It's been very much a season of what might have been at the OCC with both the first and second teams having up and down seasons in the league and both suffering Cup final defeats. The third team, as with the majority of last season suffered horrendously at the hands of the weather.

The first team started the season bolstered by the signings of Andrew Rhodes, Anthony Giles and Alex Bailey along with the arrival of Adam Vale from Australia. All played in the first game of the season, a win against eventual Champions Kirkstall. Despite this fantastic start, poor results against Beckwithshaw and Green Lane followed and the tone was set for the season. Most victories were followed by a defeat at Otley found themselves yo-yo's between the fringes of the top and bottom of the table.

The Waddilove Cup however brought a much more consistent level of performance and the team breezed through to a Semi-Final showdown with second division Calverley. In a tense game, Skipper James Davies bowled a superb final over to give Otley a victory and many at the ground felt that their name was on the Cup. In the final, against Kirkstall, despite a great start batting first, Otley's total was not quite good enough to secure a victory. The final will perhaps be best remembered for the emergence of young pace bowler Ricky Halloran. Having bowled well in patches through the season, Ricky's spell in the cup final showed his immense promise and confirmed everyone's thought that he has the chance to go a long way in the game.

After the cup final defeat the season far from fell away with three back to back wins meaning the team entered the last game of the season still able to claim a runners up spot. As it transpired, a defeat against Adel and results elsewhere meant that Otley's final finishing position was 6th, certainly something to build on for next season. Along with Halloran, the pick of the performers were James Davies with 55 wickets and the consistent batting of Gary Thompson.

Few changes in personnel are expected for next season as Halloran, Brough and Atkinson emerge as first team cricketers. Best friends James Davies and Anthony Giles are spending the winter together in Australia working on their pace bowling so the omens for 2009 look good.

The second team began the season with high hopes under the leadership of new Captain Matt O'Grady. Fans of OCC will remember his interview at the start of the season and how full of optimism he was. Despite only drawing the first two games and losing the third, O'Grady was soon leading his side to their first victory in week 4 at home to Rawdon, a success that started an unbeaten run of 9 matches in league and cup and placed the team well within striking distance of the title challengers.

The star of the early and mid part of the season was young batsman Josh Atkinson who was taking his first full season of senior cricket well in his stride. He amassed a stack of runs including a majestic 155 not out as he belied his young age to become the key wicket for opposing teams. His spectacular form and the serial wicket taking of experienced spinner Mick Gray gave O'Grady the perfect double act with which to build his team around.

As with the first team, the seconds found the cup very much to their liking and also made the final, again against Kirkstall, thanks to a semi final victory against Burley. On this occasion it was Kirkstall who batted first making a very 'gettable target' of 164. John Brough was the pick of the Otley bowlers going for just 9 runs off as many overs. Otley were at one stage cruising to victory thanks to a half century from that man Atkinson but a lower order collapse left them agonisingly short of the required total with 11 overs left!

Despite the Cup final defeat the side continued to show good form right through to the end of the season, finishing in 3rd place, 12 points behind Champions North Leeds. Aswell as those mentioned already, O'Grady himself and George Huntley (having arrived mid-season from Olicanian) both scored vital runs throughout the season. O'Grady is very much a champion of the team ethic and he will have been delighted by the performances of all the members of his squad and will have high hopes for next season.

The third team were again victims of the weather with 5 of their 14 games being affected! Chris Keddle did however rally his troops to 3 wins and from their 9 matches, himself scoring a majestic maiden half century at Rawdon. Josh Atkinson also notched two centuries in his 3 matches to go with his excellent run scoring for the second team.

The thirds Cup run was also ended by Kirkstall, this time at the first attempt. Discussions are in place to try and secure regular cricket for the junior and senior members of the third team for next season.

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