently commented on this to me and that gives some satisfaction in that our efforts are being noticed.

Unfortunately, it has been our batting again that has let us down.

Personally, it has been a disappointing season with the bat and I do not want to think about how few runs I've made. Needless to say I've not been troubling the scorer to much!

My bowling has been a bit better and I even managed a hat-trick the other week (told you all I'd get in mentioned!)_ but not enough to win the bowling award -- though I must be in the running for the most wides.

And at least I am not in the running for the unwanted end of season trophy -- the one for the most ducks, dropped catches and general inadequacies.

That is still undecided with a Fishy just ahead of Ged. Both gave performances determined to win at the weekend -- both dropped catches and were out for ducks!

Next week is the charity match against the Witton Inn and be aware we are coming to get our trophy back!

And finally an apology.

My last column may have sounded like I was having a go at a couple of my former team-mates. This was not the case. All I was trying to do was bring to the attention the fact that leagues like ours may struggle in the future if we can't recruit younger players and keep them interested.

Any offence was definitely not intended.