Duke in shock Rovers switch

TIM DUKE has made a shock move to Rovers.

he island all-rounder and GCA player of the year, has left NRG Pessimists and GCA champions Wanderers to join Richard Hamilton's men, who must now be considered as major title challengers in the long and short forms of the game.

Duke said it was a hard decision to leave his former club but, in his short time there, he had built friendships with several members of the Port Soif club.

'The main reason is that I have not been here that long; I am still settling in and since I have come more of my mates have happened to be Rovers boys,' said Duke.

'It was still a very difficult decision because I did not want to let anyone down. It is certainly nothing to do with last season because, obviously, that was a successful season, which I enjoyed very much and I appreciate all the help people such as Tim Belton and Dave Piesing gave me.'

Rovers, who had a tough 2003 season in both evening and weekend cricket, will definitely be a force to be reckoned with this summer.

Duke's arrival follows that of former Essex county player Nick Derbyshire and confirmation of the return of Stuart Bisson, Ed Benfield and Andy Mountford, all back from their travels.

'I have heard Rovers should be stronger, but that is not what I based the decision on,' Duke said.

'I haven't even met some of those guys yet anyway and I am not sure that it is going to be the super team some people think it will be.

'There are going to be five really good sides in the championship this year. It should be a good competition and I am looking forward to it.'

Rovers captain Richard Hamilton was delighted with the new acquisition. 'It is an excellent signing, Tim's a class act,' he said.

'It is a very similar situation to me and Richard Headington.

'When he first came to the island, we became good mates over that summer and it led to him joining from St Saviour's. Tim has become good mates with a few of the boys and it has just developed over the course of time.

'That is what has happened here and Pessimists have been very good about it; they have handled the situation really well.'

Piesing, Wanderers' championship-winning captain, admitted that the news came as 'a bit of a shock' and he was disappointed to lose a player who had been 'an integral part of a successful season'.

Piesing also said that he was not convinced the move would be good for Guernsey cricket.

'It was looking like being a wide-open season, but they will be a very difficult side to beat now,' Piesing said.