THERE was a double celebration in Winchester recently as The Peter Cooper Motor Group celebrated a successful five year partnership with St Cross Symondians on the back of the cricket club’s league title winning season.

St Cross Symondians won the Southern Premier League for the first time in its history.

Young batsman Harry Came, 19, was rewarded with a professional contract with Hampshire Cricket Club next year. He joins Billy Mead, also from St Cross, in South Africa this winter as the pair play for a local club in the off season.

The young team called upon the services of Jimmy Adams, ex captain of Hampshire, who played a couple of matches during the season.

Darren Cooper, group managing director of the Peter Cooper Motor Group, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement. We are proud sponsors of St Cross and what they’ve achieved this year is a result of all the hard work they have put in.”

Tom Foyle, captain of St Cross, said: “The Peter Cooper Motor Group have been an important part of the set up here at the club for the last few years and we rely heavily on the commitment of local businesses.”