Surrey Championship Division 1: Played: 17; W: 7; L: 5; WD: 4; LD: 1; Points: 108; League finish: 6th

Bowling for the 3rd XI was led all season by Ben Simper. His figures were way out in front of other bowlers having taken 32 wickets at an average of 16 runs. Paul Wilson had a very good season taking 17 wickets at an average of under 20 runs, though he only played half of the season with the 3s following his well-earned promotion from the 4s. James Berressem and James Knill took 16 wickets each with Graham Doggett taking 13 early in the season before being correctly promoted to the 2s. Taimoor Anwar also took 13 wickets towards the end of the season.

The league season started with Dan Jones scoring 127* against Cheam. This was a great innings backed up well by Graham Doggett. In the following game against Walton, Ben Simper led from the front with four wickets. Following a heavy defeat by Old Whitgiftians, we played Worcester Park and won easily with James Knill scoring 138. We then played Chessington, where innings by Rob Evans and Dan Jones ensured that we made a good total. However, we were unable to take 10 wickets to win the game.

By the middle of the season a run of three winning draws in the next four games showed that we were not quite doing enough to win games. Against Pyrford we scored a healthy 245 runs with most of the team scoring around 30 runs each and Ian McAllan scoring another half-century. Against Alleyn & Honor Oak, 64* by Paul Cousens and 58 by Wasim Ahmed helped the team amass 246. Ashford took nine wickets, Ben Simper again taking four wickets with Harry Jackman also claiming four victims, but again was unable to win the game.

Following our defeat at the hands of Guildford, we beat Egham in a fiercely contested game, with Taimoor Anwar taking four wickets. A special mention must go to James Knill for his efforts in the next game at Beddington, where he took seven wickets at an average of under 4 runs per wicket. Rob Ford and Jon White batted with determination under extreme pressure to ensure we won this game.

Mark Smith joined the team late in the season and scored 82* in the win against Valley End. The season ended well with wins against Sanderstead (Alex Jackson 50) and Chipstead (Ben Simper with another four wickets) and a winning draw against Old Wimbledonians (Rob Evans and Wasim Ahmed both scoring 50) – the final moments of the match were played out in pitch dark with us requiring one run from the last two overs and the batsmen could not hit (or see) the ball!

Once again Rob Evans played the part of wicket-keeper, taking six catches and making three stumpings. Two players stood out for the 3rds in 2009. Ben Simper bowled well all season and Ian McAllan rarely let the team down when batting.

A personal thank you to Chris White (vice-captain) and Rob Evans who helped me to run the team throughout the season. Also thanks to our groundsman Andy Goulding and all those who helped prepare our pitch. They produced a pitch that I believe is among the best in the league and compares with many of the 1st XI team pitches in the County.

There were many other players who played throughout the season. They know who they are and I would like to express my appreciation to them all for helping to make 2009 a very enjoyable season.