GRAYSWOOD Cricket Club will be running a 4th XI in the I’Anson league this season, members were told at the club’s AGM and awards night.

The growing demand for competitive cricket is testament to Grayswood’s emphasis on transitioning youth players into adult league cricket.

The 4th XI will play their home games at Milland, copying the model adopted by the 3rd XI who play their home games at the delightful ground at Lurgashall.

The highlight of a busy evening was the award of the Ben Williams Rising Star Memorial Trophy.

Initiated last year, the trophy is awarded in memory of a talented young Grayswood cricketer, Ben Williams, who died in 2006 of a heart muscle disorder, aged just 14.

The Ben Williams Trust, the club’s chosen charity, supports children with arrhythmias, as well as youth cricket initiatives in Surrey and Hampshire.

This year, the award went to rising all-rounder Callan McIntyre, who impressed with both ball and bat, taking 39 wickets and scoring 629 runs, and making a major contribution to the 2nd XI securing the I’Anson Division Four championship.

The Most Valuable Player Award also went to a 2nd XI player, Jonathan Ashworth, for his 456 runs and 59 wickets, the latter also securing him the Club Bowler of the Year award.

Other awards went to Cameron Kent for Club Batsman of the Year, Alastair Gloak for 1st XI Bowler, Andy Major 1st XI Batsman, and Tom Barnado, the 1st XI Captain’s Award.

The 2nd XI award winners were Ashworth (Batting), McIntyre (Bowling) and Ned Taylor (Captain’s Award). The 3rd XI trophy winners were Will Comber (Batting), Cameron Lillywhite (Bowling) and James Perrin (Captain’s Award).

The Sunday XI honours went to Iain Jackson (Batting), Henry Hind (Bowling) and Matt Eisenhower (Captain’s Award).

Grayswood have started senior training for the 2017 season, with nets at Amesbury School on Sundays (10.30am to 12.30pm) and structured coaching sessions at the Surrey Cricket Centre in Guildford on Tuesday evenings (9-10pm).

“We are looking forward to the new season,” said club chairman Malcolm Gloak. “The club is in great shape after a very successful 2016 when the second and third teams both secured promotion. Our successful youth policy continues to deliver a number of talented cricketers into adult cricket and we believe the fourth side will further enhance that process.”