Team Report
CCC Under 14 2006
L-R Top Row: Chris Nixon; Joshua Rowles; Aaron Walker; Oliver Reilly (Capt.) Sam Jones (Vice-Captain); George Chappel
L-R Bottom Row: Ed Clampitt; James Alexander; Timothy George; Joe Coker; Jack Shepherd; Conor Tregarthen. Not shown but featured during League Programme: Sam Dickson; Jonny Black & Will Simmonds.
Introduction
The under 14 campaign began with a friendly on the 4th of May against Chesham u14. This proved to be a winning start to the season with our batsmen showing some real destructiveness, and promising much for a short League programme against potentially good quality opposition. Feature performances came from Sam Jones, with a cracking 64 supported by Joshua Rowles with a controlled innings of 38. Best bowling went to Ed Clampitt with 3 wkts of 2 overs for 1 run!
The final League positions below give Cublington a third place with wins over Ballinger Waggoners, Dinton and Aston Clinton. A sound beating by Westbury however at Cublington suggested that they would be a team difficult to beat, and so it proved. We were narrowly beaten by Grendon Underwood and Winslow – so much to build on for next year at u15 level, and still lots of cricket to be played by the u14 squad at u15 level and indeed senior duty with the Sunday xi and the CCC 2nds in the Saturday Morrants Four County.
Team |
Played |
Won |
Lost |
AT |
NRR |
Points |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
2.28 |
11 |
|
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0.73 |
10 |
|
6 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
-0.16 |
6 |
|
6 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0.51 |
5 |
|
6 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
-0.72 |
5 |
|
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
-2.04 |
4 |
|
6 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
-1.95 |
1 |
Match Summaries
Winslow (Away)
With some measure of confidence, the team approached their first match. It was not to be a happy encounter with Winslow! On a wet Sunday morning, with a wet pitch that was very green, Winslow won the toss and selected to bat. Without an impressive run scorer they mustered 64 for 9 after 20 overs – a total that in normal circumstances CCC would be expected to achieve. This was not to be the case. An impressive opening by Chris Nixon (18) and Ed Clampitt (11) was not developed and a middle order collapse followed with only Jonny Black showing some resistance (9) supported by Conor Tregarthen (7). A total of 57 for 8 after 20 overs marked a defeat by 7 runs (exactly the number of wides and extras bowled by Cublington!). Not a happy start.
Dinton (Away)
The team knew that there was now no margin for another defeat, and Dinton - a team with a big reputation beckoned. With the loss of only 3 wickets, CCC scored 108. A massive 60 from Sam Jones with six fours and 2 huge sixes supported wonderfully by Joshua Rowles (showing a great repertoire of strokes) for 15 runs and Chris Nixon with a gritty 24 not out. Our bowlers were led by the highly consistent Aaron Walker 1 wicket for 16 runs off 4 overs – supported by Sam Jones with 2 wickets for 22 off 4 overs and Ed Clampitt and James Alexander with one wicket a piece. Dinton’s final reply was 105 for 6 after 20 overs - a narrow win for Cublington but a great boost for the team against tough opponents.
Westbury (Home)
A May evening saw Westbury inflict a big defeat on Cublington – largely down to a 46 not out from their opening bat, Alex Walters who also took 2 wickets for 18 off 4 overs. CCC scored 59 for 10 (Chris Nixon 19; Joshua Rowles 8 the best of the batting). Westbury rattled off the total in 12 overs with the loss of just 2 wickets – taken by Walker and Tregarthen.
Grendon Underwood (Home)
Cublington won the toss and batted first, and put on a usually defensible total of 114 for 3, a splendid 30 by Joshua Rowles; 36 for Sam Jones; 14 for Ollie Reilly and 7 runs from Chris Nixon both not out. It looked good, but complacency set in, and an indifferent bowling performance as well as a great fight back by Grendon did for CCC. A great bowling effort from the always reliable Aaron Walker (2 wickets for 9 runs off 4 over) was not supported and a 117 was achieved in the penultimate over to give Grendon Underwood a win.
Aston Clinton failed to produce a team and CCC was awarded the points.
The final match was against Ballinger Waggoner’s on 14th July at Ballinger, and a third place was at stake. This time there was no stopping the CCC side, with bat or ball. They were determined to end the programme with a win – and the night proved a great success. Another great knock from Chris Nixon (31) with five fours supported by an impressive Ed Clampitt (14) and a rampant Ollie Reilly (24) unlucky to be given LBW.
Two crisp boundaries from James Alexander and other valuable runs added by George Chapel (3), Connor Treatment and Rowles (8 runs a piece) delivered 119 for 8 after 20 over.
Then came the bowling – another immaculate spell of bowling from Walker (2 wickets for 6 runs off 4 over) was backed up well by James Alexander and Joe Coker (one wicket a piece) and Conor Tregarthen (3 wickets for 3 runs off 4 over). Conor Tregarthen also contributed with a sumptuous catch deep in the covers, by far the best of the season by any of our fielders with able support and fine catches during the season to date from Sam Jones, George Chappell, Joshua Rowles, Chris Nixon and a handful of stumpings and run outs by Oliver Reilly during the campaign.
As the game reached its end, Tim George took the ball from his Captain and commenced his spell. With great determination he bowled slow to medium pace and on his fourth delivery took the middle stump of their last batsman! A great win for the team, marked by a first wicket in League cricket for Tim George.
Summary
What have been the lessons from the u14 league matches?
We have the backbone of a good team who can be a great team. Their spirit and togetherness is unrivalled. They have been inconsistent, and this cost them dearly – but there is plenty of cricket to be played for all these young men this season above their age group and for senior sides – and they will be better crickets in 2007 for this exposure and experience.
Cricket is a team game and not all players have equal ability and we as a club must work ever harder to see skills improvement through coaching and playing.
In a short u14 league, 2006 has been about settling down a team where the players find their natural positions and build on their skills but also hopefully recognise their individual contributions whatever that may be to team cohesion and team success. That is why all the lads have sought out opportunities to play above their age group and with Senior teams at that (and some great contributions have been recorded by James Alexander, George Chappell, Aaron Walker, Sam Jones and Ed Clampitt to name a few!).
The “official” u14 programme end was marked by a BBQ at Cublington’s ground for players and parents and this proved a great success. My thanks to all the parents for their support with special thanks to the coaches Russell Rowels and Nigel Jones; the scorers, particularly Jane Alexander and Nick Clampitt who was principal Chef at both of our social BBQs. Thanks also to Robin Harrhy for the ground preparation and Steve George & Paul Atkins for the continuing Nets sessions each Thursday evening at the Orchard Ground.
Cricket averages for u14 games only will be calculated at the end of the season. There is a friendly against Wendover on 4th July for this age group.
Michael Reilly
Manager
CCC Under 14s