The accolades were dished out as the Huntingdonshire Cricket Board held their annual dinner.

Royston Crow: Luke Ashwell of Eaton Socon receives the Best Newcomer (South) award from David Steele at the Hunts Cricket Board annual dinner.Luke Ashwell of Eaton Socon receives the Best Newcomer (South) award from David Steele at the Hunts Cricket Board annual dinner. (Image: Archant)

Legendary former England batsman David Steele was guest speaker for the bash, which attracted a turnout of 150 people, at Wood Green last Friday night.

And he was on hand to present a host of awards to the cream of local cricket – from both on and off the pitch.

Six individuals - Eaton Socon junior chief Rob Ashwell, Hunts League secretary Paul Garrett, umpiring and scoring official John Wright, young Little Paxton volunteer Troy Beavis, Hemingford Park chairman Tim Chambers and Peterborough Town chairman Brian Howard - and one club (Peterborough outfit Orton Park) were honoured through the NatWest OSCA’s, which recognise the work of unsung heroes in the sport.

Patrick Harrington, of Market Deeping CC, completed a notable double when being named youth and senior player of the year.

He was also one of five players to be awarded their county caps based on performances during 2016 – Tom Banks, Conor Craig, Connor Parnell and Kaushicaa Vasseharan were the others.

Talented Eaton Socon youngster Luke Ashwell scooped the Best Newcomer (South) gong for 2016 while clubmate Emily Banks received the Most Promising Player (South) prize.

Sri Sivaraman (Peterborough Town) won the newcomer award in the north of the county while Vasseharan was named most promising player in that area.

The Gary Whitbread Memorial Trophy for Lifetime Playing Achievement went to Francis Brand of Warboys.

And the new David Holmes Lifetime Achievement accolade went to former Huntingdonshire Cricket Board chairman Claude Banks.

Now in his nineties, Banks played at Kimbolton School from 1937 making his senior debut at Kimbolton in 1953.

And the other presentation saw the Hunts Under 15 Girls team receive their medals and trophies for winning the ECB Development Group League Division Two title last summer.