Stalbridge Cricket Club News story


SCC News

25 Jun 2013

Well, the Juniors are certainly making up for the dodgy results of the Senior teams!

In the week just gone, both our Under-11 teams were victorious. The unbeaten Outlaws beat Milton Abbas by 116 runs, making 301 for 2 and restricting the opposition to 185-10. Matt Longley top-scored with 29, while Will Coleman and Will Collins took 4 and 2 wickets respectively. For a really good performance as wicket-keeper, Josh Nancarrow was Man-of-the-Match.

Meanwhile, the younger and less experienced Pirates team notched up their first win, with a tight victory over Mere. A much improved batting performance saw the Pirates make 276-2, with James Stockley top-scoring. All the bowlers responded well to defend their total, particularly Cam Woodhouse, Matt Williams, James Stockley and Joe Gartell, who together bowled the last 4 overs for just 10 runs as Mere came up short on 271-4. For his last two overs in a tight game - a maiden followed by a wicket maiden - Joe Gartell was Man-of-the-Match.

The biggest game of the week was the Under-13 Blues County Cup Semi-Final against Bournemouth - and what a game it was! Bowling first, the Blues had Bournemouth at 29-4 after 9 overs, but they rallied to post 76-5 in their 20 overs, a total that nonetheless seemed unlikely to be enough. But, at 23-3 after 7 overs the Blues were also facing an uphill battle as Bournemouth bowled very well. However a gutsy 25 from skipper George Coleman held the innings together, while Under-11 Luke McLaughlin's fine 27 put the team within a whisker of victory, until a couple of quick wickets fell and the pressure was on again. This left Will Perkins to make 4 from the last over to win the game, and he duly knocked the winning runs with 2 balls to spare! This now means that the Blues will play the County Final against Parley CC this coming Wednesday 26th June, 6pm start at Shillingstone CC.

On the same night, the U13 Reds also maintained their unbeaten league form with a victory over Kilmington. Todd Whichello (20), Ollie Legg (18), Ollie Chant (12) and Thomas Cairns (18no) steered the team to 109-5, before Kilmington were restricted to 70-7 after Ollie Legg and Todd W took 4 wickets in the first two overs.

The Under-15s also beat Kilmington in their league fixture on Thursday. Kilmington made 115, with Ben Chandler and George Coleman leading the bowling attack with fine figures of 3-18 and 2-20 respectively. The Stalbridge lads then secured victory in 18 overs, led by an excellent 51 not out from Man-of-the Match Lewis Channing.

The Under-9s didn't have a game this weekend gone, though the U13 Blues did play a friendly match against Fulham Prep School, winning by 6 wickets. Key performers were Jamie Anderson-Deas (4 for 15), Zac Caunt (3 for 4), Luke McLaughlin (40) and Max Nettley (24no).
 
Across the age-groups last week, Stars-of-the-Week were awarded to:

Under-7s - Dom Coleman & Myles Wall
Under-9s - Toby Jeanes
Under-11s - Josh Nancarrow & Joe Gartell
Under-13s - The whole Blues team! & Thoams Cairns
Under-15s - Lewis Channing

So, on to the Seniors! The less said, the better I'm afraid. Our best result was that of the 2nd XI - whose game at Wimborne & Colehill was rained off!

The 1st XI lost their 4th straight game, having again been hampered by a number of first choice players being unavailable. Batting first, the team recovered from 25-3 to make a respectable if unspectacular 175 all out, with Ben Fryer (37), Chris Hedges (39) and Ashley Clarke (34) providing the only innings of note. After tea, good early breakthroughs from the bowlers could not be added to, and Ferndown Wayfarers went on to reach their target with only 4 wickets down. The team take on league leaders Parley next - it would be a good time to return to winning ways!

The 3rd XI struggled against a strong Charlton Down side, making only 59 all out - a total that was then reached by the opposition for 2 wickets, both taken in a tidy spell by Neil Ford.

The Sunday XI just came second in a tight game away at Sturminster & Hinton. After only Alex Sullivan (37) had got going with the bat, veterans Jason Forsey and Hayden Williams stroked an elegant (!) 26 for the last wicket as the team staggered to 126 all out. Stalbridge were always in the game however as wickets fell regularly in the Stur innings, until the home team scraped home with three balls to spare, with 9 wickets down - a rather disappointing end to a dismal weekend of results!

As we've now passed the longest day and we head towards the second half of the season, we must reach for mindless optimism and believe that weekend after weekend packed with victories await us! Well, you never know..... 

At least the Juniors teams are having a great season so far. We all wish the Under-13 Blues well in their County Cup Final on Wednesday evening - please come and support them if you can, it would be great to see lots of people there (6.00pm start at Shillingstone CC).

Have a good week.