Teams Season Review! 2022/23

The season was capped off on Wednesday evening with a packed semi-final cup match against Hunts County. While we unfortunately lost 3-2 it was hard fought, and they did have a world top 200 at number 1.

Overall its been an exceptionally strong season for CSC’s 5 teams playing 74 team matches winning 46 of them (64%) involving 1410 individual games, with only 1 partial default by any of the teams.

The ladies team had a strong start to the season winning 3 of their first 4 matches, including causing the only upset of the season for Swavesey early on. Post Christmas was a different story with only 1 win in the last 5 matches, however picking up decent points in each match. A third place finish with a 44% win rate. 9 matches, 4 wins, 75 games for, 78 against.

Cambridge 1sts managed to use an unprecedented 17 players across the season having absorbed the Frank Lee team and with new additions. This vast array of players didn’t seem to help them much at the start of the season with 6 convincing defeats in a row, a solid mid season win against Melbourn gave them some much needed points but was followed by a further 5 heavy defeats. However facing relegation the team rallied winning 5 of the last 6 matches comfortably, bringing them in 8th place only 6 points ahead of Stamford in the relegation spot. The division was won by probably the strongest ever University side who didn’t lose a match they contested. 18 matches played, 6 won, 139 games for, 188 against.

Cambridge 2nds came out the blocks on fire, winning all but 1 of their matches in the first half and even that loss went to 15-13 in a 3-2 match for the decider. The wins were convincing with several 20 pointers. Going into the 2nd half it was clear that it was between them and Ely for the league win. Though Cambridge managed to win the head-to-head 20-5. Cambridge having decided they had already won the league took their eye completely off the ball in the next match picking up just 7 points, eroding all their gains the previous weeks. Every point then mattered with Ely and Cambridge leap frogging each other by 1 or 2 points for the remainder of the season. Cambridge technically won the league (though a much contested 3 points was deducted over a player declaration which meant they actually finished 2nd).  16 matches played, 14 won. 197 games for, 94 against.

Cambridge 3rds battled their way through the whole season with some strong wins pre-Christmas putting them near the top of the table. However new babies and a 1st team theft of players meant a weaker team in the 2nd half leading to some bad losses, especially away. Overall a 50% win rate and a midtable 6th place finish.  18 matches, 9 won. 157 games for, 172 against.

Cambridge 4ths was a new team for this season with a vision for inclusivity and a place for new players. The captain had different ideas. Securing himself a strong number 1 for the season they took 57 points in the first 3 matches. Though when their 1 or 2 were not available the difference was stark going from 20 points wins to 2 point losses. However they kept in contention for promotion through to the last few games with a crunch match against Kimbolton being the decider, unfortunately with key players out they didn’t convert it. For a new team an exceptional 3rd place finish, 11 points behind 2nd place. The clubs juniors came in for several matches and didn’t disappoint with some close games. 18 matches, 13 won. 198 games for 112 against.

Towards the end of the season Cambridge merged in a 5th team with NCI (who already played out of Churchill/Sports Centre) to help them finish the season, it was a good chance to allow some new players in with the team finishing 7th overall.

Overall the 2nds will have an option to enter the playoffs for promotion against Stamford, to be decided if we are strong enough to field two 1st division teams (though we managed this comfortably for several seasons a few years ago), and we will look to continue a 5th team next year to give more players a chance to play.

A huge thanks to all the captains this year Sally Grinham, Ali Dawson, Macca, Adam Prosser, James Buckley, Ben Knappett and Johnny Hughes for all the efforts supporting the teams.

Congratulations to the highest win rates of the season (played over 5 matches for a team, doesn’t include other team appearances)

Sarah Penfold 100% (Ladies), Jordan Docker 100% (2nds), Tom Williamson 100% (2nds), Ed Gillen 100% (4ths), Peter Connaughton 92.3% (4ths), Ben Howcroft 83.3% (4ths), John McComish 80% (2nds), Ian Wilson 76.9% (2nds), Joseph Reeds 76.9% (2nds), Sarah Howlett 71.4% (Ladies), Chris Thorpe 71.4% (2nds), Jamie Graham 71.4% (4ths).

We will continue playing over the summer with lots of tournaments, club nights and socials! Keep your eyes on your emails. 

Next up is the Cambridge Closed – get your entries in if you havn’t done already.