2025 Season Review

October 20, 2025
Club XI

Bramshaw Cricket Club – Season Review 2025

By Bailey Loveless (not all of my views are shared by the Club)

In one of the warmest, driest summers anyone can remember (apart from Arthur and Lino who remember 1976), cricket flourished across the New Forest. Well… sort of. Bramshaw Cricket Club fielded three league teams, ran juniors, took on tour, and somehow kept the teas (and spirits) flowing even when the results didn’t.

There were heroic knocks, eye-watering collapses, retirement comebacks, teenage breakthroughs, Tuesday night triumphs and one particular captain who now has a relegation streak longer than some players’ careers.

1st XI – S**t

The 1s competed in the brave new world of Hampshire Division 2B and played 16 games, winning six. That’s a decent effort, you’d think… until you realise that in a ten-team league, four go down. Yep. And we were seventh.

And so, for the second consecutive year, the 1st XI slide down a division, a run of form now firmly under the stewardship of disgraced captain Tom Arnold, who has seamlessly led us from Division 1 to 3 like a man on a very specific mission to derail this club. His batting however was the polar opposite.

Tom plundered 885 runs, including three centuries, with innings like his 145 not out against Burridge 2s and 126* against Havant 2s showing that he, at least, doesn’t believe in giving up. The only thing more inevitable than him batting forever is him not resigning.

Charlie Anderson chipped in with 301 runs (top score 72), Jack and Joe both ending in the 230’s, and Mike “Chucker” Kingston led the bowling with 22 wickets (pending investigation by the ICC) this leaves our Saffer agonisingly close to 500 Bram wickets (498). I bowled horrifically and took 16 poles, while Ben “Shuffler” Arnold returned from retirement for four games, took 6 wickets, and didn’t pull anything. Remarkable.

In the field, Booth and Kaushal Patel held onto nine and 7 catches, including a few absolute screamers and at least one that may have just hit them. It was also great to have some new faces in Dylan and Tharanga who both played their parts this season.

We did rather enjoy our back to back weeks on the Island picking up two great wins.

Down to Division 3 we go, but with this much talent (and Tom still hoarding runs like his Dad eating biscuits), the bounce-back plan is very much alive.

However we say a sort of goodbye to Jamie Martin who had a strange Summer, from annihilating the Bramshaw plumbing system in May to retiring in July but coming back in August before getting Married for the first time. Adios Jmac for now who has half retired.

2nd XI – A season of learning

The 2s had a difficult campaign in Division 4A, finishing 9th with just two wins from 18, both against Broadchalke, who now likely circle Bramshaw fixtures in red marker and cry softly.

Batting highlights came from Will Ridley (247 runs), skipper Zane D’Monte (239), and Ethan Symonds (230). Will also took 15 wickets, sharing that honour with Ritesh Ramachandra, while Club Chairman Mark Angel rolled back the clock with 11 wickets, including a vintage 4 for 19 in the Broadchalke game that will be talked about for years.

Zane and George Gray took six catches each, and despite the tough year, the spirit never dropped. After years at the helm, Zane has stepped down as captain, no doubt off to enjoy cricket without the admin and existential dread.

Down to Division 5, yes. But this team’s full of character and grit and might just surprise a few next season.

3rd XI – The Future

Under new captain Chris Hewlins, the 3rd XI brought good energy, strong banter, and some very questionable tactics to Division 6B. They won four of their 18 games and finished 10th, but more importantly, had a laugh doing it.

Batting was a big plus. Stu Stickland smashed 506 runs in 11 innings, including a monster 137 not out against Lyndhurst & Ashurst. Joe McNeilly scored 340, including a stylish 134 against Godshill, earning a deserved call-up to the 2s. Skipper Hewlins led from the front with 240 runs and 19 wickets, which feels like overachieving but we’ll allow it.

Ben Lindsay added 14 wickets and Ollie Hensel 10, while the moment of the season may well have been 13-year-old Thomas Meads taking 4 for 28 on his senior debut. That’s how you make an entrance.

U15s – Champions of Their League

Massive congratulations to the U15s, who went and did what none of the adults could manage – they actually won something! Champions of their league and rightly proud of it.

Huge thanks go to Andy and Adam for their hard work coaching and managing the squad, and to all the parents who helped with transport, support, scoring, and standing in the rain/heat/midges. The future is bright, and it’s wearing junior kit.

Border League – Tuesday Night Heroes

The adult Border League side had a quietly excellent year, finishing in the top three in the Tuesday night league. Not bad for a team with youngest side in the league.

There were a few close wins, some tidy knocks, and at least one game where the win was sealed before the light disappeared completely which, let’s be honest, is all we can ask. T-Dog steps down from the role now after 5 years to concentrate on Sunday skippering which he puts so hard work into.

Isle of Wight Tour – Unbeaten, Untouchable, Unforgettable

This summer also saw a strong Bramshaw side head across the Solent for the legendary Isle of Wight tour. Under the inspirational (if slightly sunburned) leadership of T-Dog, now officially back-to-back Clubman of the Year, the touring side went unbeaten.

That’s right: 100% win record. Not a loss in sight. A stunning effort given the dehydration levels and general availability of pubs. I will add we did only play one game but boy did we play well. Then we proceeded to cut some shapes on the Slug & Lettuce Newport Dance Floor.

Behind the Scenes – The Real Heroes

A huge thank you must also go to those who put in countless unseen hours to keep the club ticking. Kev, John, Ben, Arthur and others worked tirelessly on the ground to make sure pitches were playable (and occasionally even presentable), often in scorching heat or just hours before the first ball.

Massive appreciation as well to John, Teresa and Jane for regularly giving up their time to support the club by scoring reguarly.

Of course, a big thank you to everyone who helped with teas throughout the season. Whether you made sandwiches, sliced cake, or just remembered the milk, you kept cricketers fuelled and happy, which, let’s be honest, is no small feat.

And finally, thanks to the club committee for steering the ship, keeping things organised, and making sure Bramshaw Cricket Club keeps moving in the right direction, even if our batting doesn’t always follow suit.

Looking Ahead

Was it the most successful season on record? Nope.
But between the juniors flying high, the 1s looking to bounce back (again), the 2s finding new leadership, the 3s blooding the next generation, and the Border League and Tour side doing us proud, Bramshaw CC is alive, well, and quietly plotting a comeback.

I fancy us to win the VKO next year so save the date for Lords in September 2026.

AGM – Wednesday 26th November

The Bramshaw Cricket Club AGM will take place at The Bell Inn, Brook.
All members, players, supporters and social drinkers welcome.

Your club. Your say. Your chance to make a difference.