Benfleet not out to rest on laurels (From Echo)

Benfleet not out to rest on laurels

5:10pm Wednesday 9th September 2009 in

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BENFLEET Cricket Club’s first XI are determined not to be just making up the numbers following promotion this summer.

The Woodside Park-based team won Division Three of the Shepherd Neame Essex Cricket League on Sunday to end a long wait for glory.

It was the first time in 31 years that Benfleet had won the league title at first team level.

The last team was under current first team scorer John Hunter, who was happy to see his record fall.

But captain Paul Tremain has declared he wants the side to quickly establish themselves in the Second Division in 2010.

“We genuinely believe that we will be fine in the league next year,” said Tremain.

“We know a lot of the clubs in Division Two and a top five finish is what we are looking for and we think we can achieve that.”

Teamwork will be the key to a successful summer, according to Tremain.

“We have 11 first team players and are not reliant on two or three superstars,” he explained.

“Everyone in the first team has scored 50 this summer or taken wickets, so everyone is a match winner.”

But Tremain also knows where the first XI will need to strengthen during the winter months ahead of the start to the new season in May next year.

A replacement for number three batsman Phil Wright will need to be found as he is off travelling in Australia next year.

And following the return of Tony Bassett to Perth, Western Australia, Benfleet are searching for an overseas player.

“If we can get an overseas player then we will be OK next season,” the captain said.

However, the nucleus of the team will remain the same as Benfleet’s policy of developing youth over the past decade paid dividends.

“We have invested in youth side at the club for a long time and it’s shown rewards eventually,” Tremain added.

“We have experienced players like Mike Tremain and Andy Prophet and the rest of the team are in their early 20s or late 20s.

“We also have a strong second team to draw on too.

“On Saturday we did not have Sheri Rana, Tony Bassett or Dave Miles playing for a number of reasons, but we had players come up from the second team and beat the third-placed team in our division.”

Benfleet lost two matches and drew two in their march to the title, clocking up 13 wins in the process, while a further match was abandoned due to rain.

They signed off with 16-run win over third-placed Old Brentwoods to finish 11 points clear of second-placed Stanford le Hope, who were promoted alongside Benfleet.