Ormskirk U15 - Report by Team Manager Simon Berry
The season for the u15s reached a climax with the team reaching the Final of the Merseyside Youth Cup on Sunday 13th. The team went to Widnes to play Rainhill cc with no illusion of the task ahead having been soundly beaten by Rainhill in the very first game of the season. With weather set fair and a good pitch we won the toss electing to bat first. Reaching 42-1 Gavin Griffiths and Dan Bailie got Ormskirk off to a good start. However, with the ball in the hands of Rainhill’s Lancs bowler, Ormskirk suffered a spectacular collapse finishing 60 all out.
Tim Jones salvaged two wickets before the inevitable defeat. We subsequently found that Rainhill won the Lancashire KO cup this year and it is no disgrace to get rolled over by an all round excellent team. It should be recognised that Ormskirk won all their other games in the Echo Cup, destroying Widnes in the semi at Brook Lane - a game in which Aaron Cheung scored an excellent and well built 94.
The season for the u15 was, in fact, very successful. The team finished runners up in the Southport and District league and only just failed to reach the semis of the Southport league cup being narrowly beaten by S & B despite playing a predominantly U13 team because the S & B manager refused to rearrange the fixture to prevent the clash with Ormskirk school Year 10 end of year ball.
A number of the u15 team are now making significant contributions in the 2nds, 3rds and Development Team and this illustrates that there is quality in the juniors. In addition those u13’s that have played in the u15’s team have shown that next year’s u15 will again be a strong outfit.
U15 squad:
Dan Bailie, Alex Berry, Tim Brocken, Aaron Cheung, Michael Dixon, Jonathan Dunn, Joshua Gorton, Gavin Griffiths, Robert Jones, Tim Jones, Andy Monks, Tom Peterson, Suhas G, Tom Travis, Luke Woodland, Matthew Wynne.
U13 playing in the Echo Cup:
James Dickenson, Owen Griffiths, Danny Lee, George Perry, Jack Temple.
A big thank you to all the parents who supported the team in many ways and in particular with help in transport, without this support the team could not work at all.
I have strived to have fair selection over the season – aiming to balance opportunity and ability with commitment to cricket and training. There has also been a bias towards opportunity for the older members of the team – those now in Year 10 will have another shot at it in the 2010 season. Selection is not an easy task and I ask forgiveness if I have not delivered to everyone’s expectations. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with a super group of lads, they have all been a credit to Ormskirk cc and I wish each one the best for next season wherever they play their cricket.
West Lancs District Side
Three Ormskirk u15 players represented West Lancashire District in the final of the u15 Lancashire Cricket Partnership at Vernon Carus CC on Thursday 27th Aug.
West Lancashire won the cup and pictured are Gavin Griffiths, Aaron Cheung and Alex Berry. Pendle District limited West Lancs to 163 all out with Aaron Cheung having a good knock to raise the end total. However, Gavin’s five wickets destroyed the Pendle upper order including two wickets in the first over. Alex Berry provided good support bowling taking two of the other wickets before Pendle were all out for 63.
The cup was presented by LCB Director Andy Hayhurst.
Also at the same venue was the u11 final and West Lancs were also in this game. But batting first and posting 72 all out they did not score enough runs finally losing by 4 wickets.
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