Mavericks' survival 'vital' for future of weekend cricket

RANDY Paddle Mavericks' first match in weekend cricket last season was an epic defeat of Optimists. Justin Walker's majestic century at the KGV earned the new boys of Guernsey cricket maximum points on their first outing. They looked a side to be reckoned with.

But it all went a bit pear-shaped after that. Mavericks still won three matches, but threw away two possible wins with shocking batting collapses and missed out on qualification for the CI knockout.

The team fell apart, too, after captain Glenn Milnes was injured and ruled out for the season, followed by the likes of Gordon Irish, Phil Cox and Justin Scriven.

The bloodletting has continued over the winter. Vice-captain Robbie Moore, who led in Milnes' absence, left for Cobo and Mavericks secretary James Falla has spent the winter hunting a replacement skipper.

Eventually, he has ended up taking on the job himself.

'I'm not in the business of talking our prospects up or down,' said the Taverners stalwart.

'But I believe that it is vital for Guernsey cricket that Mavericks continues to be a viable force at weekends. The GCA wants five clubs in the top flight, if not six, and a fifth team also provides an essential outlet for players at the so-called lesser clubs.

'If Mavericks can no longer offer the carrot of weekend cricket, it will hasten the drive of the best players to the ?super clubs? and all but kill off the prospects of development for the others.'

The loss of Moore, Scriven, Justin Meades, Bertie Salt, Mike Webber and Cox has hinted at a difficult season for Mavs.

Falla can call on a handful of his own players at Taverners for the Mavericks first team and has also secured support from Deloitte, Griffins and Salemites, who have withdrawn from afternoon cricket in their own right.

St Pierre, the other original founding club, will continue to offer a core of the side, including Walker, Andy Burkhardt, Vince Kenny and restricted outings for Dave Hearse and Paul Wakeford.

The hunt for occasionals from the four main clubs has been fruitless. 'We've approached only a handful, but people seem to find it difficult to believe that they will be a fringe player.'

New arrivals, even mid-season, would be unlikely to be turned away, but the skipper reinforced the need for those people to become wholly a part of the Mavericks outfit.

'We know it will be tough but we're not downbeat. The important thing for us is to develop as a club. If we end the season as Mavericks United, I'm a happy man.'

GCA weekend cricket representative Dave Piesing said he hoped that Mavericks would survive for the future of weekend cricket.

'It is crucial to have a fifth team that is as strong as they possibly can be,' he said.

'I'm worried that players who aren't playing for one of the four other teams are not giving consideration to joining Mavericks.

'It's in the interests of the league that there are five strong teams and not four teams with players not getting a game and a fifth team that is struggling.'