As the dust settles on a mixed first season for the newly-amalgamated Kidderminster Victoria Cricket Club, BRIAN GITTINS reviews the goings-on at Chester Road during 2003-04.

WITH the Kidderminster and Victoria Cricket Clubs combining, we saw one great story of local cricket ending and a new one beginning.

Any amalgamation will bring problems, but luckily this "marriage" has been very successful both on and off the field. The new committee has worked hard to make the changeover as easy as possible, and must be commended for achieving what could have been "the impossible."

The Birmingham League sides had mixed fortunes. Although the 1st XI won the League Challenge Cup by beating Leamington in the two-legged final, they squandered the best chance they could possibly have had to get promotion to the Premier Division of the league.

Following a not too steady start to the season, they then won six out of the next seven matches and gained a winning draw in the other. So, they reached the halfway stage looking certainties for promotion and a good bet as champions. Then it all fell apart. They never won one of their remaining 10 fixtures and indeed lost five of them.

When Will Gifford and overseas player Matt Friedlander lost their batting form, and with the bowling never reached the standard required, they were found wanting.

Not only was it a shock to KVCC, but also to the rest of the league who thought Kidderminster had got it in the bag with several matches to go.

BIRMINGHAM PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

LEADING BATTERS: Will Gifford 673, Matt Friedlander 530, Jonathan Wright 445, Craig Wood 383, Sean Lloyd 378. BOWLERS: Ted Baylis 37, Matt Friedlander 32.

BIRMINGHAM LEAGUE PREMIER (2nd X1s)

The second XI play in the Birmingham League Premier Division (2nd XIs) and were very pleased to finish up as winners. They won 10 of their 22 matches and lost just four.

Regrettably, there is no promotion involved, but it is a very good testing ground for our young players who are ably supported by one or two veterans.

BATTERS: Chris Pyke 738, Andrew Siwicki 558 BOWLERS: Paul Thomas 30, Kelvin Barrett 28.

Three teams played in the Worcestershire County League, and while the first and third XIs had to be happy with reasonable placings, the glory went to the second XI who won their division.

1st SATURDAY XI

BATTERS: Paul Mitchell 357, Nathan Dufty 338, Dave Mitchell 332. BOWLERS: Nathan Dufty 30, David Bannister 20

2nd SATURDAY XI

BATTERS: IAN Sadler 580, Andrew Logan 345, Andrew Kimberlin 313. BOWLERS: Ian Kimberlin 27, Amrick Singh 25.

3rd SATURDAY XI

BATTERS: Norman Lamb 176, James Rine 173. BOWLERS: Daniel Webb 18, Bob Webb 16

The 2nd XI also won their league in the Worcestershire Sunday Club League. Mid week cricket came to Chester Road in the form of the Stainweld League. KVCC gained distinction by winning the Senior K O Cup.

All statistics are from league games only