ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
There were some outstanding individual performances, clubbed together with some strong team displays, in a season dominated by one man. Akiva Lieberman.
The South Manchester Sports batsman destroyed attacks in the Greater Manchester Amateur League and he was undoubtedly the star performer this season - the JC Player of the Year.
Indeed, Lieberman weighed in with several huge centuries in a campaign where South missed out on silverware in league and cup competitions by the narrowest of margins. They did, however, enjoy a clean sweep of the individual accolades in the GMACL, with Lieberman claiming trophies for most runs scored and the highest average.
Dan Glicher and Steven Allweis were also recognised by the league, while South also claimed the ‘Most Sporting’ team prize.
LONDON MACCABI VALE were the most successful team, earning promotion to Division Four of the Chess Valley League.
Adam Brand won the club’s top player award, with the returning Adam Solomons earning the best performance prize after a century against Totteridge.
LMV captain Neil Lederman described it as “a testing season, although we achieved our aims in the league”. He pinpointed the arrival of Mark Landau as “a major coup” and described the emergence of Adam Spooner, 15, as another “positive”.
Fast bowler Josh Stevens is the JC Young Player accolade following his call-up for the Middlesex CC under-13 Winter Performance squad.
Yoav Lebens reflected on a encouraging season where MAL put some building blocks in place by “blooding through a lot of young talent into the 1st XI”.
It was a breakthrough season for young fast-bowler Binyamin Feinmesser, who also showed “great maturity” with the bat, and has been tipped as “a future Maccabiah star”.
Lebens said: “We managed an overall winning record in the Middlesex Sunday League, which is pleasing, but will be looking to keep improving over the winter and next year.
“We’re also looking to continue MAL’s history of a fun and competitive ethos.”
Other highlights of the season were the performances of leading wicket-taker Eli Richards, a 17-year-old leg-spinner, and wicket-keeper-batsman Gideon Caller, 22, who registered a maiden ton. Lebens and vice-captain Chris Tomaszewski led the runs department.
Having taken over the reins from long-term captain Richard Mitchell, Clive Hart described this as “a watershed season” for Southlands.
Membership was bolstered by a number of ex-Newlands players joining the ranks, and Hart described it as “a season of great progression on the field” as the club won seven of its 18 fixtures.
Simon Durban won the club’s Player of the Year prize, with Akiva Fink named top youngster. Lenny Cohen, Robin Taitz and Shmulie Weinbaum also collected silverware at the club’s AGM where it was also decided to change the name from Southgate to Southlands CC to reflect its changing membership.
The 40th anniversary celebrations brought down the curtain on an enjoyable campaign for BELMONT & EDGWARE CC.
The all-round qualities of Adam Jacobs were key, with Elliot Mayer also producing some high-quality performances.
SALFORD BLUE JAYS experienced a disappointing campaign, finishing sixth in the GMACL. Josh Henry, Jonny Wineburg and Grant Pakter made useful contributions.