WCL Under 10's make winning start

26th April 2010

A year ago we didn’t have an U10 side representing the Wetherby Cricket League, but hard work throughout the 2009 season and over winter preparation by the likes of Jan Griffin, Tom Kilby and Simon Dobson meant that has all changed. On Sunday 25th April Luke Kilby (Capt –TABS) proudly lead out our U10 team to face the Heavy Woollen Junior Cricket League team at Hunslet Nelson CC. With players from South Milford, TABS, Collingham, Walton, Spofforth and Barwick this was a truly representative side.

With menacing clouds gathering on the horizon the Wetherby League team took to the field, having won the toss, and immediately showed their intent when Jack Francis (Collingham) opened with a maiden. When Michael Jarvis (South Milford) went one better and recorded a wicket maiden for the second over the boys’ confidence increased and there was an almost visible relaxation of the pre-match tension many of the youngsters had been suffering from.

Unfortunately, the wicket did not herald the collapse we were all hoping for, but it certainly made the HWJCL more defensive. Fine bowling from Jack (4-1-8-0) and Michael (3-0-2-1) followed by Toby Giddings of Spofforth (5-2-6-1) Will Brockbank of Collingham (3-2-1-0) and Henry Blythe of Barwick (2-1-3-0) saw Wetherby through to drinks with the HWJCL with plenty of wickets in hand but very few runs on the board. At this point, Will Atherton (TABS) took over from Sammy Clews (Walton) behind the stumps. “Drinks wickets” followed and signaled a ‘purple patch’ for the Wetherby League squad in the field, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. Toby got a well deserved wicket when Mason Gleghorn skied one to Michael Jarvis. We had already seen one catching opportunity go to ground, so it is to Michael’s credit that he kept his nerve and his eyes on the swirling ball to take a solid catch. Harry Contreras (TABS), at mid-on, took his catching chance when Euan Wilson-Baig failed to keep his drive on the ground and Will Atherton was solid behind the stumps, taking the only catching opportunity to come his way.

Drizzle turned to heavy rain accompanied by a chilling wind, so the boys came off for an early tea with HWJCL on 37 with 7 0f the 30 overs remaining. Loosing no focus, Joseph Dobson of Walton (2-0-5-1), Jack Murray of Barwick (3-1-7-1) and Will Stanley (2-1-2-1) all chipped in with a wicket and Luke Kilby showed a great deal of control and was unlucky not to be among the wicket takers when he failed to hang on to low chance off his own bowling. None the less, figures of 4-2-8-0 for our young spinner were impressive. Harry Contreras was our only double wicket taker providing the ball that enabled Will behind the stumps to take his catch and making no mistake when Kieran Sanderson knocked the ball straight back to him – making him the only one of our players to take two catches as well.

Line and length was what Tom Kilby (team manager) had asked for and that was exactly what he got, with few extras conceded and Will Brockbank, Joseph Dobson, Henry Blythe and Jack Murray all getting through their allotted overs without a wide or no-ball. With the exception of a couple of missed catching opportunities, our work in the field was impressive with boys backing up automatically and supporting each other well. This hard work kept HWJCL subdued as did the regular fall of wickets. After 30 overs we had restricted the opposition to 55 for 9; a modest total but never easy on a now damp pitch and wet outfield.

Harry Contreras and Will Brockbank opened fluently with seven by the end of the first over. However, HWJCL regained some composure with a change of bowling and a much tighter line and length made scoring more difficult. The difference between the two teams was the willingness of our boys to run between the wickets at every opportunity, without taking any undue risk. The outfield was a little slower after the downpour and runs were hard to come by but our boys plugged away and the score steadily climbed towards the target. Harry was out to a fine stumping by Jake McCaffrey – a very well thought of young keeper – on 12 and was replaced by Jack Murray. Will Brockbank retired on 5 to make way for Luke Kilby. Jack defended his wicket solidly until he was bowled by a fearsome in-swinger for 2. Meanwhile, Luke was defending when necessary and playing shots whenever the opportunity arose not to mention keeping the field under constant pressure by looking to put fielders under pressure.

Henry followed Jack to the middle and was soon following him back to the pavilion – having failed to trouble the scorer. Sam Clews came in to accompany Luke on a hat-trick ball and managed to curb his natural desire to see every ball in the next field and played one or two excellent defensive shots, before Luke retired on 12. This brought Toby Giddings out to join Sammy. Both boys batted conservatively, though Sammy was obviously struggling to keep his natural tendencies at bay and we did see the odd glimpse of Slogger-Sam hammering a short ball to the mid wicket boundary! Under the threat of retirement at the end of the over, Sammy was out stumped to an Ed Watts delivery as he sought to bring the game to a swift end.

Will Atherton was short-lived visitor to the middle and when Michael Jarvis also failed to register a score we were slightly nervous at 48 for 7 but with plenty of time in hand and Will and Luke to return to the middle if required. In the event, Jack Francis and Will Stanley guided us safely home after 24.5 overs – Jack rounding the innings off with a sweetly timed 4 wide of square leg to end the match with the Wetherby League on 57 for 7. By now, the grey skies had cleared and we could celebrate our success under blue skies – basking in the sunshine and a rosy glow of pride!

Well done to the U10’s, our first representative side in action this season. It is now up to the older squads to keep the flag flying!

Andrew Clews

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