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Junior League Secretary's Report for Season 2003
In what was probably the finest summer since the scorcher of 1976, the 2003 season Under 18 inter league programme hardly got off the ground due to waterlogged pitches. On the 25th May we travelled to Bamford Fieldhouses Cricket Club to play the Saddleworth League in the opening match in the Under 18 North West Colts Competition.
On arriving there, we were told the ground was unfit for play and had been for several days. We weren't too pleased, of course, and we felt even more bemused when the Saddleworth team turned up. No-one had bothered to tell them either.
Round one of the Manchester Evening News knock out was equally blighted.
We entertained the Bolton League at Stanley Park and did it rain.
Like round one in the competition in 2002, a bowl out was agreed, but unlike last year's result, we were eliminated.
The score was 3 hits each team, but as the Bolton players hit the wickets first, they were deemed the victors.
No comment, other than this rule could do with a little adjustment.
On the 29th June, however, the competition eventually got under way.
The weather was magnificent, along with everything else at Hawk Green Cricket Club, Marple.
Fielding a very young team, we took the field against the Derbyshire and Cheshire League, after losing the toss.
Our medium pace attack held the upper hand from the first over, and with great support in the field, Michael Grant (Darwen) (3 for 20), Tom Blundell (Fleetwood) (2 for 11) and Andrew Makinson (Leyland Motors) (2 for 16) saw the opposition off for 72 in 22 of their 50 overs.
An excellent partnership of 66 from Captain for the day, Martin Baines (Leyland Motors) with 37 not out and Yasin Patel, (Preston) with 32, including seven fours, saw us home by 9 wickets.
The next match took place, again at Blackpool, on Friday the 1st August, against the double champions of 2002, the Lancashire County League.
The game was held on a Friday for the simple fact it was not possible to find a ground free on a Sunday.
This was down to there being league cup, Lancashire Cup and National knock out on most Sunday's during the summer and this problem will be increased in 2004 when the Manchester Evening News becomes a round robin competition.
If we are successful and we progress to the finals of the two competitions, we would have to play in 10 or 11 games, at least half of them being at home. I have spoken to Rod Buckley, the coach/manager of the Lancashire County League and he informs me that their league may have to withdraw from one of the competitions due to lack of venues, exams, club calls on players etc.
What a great shame that would be.
However, back to the match versus Rod's team. Batting first against an attack that boasted four County representatives, including Danny Jones, the Lancashire Under 19 skipper, we only managed to accumulate 117 all out.But for a run a minute 57 by Stephen Croft (Blackpool) and a spirited 19 from Michael Grant our total would have been even more woeful.
However, all was not lost and the Northern League bowlers decided that the batsmen of Lancashire County would have to work very hard for runs.
It is a demonstration of how tight the bowling was when you note that 20 of the 48 overs bowled were maidens.
Stephen Croft's all round performance (one of so many for club, league and county in 2003) was enhanced by a return 3 for 20.Craig Barrington's (Kendal) captain's performance in the field was an example to all his team (4 for 29) and 3 for 15 by young Michael Baer (St. Annes) showed that the Blackpool pitch was not just a pace bowler's track.
Ex. Blackpool player, Billal Mustapha, batting number 10 for the Lancashire County side, looked like spoiling our day out with an exciting innings of 43, but Craig Barrington knocked back his middle pole thus ensuring progress by the Northern League into the semi finals.
Sunday the 17th August was the date and Chorley Cricket Club the venue for the semi final against our old adversaries the Cheshire County League.
Losing the toss, Craig Barrington was invited to take first knock and personally, after looking at the pitch and knowing our batting strength, I thought that was not a good decision.
Wrong!
Six of our players reached double figure but failed to carry on and after 50 overs the meagre total of 147 for 9 was accrued. (Oh, how Stephen Croft was missed).
Billy Smith on his home ground, along with opening bowling partner Michael Grant had the opposition struggling on 6 for 2 after 5 overs and things looked bright, but only for a while.
The Cheshire boys lost only one more wicket in overhauling our total.
It was a pity our cricket did not match the splendid hospitality provided by Chorley Cricket Club.
If it had, we would have won by 10 wickets.
It is worth recording that the Lancashire County League overcame the Cheshire County League in the final at Cheetham Hill Cricket Club at the end of August, thus retaining the Royal and Sun Alliance Trophy.
I look forward to an even busier inter league season in 2004.
On assessing the pool of young players eligible it appears that we are somewhat short of players aged 17 and 18, so it would seem that our squad will be on the young side.
However, if the performance of the young team that took on the Derbyshire and Cheshire league at Marple is anything to go by,we should have no worries.
Congratulations are due to several young players from our league. Four players were selected for the successful L.C.B Under 21 squad, namely Stephen Croft, Danny Hagen (Lancaster), Andy Mercer (Darwen) and Tom Smith.
I feel I must give a special mention to Stephen Croft who had an extraordinary season at both Club and County level.
His club record is recorded earlier in this handbook, in the averages but his performances for the L.C.B., Under 19 Federation team were also exceptional.
He topped the batting averages in both the one day and two day games and also featured highly with the ball.
In his eight innings he scored 530 runs at an average of 87.33 and in recognition of this was awarded the much coveted L.C.B. Under 19 Appleyard Trophy.
Also, after being a member of the Lancashire County Cricket Academy, he has deservedly been awarded a cricket scholarship by the County.
We all wish him well for, what I am sure, will be a great future in the game.
On closing I must thank all those who did so much to promote youth cricket in the Northern Premier League.
Worthy of special mention are Roger Harrison and David Reddy plus of course Blackpool and Chorley Cricket Clubs for hosting the inter league games throughout the season.
The Umpires and Scores must not be forgotten.Without them we would not have a game.
Clive Henderson
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