Reman Services have been dealt a blow to their hopes of recapturing the Marston’s Shropshire Premier Cricket League title by the departures of Mike Griffiths and Pete Ezard.
RAlbert Road stalwart Griffiths, an experienced allrounder, has opted to take up a new challenge with divisional rivals Wem while medium pace bowler Ezard has been enticed across town to play Birmingham League second team cricket with Shrewsbury.
Wayne Phillips, who captained Reman’s second team last term, could now add to the exodus as he is on the wanted list of several clubs, but skipper Mal Serplet is hoping to persuade him to stay.
Serplet, re-elected as skipper of the north Shrewsbury club for a fifth successive year at last weekend’s AGM, admitted it was a blow to lose the services of both Griffiths and Ezard, but accepted their reasons.
“Mike’s a big loss and as a club we’ve been indebted to Griff as he’s been with us for a long time,” said Serplet. “Hopefully he’ll still be around to coach the kids at the club but he just feels he wants a new challenge as regards his own cricket.
“He’s been very consistent for the seconds and has helped bring on a lot of the kids, but he’s not played a lot of first team cricket in the last couple of seasons.”
Serplet added he was also sad to see Ezard move on, but understood the chance for him to switch to Shrewsbury alongside his old team-mate Steve Wilderspin, the new second XI captain, was too much to resist. “Like Griff, Pete’s been a good clubman,” said Serplet. “Every time he’s come into our first team, he’s done something special, but with the uncertainty of playing regular first team cricket and the standard our second team play at, he’s opted to go to Shrewsbury.
“I’m a bit disappointed but I can’t blame him as I couldn’t make him any promises.”
Now Serplet has set his sights set on trying to keep hold of Phillips and convincing the seamer to turn his back on the chance to play regular first team cricket elsewhere.
“We know clubs are interested in Wayne but we want him to stay,” added Serplet, who also revealed ex-Acton Reynald batsman Jon Ashton has been appointed Reman II captain.
Serplet said Reman had no transfer targets of their own and are likely to have a familiar look this season, although he hopes former Pontesbury batsman Sean McCarthy will be available more often.
By Stuart Dunn
