CAPTAIN Martyn Davies admitted it had been a difficult time at Droitwich Cricket Club since the tragic loss of promising player Jack Stephens.
But he said he hoped the 23-year-old’s death would not overshadow their season and urged his players to try and focus on beating Pedmore tomorrow (Saturday.)
Stephens was on his way to Edgbaston to watch a one day international between England and New Zealand on Tuesday, June 9, when he lost consciousness and never came back around.
Davies, who played with Stephens for a number of years, said his sudden death had hit the club hard as he had played an active role at St Peter’s Field and was named young player of the year in 2008.
“It has shocked everyone,” Davies said. “He had a lot friends at the club and I personally played with him all the way through the age groups. I also captained him and played in the same senior sides as him, so it is a sad loss.
“We will show our respects to his family, but we need to make sure it does not create a greater emphasis on our games than we already do.”
Davies said it was now important his players put all their efforts into coming through what he described as their ‘toughest spell of the season’.
Their next opponents, Pedmore, currently sit at the foot of Division One of the Worcestershire County League, but Davies believes his third placed side will need to be at their best to come out on top.
“We have got tough period of games now,” he said. “We have got Pedmore this weekend, which will be a really tough challenge and then Hagley the week after.
“Pedmore have got one over us for the last couple of years and I know they are a very good side, so I don’t think their league position reflects how good they are.
“We are under no illusion of what qualities they have and Hagley are also a very good side.
“We fancy our chances in both, but we are not going to take anything for granted, so we have got to be on top of our game.”
