Churchward hopes to make difference at Uphill Castle CC

Churchward became Uphill’s first signing of 2023 when the club announced they had brought him in February before he arrived in Weston-super-Mare two months later.

His big hitting displays have helped the Castle move top of Somerset Division One table with five consecutive wins.

It is a massive difference when Uphill suffered relegation for the first time in three years last season.

And with North Newton their opponents this afternoon, Churchward said Uphill will go into the game with the aim of maintaining their unbeaten start to the season and follow up last Saturday’s win against Wedmore with another victory.

“I’m very pleased,” he said.

“We are undefeated, scoring 360 last week. Brilliant start! Our bowling side has been getting the job done so far this year, so it was good for us batters to post a big score last week. 

“But cricket is a funny game, so we can’t take anything for granted. We’ll be looking to continue our unbeaten run this week against North Newton.”

Churchward is originally from Cairns, North Queensland in Australia. 

He played for Rovers Cricket Club as a junior and played for them all the way to a senior before leaving for Brisbane to study Maths and Science at the University of Queensland.

He is now on a year’s break from University and has family in Kent, but after the Castle had “showed some interest” he signed for the club after coming through an agency called cricket exchange program earlier this year.

Founder Glenn Coyle helped set up communications between Churchward and Uphill.

Churchward is currently staying with Chairman Mike and Sarah Holyday, parents of captain Paddy, and is working at the Ship Inn in Uphill.

Churchward said he is adjusting to the move from Australia despite the differences that both places bring.

“It’s certainly different,” he said.

“Obviously, Australia is a lot bigger and the cricket grounds, for example, are a lot bigger than over here. There certainly aren’t any trees in the way on Brisbane cricket grounds. 

“Having moved from Brisbane (and even Cairns), it’s a lot quieter over here in Weston. Which I don’t mind, I’ve found a nice routine playing cricket Saturday and midweek and working in my spare time.”

When asked what makes Uphill different to all the sides has, he has played for,” Churchward added: “It’s sense of community. Of course, in all the clubs I’ve played for there’s been a great sense of community and I’ve loved playing for them and still do. 

“But it’s more of an English thing I think, for people from the club to turn up to home games with their families and watch. I think it’s wonderful! In Australia, it’s not like that, well not to this extent. 

“To be honest, most people around the club in Australia are playing their own cricket match. So I think it’s amazing how people show up and support their club over here. It really does give you a great feel to a home game.”

Churchward has made a great start to the season, which has seen pick up his first century last time out with 160 not out against Wedmore, scoring 351 runs from Uphil’s first five games of the season.

His good run of form has coincided with Uphill opening the season with five consecutive wins, for the first time since the 2010 West of England Premier League Somerset campaign.

Uphill went on to record seven straight victories before they were beaten by Frome for their first and only defeat of the season on their way to promotion from the Championship.

This year has seen similarities to that of the league winning campaign 13 years ago and Churchward hopes he is helping Uphill have a good season. 

“I hope I’m making some sort of difference,” he added.

“It’s easy when you’ve got a quality team around you like I do. We’ve got some great combinations, and everyone works well together. 

“When you’ve got people like Jermaine Jones and Ben Castle and Paddy Holyday, quality players like that it’s easier to perform well. 

“So, hopefully I’m making the intended difference, we are undefeated so far so we must be doing something right.”