CHURCH Stretton CC skipper Peter Lee has a ‘degree’ of concern about next season – because half of his First XI is off to university.

Lee’s men sealed their Shropshire League Division Three status with a comfortable victory over Overton on Dee at the weekend, banishing any slim fears of a relegation battle.

They sit eighth with three games remaining but are only 28 points behind fourth-placed Iscoyd and Fenns Bank – whom Stretton host this Saturday – in a very tight mid-table.

But Lee is already concerning himself with the task of replacing the likes of Gabriel Williams, Charlie Reece, Ben Crump and Rowan Dunbabin, who will miss much of next season due to their studies.

The captain said: “Next season we could be down to the bare bones a little bit because we are losing a few lads who have been playing regularly, to university.

“I’m a captain that gives young players an opportunity and now, just as these lads are coming to fruition and developing into better players, they are clearing off!

“But we are not the only team facing that problem. We will be rallying some of the old guys out of retirement to play a few games to get us through the next 12 months.”

Captain Lee led from the front on Saturday, hitting eight boundaries on his way to 46 to help Stretton post 172-9 from their 40 overs.

Williams (32) and Dunbabin (28) provided chief support before second-bottom Overton were skittled for 104 in reply as Stretton recorded a 68-run win.

Keith Yapp (4-33) topped the bowling figures for Stretton, while Dunbabin (3-11) and Huw Bevan (2-5) also contributed.

Lee added: “It was a decent performance and we have three tough games to finish with, so it was important for us to get that win on Saturday.”

And with survival all but mathematically assured, Lee declared himself pleased with the campaign as a whole.

He said: “I’m very happy with the season overall. We have had a good, successful season in a league that has a lot of good teams.

“We have won a lot of games and we have also been competitive in most games – it has only been against the top two or three teams that we have been outplayed.

“A lot depends on availability. Some weeks we have a strong team, some weeks a weaker one and unfortunately when we have played the top teams, we’ve had a weaker side to take them on.”