|
Junior League Secretary's Report
In my report in the League Handbook last year, I stated that the 2001 season was probably the best for youth cricket
for many a year. Unfortunately 2002 saw nearly a complete turn around in matters concerning the young cricketers of the Northern League.
The main cause for concern was the sad demise of our under 17 competition.
Due to the way the Northern League stretches from Kendal in the North and Darwen in the South, it has never been easy to maintain a credible league competition, and over recent seasons a few clubs have decided not to compete .
In an attempt to maintain meaningful youth competition, the clubs agreed to take part in a knock out competition and in turn the draw was made.Unfortunately , to my knowledge, the only game completed in the cup was between Leyland Motors and Preston, all other matches did not take place due to one reason or another.
It is obvious : therefore, that the clubs no longer require a competition at Junior level as it would seem that there are sufficient leagues up and down the county, such as the Palace Shield, to satisfy the needs of the majority.
Inter-League action again took the form of the Manchester Evening News Knock Out, The Royasl Sun Alliance North-West Colts Trophy at Under 18 level and the Michael Roache Trophy along with the North West Counties competition at Under 15.
On the 9th June we were drawn away against the North Lancashire League, a match that was blighted by bad weather. A bowl out at the wickets was decreed and we progressed to the semi-final against the Saddleworth League in what is always a somewhat unsatisfactory manner of going through.
The following week saw us journey to Astley and Tyldesley Cricket Club to play the Bolton Association in the first "round robin" games in the North West Colts Trophy, and that rainy weather was still around.
In a shortened game the home team came out on top after a fairly even struggle.
The Northern League side was somewhat depleted with seven players making their debut. Ex England under 15 captain, Jack Kelliher (St Annes) played a steady knock of 33 before being run out and a typically aggressive innings of 43 not out from Ben Simm (Lancaster) saw us accumulate a rather diappointing final score of 162 for 6 at tea.
The Association woul have had problems but for an excellent 62 by Hornby with the ever dependable Zac Taylor (Fleetwood) taking 3 for 37 in his 9 overs and all round performances from Ben Simm (9-4-23 2) and Jack Kelliher (8.4-3-14-2) nearly seeing us home.
A reduced target of 151 was reached with the loss of eigth wickets but I couldn't help thinking that victory would have been ours if only the opposition had batted the full 50 overs.
Game Three was again a great dissapointment due to the weather .
Darwen Cricket Club was the venue and the opposition our friends from the Saddleworth League in the second game in the North West Colts Trophy.
Batting first the visitors struggled to establish their innings because of tight bowling from Steven Croft (Blackpool) 2 for 21, Jack Kelliher 2 for 26, Zac Taylor and Chris Glover.
Unfortunately with the score on 85 for 6 wickets the rains came and that was that for the day.
A fortnight later, the venues were reversed and we were entertained at Saddleworth Cricket Club in the semi-final of the Manchester Evening News Comprtition.
The home team battered first and opening bat Adam Lavin from Micklehurst Cricket Club started with a sparkling innings of 72.Unfortunately for the Saddleworth League only 4 of the remaining 10 batsmen managed to accumulate double figures and a total of 163 was reached with still 6 overs of their allotted overs unused.
Once again Zac Taylor excelled with the excellent figures 4 for 35 for his 10 overs. Stuart Grant (Darwen) and Martin Baines (Leyland Motors) with 28 runs apiece put on an opening partnership of 59 and a 54 not out from Captain of the Day Jack Kelliher and 38 not out by Craig Heywood (Lancaster) saw us into the final with 17 overs to spare.
The Final versus the Lancashire County League at Roe Green was yet again spoit by the weather; in fact, after we reached 63 for 6 on a rain affected wicket ( Jack Kelliher 36) the game was clled off and rearranged for the 15th September on the same ground.
To be honest the ground was not really fit for cricket but due to it being so late in the season, a fall back date was not possible to arrange so the game was on.
Batting first the County League struggled to 157 for 8 with Stephen Croft having the highly impressive figures 10-2-14-4,and Chris Glover taking 2 for 19 from his 10 overs.
Our batting order was probably one of the strongest for many seasons with three England players in our midst, but cricket is a funny old game.After 42 overs the score was 126 for 2 and victory appeared to be ours, but we grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory, being bowled out for 141 in the 48th over.
Daniel Hagen (Lancaster) played an anchor role while compiling a paient 50 but support was in short supply.All that was left for us to do was to congratulate Rod Buckley and his Lanchire County League side for achieving victory in both The Manchester Evening News and North West Colts Trophy, the first time this jas happened fromthe beginning of these two prestigious competitions.
One disappointing aspect of the season was that in late July a fixture, away to the Cheshire Cricket League, had to be cancelled due to calls upon young players by their clubs.It was the height of the holiday season and clubs were finding that they lacked numbers to play in the domestic cup competition.As it turned out, we could not progress any further in the North West Colts Trophy so a result was not all that important.
However, the cancellingof a match did not go down well with the Cheshire County League and most certainly the competition management were none to pleased.
We must ensure that this does not occur again.
Congratulations are due to three young members of the Northern League who have been selected to become members of the newly formed Lancashire County Cricket Academy.
Stephen Croft of Blackpool Cricket Club, Tom Smith of Chorley Cricket Club and Jack Kelliher of St Annes Cricket Club and I am sure, all are destained to enjoy a great future in the game.
I will close by thanking all those who worked hard through the season for the good of junior cricket throughout the league.
Worthy of special mention are Roger Harrision and David Reddy plus of course Darwen Cricket Club for hosting one the round robin games and especially the final of the North West Colts Trophy ,.
Praise from the competition committee was high indeed,and quite rightly so.
Clive Henderson
Northern League U/15 Inter-League Report 2002
In the Michael Roche Trophy we defeated the Bolton League 1-0 in a bowl out at Stanley Park before losing in the semi-final to the Palace Shield.
After the first game had been rained off half way through we again played at Stanley Park losing narrowly by 2 wickets.
We only managed to make 117 all out with 36 from Kevin Brown (Darwen) and 20 from James Atherton (St Annes).
We made our opponents struggle but they reached the target despite 3 for 21 from Tom Blundell (Fleetwood) and 3 for 31 by Yasim Patel (Preston)
In the North West Inter-League Competition we also reached the semi-final.
In the quarter-final we played the Southport League at Stanley Park.
Batting first we reached 136 for 9 off 45 overs with Lewis Edge (Morecambe) 53 and Chris Stanhope (Fleetwood) 34.
Southport had a good start with their opener hitting a half century but Michael Baer (St Annes) 3-15 and James Catterall (Chorley) 4-28 dismissed them for 114.
In the semi-final we played the strong Liverpool Competition at Stanley Park.
Our Opponents made 204 all out with Chris Taylor taking 3-14 and Tom Blundell (Fleetwood) 3-26.
We only managed 122 despite 40 from Chris Stanhope (Fleetwood) and 23 from Stephen Metcalf (Blackpool)
|
