The ACC Development XI reached their second successive league final bringing a great end to a very successful season at both U18 and U21 level.

The report of the season can be found below, written by Roger Hurrion, Colts Manager

This season the team again entered both the Surrey Trust and Development league competitions, keeping mainly the same basic squad for both only making a few variations to keep to the age limitations imposed by the competitions. A few senior players were also invited to turn out on occasions to add their blend of experience to the sides, which seemed to work very well. The team was led excellently by Jack Docherty as captain, supported by Andy Hurrion as vice-captain, with Scott Benham stepping in briefly to support when Andy was sidelined through injury.

The season almost mirrored that of the previous year in terms of success.

In the Trust league we won our division without being beaten and faced Wimbledon away in the playoffs for a place in the final. Unfortunately Wimbledon were too strong for us on the day, despite giving them a good run for their money.

On the Development side it was a little closer. We lost to Ashstead in the early stages of the league and tied with Leatherhead on the last ball of the game, but winning the points by virtue of having conceded fewer wickets. We were left to play Spencer in the last league match of the season, both sides needing to win to win the league and be certain of going through the playoffs. Spencer won convincingly. However Addiscombe went through to the playoffs gaining the fourth place by being the best runners up in the three leagues. We went through to the final by beating Normandy, to find ourselves in the final again as last year, but facing Spencer. Spencer again proved too strong and we became runners up for the second year running.

The season provided a good stepping-stone for a number of colts and the whole squad improved and learnt a great deal more about themselves, their performances and capabilities. There were quite a number of notable performances throughout the season, which bodes well for the future of the club. Jack Docherty hit the most runs, 734, in both competitions in all the leagues. Steven Cox was the club’s nominated Trust player of the year and Antony Starnes was the Development player.

Special mention should also be made of Barry Lineker who willingly stepped in on several occasions as a substitute, Ian Turner who umpired the team’s matches and Paul Noble who did the scoring.