Reflections on the u13 Season (2009)
The Lilleshall u13 squad for 2009 made for an appetising prospect. The experience of Ziyad, Cameron, Scott, Mark Richards, James Gant and James Hudson blended with some new talent coming up from the u11s such as Ryan Ball, Thomas Mackriel, Talal Ahmad, Jack Painter and Matthew Hornby, to name but a few. This, together with an influx of new talent, was always going to create pressure on places with a regular squad of between 15 and 20 lads to choose from for each match.
Faced with this prospect, many clubs will simply pick their best side every week. At Lilleshall we don’t quite work that way and we guarantee that every child that wants to will represent the club at least once and in most cases many more times than that. In fact, apart from a couple of late joiners and some lads with very restricted availability, everyone did play at least once and most played a minimum of three matches. There will always be some players that are picked more often (they may be specialists such as wicket keeper or captain) or those whose natural ability, positive attitude and sustained effort and regular attendance at practice will keep them in the side most weeks. We hope you think the selection policy has been fair, we have tried to make it so and bear in mind that those in the first year of the u13 squad this season should expect to play more games next year; provided they show the necessary commitment and attend practice regularly.
Albrighton couldn’t raise a side to make a game the first week of the season so we started the season away at Cound – a lovely place to play cricket in early Summer sunshine. A game we should have won slipped away with the setting sun as our early season lack of match fitness told and we leaked away 60 runs as a result of 12 lost wickets (four of which went down in the first over). Despite restricting Cound to 247-6 (net) we limped home on 228-12 (net).
The following week, the weather gave us a taste of the season to come with cool squally conditions as Cound made the return trip to Lilleshall. Cound won the toss and promptly put us into bat, clearly fancying a repeat of their 12 wicket haul from the previous week. However, a week is a long time and a defiant Lilleshall were having none of it. After scoring 266-6, Lilleshall ripped into the Cound attack which collapsed in spectacular style with James Gant grabbing his first three wicket haul of the season as Cound batted positively to bag 249 (net), but lost 11 wickets in the process. A deserving first victory for Lilleshall.
The winning streak continued the following week at Shifnal where damp conditions and bad light were very much in evidence. Another strong batting display left Lilleshall at 275-3 (net) after 20 overs. James Gant again made headlines with his second three wicket haul. New recruit Casey Little had a fine game scoring 3 unbeaten, bagging the first wicket off his bowling (caught in the deep by Ziyad) and a run out with a direct hit from Mid Off. Shifnal were left flailing on 259-7 (net).
The weather finally defeated us the following week. We started optimistically against Forton but as the Wrekin disappeared from view, we knew the game was up and with less than three overs bowled the heavens opened and that was that. Match abandoned.
After a half term rest, we travelled to Madeley. With a sloping pitch to contend with and carrying a few injuries (Jack Painter and James Hudson both nursing a sore achilles tendon and Thomas Mackriel and Cameron Seabury out with a broken thumb and badly bruised wrist) it would be a tough game. Despite some good early batting, Lilleshall were pegged back to 244-8 (net) by a competent Madeley side that never gave up. A superb early bowling display kept Madeley at just 205-1 after 8 overs, but two batsmen for Madeley changed the game – scoring 43 between them – to win comfortably at 262-5 (net). Lilleshall conceded only 6 extras in this game – a superb example of well controlled bowling.
The following week we were defeated again by the weather, claiming a much anticipated game with St Georges. So much for the ‘Barbeque Summer’ we had been promised by the Met Office earlier in the season.
So it was local rivals Newport next, who had easily defeated our u14 side in the cup so we were keen to make amends. Rain again claimed the Wednesday but we managed to reschedule the game to Friday. In less than perfect conditions and bowling first, Cameron weighed in with his first three wicket haul and Skipper James Hudson did the same to leave Newport reeling on 233-7 (net). It was close though, Newport kept up the pressure and Lilleshall just scraped home on 244-8 thanks to an excellent innings by the u13s Skipper James Hudson scoring 20 runs unbeaten from his four overs. In the end it was catches that split the teams, Lilleshall held theirs and Newport didn’t.
Albrighton made their way to Lilleshall the following week on a glorious Summer evening and served up a batting masterclass finishing on 339-4 (net). Lilleshall needed a good start and they got one, James Gant scoring 16 not out early on and Thomas Mackriel following up with a top score of 20 not out. Lilleshall’s habit of leaking wickets continued however which pulled the score down to 249-10 (net). No disguising a heavy defeat by a competitive and talented side that had clearly been working hard on their game.
The following week saw the chance to ‘do the double’ over Shifnal at home. Hot and sultry conditions were in order as Lilleshall lost the toss and were put in to bat. James Hudson was again in sparkling form with the bat, top scoring on 25 undefeated. Despite that, the ‘Lilleshall disease’ was once again in evidence as wickets fell away leaving a target of 295-11 (net). Superb bowling from Matthew Hornby, Mark Richards and Dan Witty put a brake on the Shifnal run chase just as they were looking to accelerate and they slumped to defeat on 263-8 (net). Lilleshall’s temperament was tested in this game by some disagreeable umpiring but they showed good grace in accepting the decisions and justice was ultimately done. Good cricket played in the best of spirits – just the way we like it.
Another disappointing washout against Forton was followed by the return of Newport the week after. This offered the chance of another ‘double’ and Lilleshall played some of their best cricket of the season. Late recruits Rory Cattermull and Henry Thackray further stiffened the Lilleshall bowling and batting line up, so in beautiful conditions and on a grass strip, the game got underway with Lilleshall batting first. Newport bowled well as Lilleshall’s top order struggled with the variable bounce, Rory batted well with 10 unbeaten, followed by James Gant, top scoring on 17 not out, Mark Richards on 5 not out and Talal Ahmad contributing 12 not out. However the wicket count had been steadily rising and Lilleshall had set Newport a target of 246-8 (net) that did not seem enough to secure victory. However Charlie Walsh did early damage with a couple of wickets, matched soon after by Henry Thackray taking two in two balls. Not to be outdone, Ryan Ball landed his first three wicket haul with two in two balls (which would have been a hat trick save a dropped catch behind). Economical bowling from the rest of Lilleshall’s attack left Newport undone on 218-11 (net).
The season closed at home with the much awaited game against St Georges and the return of Lilleshall ‘old boy’ Alex Dillon, now an established member of the St Georges side. St Georges batted first in difficult windy conditions. Alex faced a rough ride from James Gant and James Hudson but defended well and played some lovely looking strokes. Cameron Seabury opened with a maiden and took two vital wickets, Isaac Pollard chipped in with one and overall St Georges finished on 274-5. Lilleshall had contributed 48 to that total in extras in a rare display of indiscipline in the field. Lilleshall started well at 222-0 after 8 overs. Then the wickets began to fall but Lilleshall kept their heads as James Gant once again top scored with 17 unbeaten, superbly supported by Tom Cox playing his first match. Lilleshall finished on 295-3 (net) to post a final victory.
So played nine, won six, lost three. A great achievement and many memorable performances. All the lads have improved as the season has gone on, Ryan Dawes, Dan Witty and Mark Richards finally settling into a comfortable bowling rhythm to bowl with a variety of pace, flight and even some spin to make the batsmen wary. Ryan Ball returning to the kind of destructive form he showed at u11 after a tough early season with the ball and Jacob Meeson-White growing in confidence with bat and ball; completely fearless in the field. James Hudson and James Gant showing a destructive capability with bat and ball with James Gant taking regular wickets in the senior third XI at weekends. Scott Ridgway developed great technique as an opening bat and has had competition behind the stumps from Ziyad and Talal, both of whom have done well as stand-ins. Ziyad and Talal have also become synonomous with quick singles, and with practice, will use that experience to good effect. Charlie Walsh and Isaac Pollard seem to have bowled with more pace with every week that has passed and both show an infectious appetite for the game. New faces, Casey Little, Tom Cox, Edward Seabury and Oliver North have also played their part, bowling and batting well under pressure and all showing great promise in the field as well. Cameron Seabury and Thomas Mackriel both lost a few weeks to cricket related injuries but came back with some great displays, both showing the ability to bat with a maturity that belies their age and experience and consolidating the bowling attack. Matthew Hornby and Jack Painter have also contributed again this year, Matt as accurate as ever with the ball and steadfast in defence of his wicket with the bat; Jack proving his worth as a bowler, gaining in confidence with the bat and excellent all round in the field. Finally, a couple of new recruits in the shape of Rory Cattermull and Henry Thackray who have slotted in to the squad really well and shown excellent form with both bat and ball.
From a coaching perspective this season has been a delight. From all the lads we have seen great attitude, great performances, one hundred per cent effort and evidence of listening and learning as we have witnessed huge improvements in their game. We wish those progressing to u15s success as they wave goodbye to ‘pairs cricket’ and we look forward to the remaing u13 squad competing hard for honours next season.
September 30, 2009
Posted in: Uncategorized
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.