Waterlooville CC appoint new captain after Sam Hillman jets off to start new life in Australia

Waterlooville bowler Sam Hillman has moved to Australia. Picture: Mick Young

Captain for the past two summers, schoolteacher and father-to-be Sam Hillman has hot-footed it Down Under to enjoy a spot of Australian parenthood.

With him to Perth may have gone Ville’s ability to tie down top order opposing batsmen at the start of their innings.

Hillman, who taught maths at Portchester and more recently Bohunt School, Liphook, took 197 Hampshire and Southern Premier League wickets for Ville.

But, more significantly, he frequently bowled his 10-over allocation with an economy rate of 2.3 runs per over – often putting oppositions behind the required rate.

Hillman’s departure opens the door for Archie Reynolds to follow in his father’s footsteps and take over the Ville captaincy ahead of the SPL2 opener against Fawley at Holbury on May 1.

‘Archie has skippered across all the junior levels, including South East Hants and West Sussex along with Sunday and midweek cricket for the last few seasons, so his pathway had been planned for some time,’ explained dad Andy Reynolds, who led Ville back in the old Southern and Hampshire League days.

‘Archie’s been the leading spin bowler over the past seasons which, coupled with his role now opening the batting, means he’s in the thick of the action from start to finish.’

Although influential all-rounder Max Goddard has gone to Portsmouth & Southsea, Waterlooville have been boosted by the return of Tim Jackson and Portsmouth Grammar School spinner Jack Pearce, the nephew of Bognor Regis Town FC legend of the same name.

Jon Hudson and Alex Shephard will provide plenty of experience, while South African Chris Taylor, a batsman/wicketkeeper, is due to arrive from Johannesburg this weekend and be available for the final set of friendlies over the weekend of April 24/25.

Ville’s first friendly is at Sussex Premier League club Middleton on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Havant host Portsmouth University and Gosport Borough welcome Southampton University. Portsmouth host Liphook & Ripsley on Sunday.