Instonians fall short after season of frustration and uncertainty

Instonians entered 2026 hoping to build on the success of the previous summer, but a campaign marked by internal struggles and inconsistency ultimately left them with more questions than answers.

There was still plenty of quality on show. A third-place league finish and another Challenge Cup final represented a respectable return, but for a club that had set such high standards in 2025, the season never quite developed into the sustained trophy challenge many had expected.

Their greatest strength was again the extraordinary output of overseas professional Shane Dadswell.

The South African was comfortably Instonians’ leading run-scorer, amassing 1,171 runs at an average of 55.76 and an astonishing strike rate of 161.74. His season included two centuries, nine fifties and a highest score of 183, while his 102 sixes illustrated the destructive power he brought to the Shaws Bridge batting order.

Dadswell also claimed 32 wickets at 23.94, reinforcing just how heavily Instonians depended on his all-round contribution.

That inevitably makes the uncertainty over whether he will return next season a major concern. Should Dadswell move on, Instonians would be left trying to fill a huge hole in both departments.

There were excellent contributions around him. Sully Gould enjoyed a superb campaign with 817 runs at 43.00 and a remarkable strike rate of 183.60, while Cade Carmichael still accumulated 715 runs at 47.67.

Those numbers would represent a fine season for most, although Carmichael never quite reached the exceptional heights of his 2025 campaign.

Andrew White remained a model of consistency, scoring 643 runs at 37.82 and taking 35 wickets at just 18.63. Cian Robertson was the leading bowler with 37 wickets at 19.57, including best figures of five for eight, while Dadswell completed a formidable leading trio.

One significant absentee for much of the summer was Matthew Humphreys. Injury and international commitments restricted the Ireland spinner to just seven appearances, denying Instonians a player who could have made a substantial difference across the campaign.

The Challenge Cup final defeat was another source of frustration, while third place in the league represented a step backwards after their previous success.

There was enough talent to remain competitive, but Instonians never quite found the stability or momentum needed to dominate. The winter now assumes added importance. Retaining Dadswell would immediately strengthen their prospects, but if he departs, replacing more than 1,100 runs and 30 wickets will be an enormous task.

For a side accustomed to challenging for silverware, 2026 felt less like failure than an opportunity missed.

INSTONIANS BATTING

INSTONIANS BOWLING