Finches: ‘Top three finish is still an achievement’
DAN MARLES says he is proud of Finchampstead’s third-place finish, describing it “nearly as impressive” as winning the title last year.
Finches shocked the Home Counties Premier League Division One in 2016, storming to top spot as a newly promoted team.
But they found the going tougher at the start of this campaign and after losing their first three games plus having a number of players handed suspensions, skipper
Marles was still looking over his shoulder at the relegation zone for much of the year.
However, Finchampstead rallied and rounded off the season by sealing a top three finish courtesy of a thumping 153-run victory over High Wycombe on Saturday after big knocks from both Marles (68) and Andrew House (63) saw them reach 291-7, a total they comfortably defended.
And the captain says Finches have now shown they belong among the league’s elite.
“I think we deserved to come third place,” Marles told The Wokingham Paper.
“It is probably about right for the way we played cricket this year.
“It was a really good win on Saturday and a positive way to end the season.
“Considering the start we had, losing games and the bans and all that rubbish that went on, to finish third is actually quite a good achievement and one that we are proud of.
“Looking on from last year, obviously it was a fantastic season winning the league.
“It was a bit of a fairytale year and actually this is nearly as impressive going and really cementing our place at the top of the league, among the top three or four sides with a load of young lads who have grown up with the club. “It really is fantastic to see.”
With this season wrapped up, all eyes are now already on the 2018 campaign and trying to close the 62-point gap between themselves and champions Henley.
Marles confirmed that Jandre Coetzee will leave the club and return to South Africa after two years as Finchampstead’s designated overseas player, while bowler Matt Carter is also departing ahead of a move to Australia.
One man who has been recruited is all-rounder Conrad Louth, who has arrived in the area having spent this season playing cricket for Lincolnshire, and Marles has his eyes on a couple more.
“We’re looking at recruits that we can get in,” confirmed the skipper.
“Maybe a couple of bowlers. We’ve got to have a look around to see who we can grab in, but we’ve still get a strong squad and we’ll look to compete again next year.
“It’s a shame to see JC and Matt go, both have been fantastic for us.
“But without them we’ll just have to build with other players, which will give opportunities to some of the younger lads and maybe some of the lads coming into the squad.”
He continued: “Conrad will come and join us next year. He played a game for the 2s when he had a week off.
“He’s just moved into the area and he’s a really good player.
“He’ll fit into the middle order, which is promising to see and add a bit more experience.
“We’re looking forward to him joining up with the squad.” After winning the league in
2016 and finishing third in 2017, the bar has been set quite high for Finchampstead. And Marles says the target has to be the same again next year.
“Last year we won the league and I think a lot of lads enjoyed being up there and got the desire to go and do it again,” he
said.
“Once you’ve had it once, you kind of want to have it again I suppose.
“Third was really good this year. “If we can be up there in the top three or four then we’ll be happy and we’ll keep trying to challenge.
“If you look at the actual league, there’s a couple of games we should’ve won and we didn’t. We could’ve been closer to winning the league this year.
“Henley were the stand out side by a far distance and they deserved to win.
“We’ll look to challenge them again next year and we’ll look to be in the top two and the top one if we can.”