PUDDLETOWN Cricket Club had a night to remember when hosting its annual end of season presentation evening at Dorchester Football Club.

Players, supporters, friends and sponsors were all in attendance as the club came together to celebrate both on and off the field success for the 2018 season.

In County Division Three, Puddletown’s Saturday XI sealed promotion for the second consecutive season, continuing their impressive rise up through the divisions.

Next season, Puddletown will be playing in County Division Two, where they can look forward to local West Dorset derbies against Beaminster and Charlton Down.

Speaking about the season, captain Adam Barrett was in an upbeat mood, praising his players’ efforts in helping to deliver another promotion.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted with the season we have had, and the development that our younger players have shown. Obviously the additions of Snowy (Rob Snow) and Tom Blair have been a massive boost, but everyone has played their part and stepped up to the plate when required.”

The Saturday player of the season was awarded to 18-year-old Alby Stevens, who scored 516 runs at an average of 73.71.

Meanwhile, Puddletown’s Dorchester & District Evening League first XI side finished runners-up in Division One, whilst picking up the league’s most sportsmanlike club award at the DDEL presentation evening.

“We are really proud to win the sportsmanlike club award” said opening batsman Lucas Allen, who again captained the side.

“It’s great to know that our play hard play fair attitude has been noticed and recognised as a great way to play our cricket.”

The Evening League first XI player of the season was awarded to Lucas Allen, who smashed 19 sixes throughout the season – the league’s highest by a distance.

The Evening League second XI, jokingly referred to as the ‘Barry Knight Riders’ after the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, was again run by Barry Knight and included plenty of junior players in every fixture. In excess of 25 players were used throughout the course of the season, which provided a variety of players a chance to enjoy a game of cricket.

Chris Eastment, won the Evening League second XI player of the season after enjoying a successful first season back to cricket after a 15-year lay-off.

Reflecting on the season, club chairman David Stevens paid tributes to the efforts from the committee, and insisted that the club is by no means the finished article.

He said: “The committee do such a fantastic job throughout all aspects of the club, whether its pitch maintenance, fundraising or administration tasks to name a few.

“The progress we are making as a whole is wonderful to be a part of, and with developments such as grass wickets on the cards in the not so distance future, there is no better time to be a member at Puddletown CC.”

Other winners included Tom Blair, whose 98 not out against Ashmore gained the best individual performance and the outstanding under-21 awards.

Joly Stevens was named the outstanding under-18, Howard Mason won the clubman award and Snow the best newcomer.