Shrewsbury travel to Himley in opening Williamson Trophy clash

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Holders Shrewsbury travel to Himley in the 2015 season’s opening match – the first round of the Graham Williamson Trophy which will take place on Saturday 11th April.

If victorious, Shrewsbury will host either Wolverhampton or West Bromwich Dartmouth in the second round.

1st Round – To be played on Saturday 11th April, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 1 – Berkswell v Knowle & Dorridge
Match 2 – Leamington Spa v Kenilworth Wardens
Match 3 – Walsall v Sutton Coldfield
Match 4 – Walmley v Dorridge
Match 5 – Himley v Shrewsbury
Match 6 – Wolverhampton v W.B. Dartmouth
Match 7 – Barnt Green v Kidderminster Victoria
Match 8 – Brockhampton v Ombersley

2nd Round – To be played on Saturday 18th April, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 9 – Winners 1 v Winners 2
Match 10 – Winners 3 v Winners 4
Match 11 – Winners 5 v Winners 6
Match 12 –  Winners 7 v Winners 8

1st Round Plate – To be played on Saturday 18th April, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 13-  Losers 1 v Losers 2
Match 14 –  Losers 3 v Losers 4
Match 15 –  Losers 5 v Losers 6
Match 16 – Losers 7 v Losers 8

The Plate Competition will not continue after the 1st Round.

Semi – Finals – To be played on Sunday 3rd May, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 17 – Winners 9 v Winners 10
Match 18 – Winners 11 v Winners 12

Final – To be played on Sunday 24th May, 2015 (12.30pm start)
Replay – Monday 25th May 2015 (12.30pm start)
Match 19 – Winners 17 v Winners 18

Sam Griffiths

Sam Griffiths scoops top award

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By Stuart Dunn at the Shrewsbury Chronicle

Sam Griffiths, the former Shelton bowler who has become such a popular figure at London Road, has been named Shrewsbury Cricket Club’s player of the year.

Griffiths, who celebrated his 24th birthday last week, has flourished since taking the decision to step up to the Birmingham League three years ago.

He is now a regular member of the successful Shrewsbury side and his impressive performances as a consistent wicket taker has also seen him break into the Shropshire team.

Ed Foster, the long-serving Shrewsbury opening batsman, insisted Griffiths was a very worthy winner of the prestigious award.

“It just goes to show what players in the Shropshire Cricket League are capable of if they are prepared to make the step up,” said Foster.

“Sam didn’t go straight into the first team when he joined the club but knuckled down and did the hard work.

“He’s a credit to his family, his club and also the cricket education he received at Shelton.”

Griffiths took 45 first team wickets in all competitions for Shrewsbury during the 2014 season, 29 of them in the Birmingham League’s premier division at 19.93 apiece as he helped the London Roaders finish fourth after a strong second half of the campaign.

“Sam’s always at training and is an excellent clubman,” added Foster. “He’s the nicest lad you’ll ever meet and has become a leading player in our side over the last couple of years, also breaking into the Shropshire team.”

Foster also had plenty of kind words to say about Jack Garmson, 16, after the young all-rounder, who recently completed his studies at Meole Brace School, was selected as Shrewsbury’s young player of the year.

“He’s a swing bowler and very skilful for a young lad,” said Foster. “He’s also a quite capable and destructive batsman.

“Everyone at the club has been impressed with his attitude and work ethic. He’s certainly a first team player of the future.”

The winner of Shrewsbury’s club person of the year was Les Nichols, the popular assistant to London Road groundsman Bill Davies, while the chairman’s award went to second team captain Jon Anders for all his hard work with the club’s junior section and the second XI.

Meanwhile, three Shrewsbury players are spending the winter playing in Australia.

Charlie Morris is in Sydney while both the club’s Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach and England under-19 all-rounder Ed Barnard have flown out to Canberra.

They recently faced each other in a club game with Barnard’s Queanbeyan District side beating Leach’s North Canberra Gungahlia in an Australian Capital Territory first grade encounter.