u13 Reports 2008

23rd July - Home against St Georges B 

Lilleshall lost this, the last match of the season, despite one of their best performances in the field this season.

St Georges were, in mid week, struggling to get a side for the match but were fortunate have their A team without a fixture and so drafted in a few of them to make up the numbers.

The difference showed and Lilleshall found it difficult to get runs on the board due to some very quick and accurate bowling by the away team. Nevertheless they scored 43 off the bat and received 37 from extras and this with the loss of eight wickets posted a total of 40 for the away team to get.

Lilleshall bowled well and only conceded 3 wides throughout the entire innings (which may be a record in this league) as well as taking 8 wickets and were sharp in the field with no over-throws and just a couple of missed catches close to the wickets and a couple more in the deep. Some catches did stick and particular note was made of a one-handed catch by wicket keeper Scott Ridgway, low to his right and a great catch in the deep by Isaac Pollard.  Despite this St Georges scored 103 runs off the first 12 overs with Bradley scoring 41 runs of just 11 deliveries, an overall total 143 off the bat.

Lilleshall deserve much praise for a really good performance against a side that they beat in the first match of the season. They defended their wickets well with 6 of the 10 not out and scored when they got the opportunity rarely, if at all, missing the opportunity of a quick single.

Difficult as it is to choose anyone who should get a special mention I think Mark Richards does deserve this as his commitment if the field was 100% saving a number of what looked like certain boundaries and then took 3 wickets from his 2 overs for just 10 runs.

Finally this will be the last league match for a number of the U13’s who now move onto pastures new in the U15’s. Both myself and Mark would like to make a very special mention of Peter Coombs who captained the side throughout the season. He has been an example to every team member both in matches and in practice. His attitude throughout has been exemplary and his support and polite encouragement of his team members an example to everyone. Thank you to Peter and all of the other movers-on and best of luck for next season.

9th July – Away against Forton

Match cancelled due to bad weather

25th June - Away against Cound

In a re-run of the previous week the u13s once again faced Cound.  Lilleshall only had nine players and so the opposition kindly offered to let one of their players field for us – more on that later.

The match was a really close game with what can only be described as a thrilling end that saw Cound five runs in front coming into the final over.  Cound then lost a wicket to bring the scores level, only to take two runs off the last but one ball to claim victory; a great climax to a good game.

Again the Lilleshall lads again scored heavily, posting a total of 322 but, for the second week on the trot, losing wickets - 10 in all – which cost them 50 runs.  Cound also batted well scoring 314 but with two wickets less, their net total was two runs better.

For the second week running James Hudson top scored with an impressive 24 off just 12 balls and he was closely followed by Scott Ridgeway whose 16 off 14 balls was a well crafted innings.  Again we bowled tightly and extremely accurately with only three wides in the entire innings.

Unfortunately, the Cound player who fielded for Lilleshall failed to hold on to a fairly straightforward catch at extra cover; just one of those things that conspired against Lilleshall on the night.  Congratulations to Cound for keeping the wickets down to a minimum and to Lilleshall on yet another free scoring batting and tight bowling display.

18th June - Home against Cound

Cound won by three wickets – match report to follow

11th June - Home against Albrighton

This match was not played due to weather

4th June – Away against Forton

On a large pitch at Forton the u13’s played a solid game that the home side were unable to match.

Lilleshall batted first with Cameron Seabury again taking strike and rookie Isaac Pollard at the other end.  Both put in sound performances against good bowling and a ball that moved unpredictably and they were followed by James Hudson and Kyle Mowbray who were equally stoic in defence.  In fact, it wasn’t until the 10th over with 236 on the board that Lilleshall lost the first of only two wickets to fall; finishing with eight players not out.  Lilleshall posted a good target, given the conditions, of 280 for 2 (270 net).

Forton were immediately on to the back foot when they lost their first wicket to the third ball with the score still at zero. Lilleshall opening bowlers, Coombs and Gant, used the conditions well and were well supported by fielding of a high standard that had the home side three wickets down in two overs and, at the first change, in trouble at 3 for 2.  Bowlers and fielders continued to be on top with good bowling performances from James Hudson (4O,0M,2W,9R), Cameron Seabury (2O,0M,1W,5R), Ziyad Azam (2O,1M,1W,2R), Peter Coombs (4O,2M,2W,3R)and James Gant (3O,0M,2W,5R) and good fielding throughout with yet another take for wicket keeper Scott Ridgeway.

21st May – Home against Wolverhampton

Lilleshall U13’s were a good match for the visitors and produced some excellent cricket. The teams looked very even, save for the last Wolverhampton pair who hit 37 runs off the last 2 overs which included 23 off the penultimate 6 balls. (all off the bat)

There were some notable bowling efforts from the Lilleshall bowlers, heading the list was James Gant who returned excellent figures of 3 overs, 3 maidens, 2 wickets for no runs. Ziyad Azam also bowled well keeping both line and length as did Tom Lowe and Peter Coombs.

Wolverhampton posted a large target of 319 and, whilst Lilleshall were always a match for the opposition in batting terms, the loss of six wickets meant that they were always likely to struggle.

Lilleshall batters put up a good fight with captain Peter Coombs top scoring with 16 and every batsman contributing to the total. Worth a special note was the last wicket partnership of Ziyad Azam and Charlie Hayes who scored a clever 22 off the last 4 overs, 16 of which were singles.

Wolverhampton eventually ran out winners by 37 runs.

Postscript: “Excellent, well done to all. Wolves are always tough to beat but no disgrace in losing as they (the LCC u13s) obviously put up a good fight.”

Colin Wetherley-Mein (Chairman)

14th May – Away against St Georges B

Lilleshall’s U13’s cruised to an easy away win over an in-form St Georges side.

A previously undefeated St Georges u13b team struggled to match Lilleshall in any department and, needing more than 50 runs off the last three overs, were never in with a real shout despite some good tail-end effort.

Lilleshall skipper, Peter Coombs, won the toss and elected to bat first on a well prepared, rock hard pitch.  The opening pair of Azam and Gant struggled to find their form of last week but kept us at an even point for the entry of the gruesome-twosome; Coombes and Ridgway.  The latter gave a couple of early chances before finding the middle of his bat and in combination with Coombs, who hit the second ball he received for a 6 over long-off, gave Lilleshall a real platform.  Their effort was well supported throughout the remaining batting allowing them to finish on a seasons highest total of 313 for 7.

The 278 net total always looked a big ask and this looked even bigger when the St Georges openers returned to the Pavilion in a negative position thanks to some aggressive bowling by Coombs and Gant.

Lilleshall showed themselves to be a real compact unit in the field with everyone contributing, including a diving catch behind the stumps by Scott Ridgway, a first catch by Rookie, Callum Edwards in the covers, a two wicket haul for substitute Lewis Horobin, a tight spell of quality bowling without wides or no-balls from Ziyad Azam and a great first wicket of the season for Tom Lowe (who also hit a straight four when batting). Everyone played their part.

Lilleshall also showed a real understanding of tactics and were deservedly all round winners.

7th May – Away against Madeley

The Under 13’s held onto their advantage although it was a close finish.   Skipper, Peter Coombs, lost the toss and was asked to bat. In good light and on a reasonable wicket Lilleshall had put on 26 runs in the first two overs thanks to some quality batting by our openers, James Gant and Ziyad Azam and some wayward bowling from the Madeley front line. The march forward was then halted by a couple of quick wickets.

The momentum and initiative was regained when the next pair of Scott Ridgeway and Peter Coombs came in and, although Madeley pitched in with their best bowlers, Scott and Peter made runs without losing a wicket.

Then came this year’s rookies, Kyle Mowbray and Jamie Richards who kept the team in it with some creditable efforts and this was followed by Charlie Hayes and Ryan Dawes who were equally stalwart in defence.

When the final pair of James Gant (who batted twice) and James Hudson came to the crease, it was clear that we were light of about 20 runs at 260. They set about the task well and James Hudson was off the mark with drive to the long-on boundary for four and this was followed by another boundary, this time square to the off-side.

At the close of the innings Lilleshall had made a creditable 283 which, when netted down, still kept them in the healthy position of 258 and giving Peter and his team something to defend.

Madeley opened their inning cautiously against the attack of Coombs and Gant. The first over was a maiden and the second saw a lucky four off a thick outside edge. In the next over a half chance was put down before in their first wicket fell to a demon ball from the in-form Gant.   Madeley’s middle order kept the home side in touch until a spell of two overs which saw Ziyad throw down the stumps from mid on with just one peg to aim at and then a great catch by Cameron Seabury off the bowling of Hudson.

The home side kept some of their best batters to the last pair and, with 20 runs needed off the last two overs, it all seemed in the bag for the away side but the drama was just starting.  First a wicket fell, leaving 25 runs wanted, then a quick succession of lusty blows and runs left the home side still 9 runs short off the last over. Captain Coombs gave the ball to James Gant. The first ball ripped past the stumps with the batsman having no chance in the failing light, next ball saw a quick single, 8 off 4, the umpire signalled a wide, 6 of 3, a dot ball and still 6 runs wanted. The next ball was middled, a boudanry and so 2 off the last ball with the light poor and Gant at his quickest; the ball was hit but it was straight to Hudson who picked up and through in one movement, no run and a win for Lilleshall.

The team played as a unit and showed that they are starting to mature. Good bowling and batting from the senior players played their part as did the newcomers who worked hard and stuck at it.  Madeley are a good side and have been playing as a unit for a couple of years and should congratulated for their part in what was a thoroughly entertaining and well played game.

30th April – Home against Forton

This was switched to Forton due to the state of the Lilleshall outfield.  Damp and murky conditions made it tough for both sides.  Lilleshall batted first and made heavy weather of a well organised Forton side to post a score of 259 for the loss of seven wickets (net 224-7).  This always looked like a difficult target to defend and so it proved with Forton running out comfortable winners despite some tight and, at times, agressive bowling from the Lilleshall u13s with James Gant demolishing the woodwork with a beautiful delivery that completely defeated the Forton batsman.

Let’s hope for better luck at Madeley.

23rd April – Away against Shifnal B

Congratulations to the u13s who started the season with a win against Shifnal B. 

The scores were Shifnal 238 for 6 against Lilleshall’s 264 for 4 so a convincing win for Lilleshall.  Mentions must go to James Hudson for scoring the only six of the game, Dan Witty for a superb over taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries and to Jack Pierce for an excellent low catch (briefly queried by the umpire) but correctly given.  Everyone played extremely well as a team with lots of good calling, backing up and working together in the field – a hugely impressive start to the season. Well done to all concerned!

The next game is at home against Forton on April 30th.

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