29 Aug 2010 / U15 Tour of Yorkshire 2010

ROTCC U15:

A brief tour of Yorkshire -  Aug 2010

 

The tour began with the ritual bag-packing on to trailers and pack animals, followed by a trip up the M1 to Sheffield Collegiate for a game against a confident bunch of 17-year-olds.  Michael Vaughan started his cricket here and the side was packed with talent. 

We batted first, with Ieuan soon coming to dominate the bowlers, an attacking field was set more defensively and their fielding errors began.  The openers' confidence set the tone for the match.  Jake nudged and nurdled, and the runs kept coming.  Wickets fell, but each new batsman looked strong and the score began to mount.  Their spinners cut the run rate and, with 5 overs left, a score of 140 didn't look enough.  Todd just went for it and surprised their Yorkshire county player by repeatedly advancing down the track and smiting him for 4.  The last 5 overs went for 40 and a total in the 180s was defendable. 

Seventeen-year-olds can hit the ball hard, but our fielding was good.  Their run-tally crept up but captain, Jordan, didn't panic and, when Christy and Rhys came on to bowl, the runs flowed but wickets fell.  Catches were held and their desire to finish with a flourish (coupled with our boys' composure and team spirit) was their undoing: We won by 17 runs. They were not happy. 

A good all-round team performance and our opponents left in a state of shock.  Todd was MoM for some tight and aggressive bowling and his 30no in quick time.

 

Off to Leeds and to our accommodation - very nice.  A table for 22 stretched Pizza Express's staff, but a successful night. 

Thursday was North Leeds and a mixed age-group side with several adults and a new challenge.  Ben Bhabra and Hari bowled well early on to keep the scoring in check.  Wickets fell steadily, but the runs started to pile up.  Our junior pro - young Marshall - came on for a spell, and the batsmen were all at sea.  A few catches were dropped and a score of 200 to chase was a difficult task, but short boundaries meant that we were optimistic. 

The first few overs were accurate and challenging, with Ieuan bowled by a ball that jagged back to take the off bail.  Alex briefly took control, scoring a ten ball 25, taking the pressure off the run-rate.  Jake hung around for 38 and there were significant contributions from Ben Carr and Christy.  Rhys nearly took us over the finishing line with a well-timed 37, but wickets continued to fall regularly.  Jordan looked set to snatch the game with a 6 and a 4 off successive deliveries, then a c&b stopped him in his tracks.  Todd came in again with 22 to get, and Connor was soon out to a questionable LBW:  Go for it? He did - and hit the winning runs with his eyes closed and little more than one over left.  Rhys was MoM this time for his wickets (2-44) and runs, although Jake and Ben B were close.  Once again, all the adults were impressed and delighted with a real team performance, chasing down a difficult target against competitive bowling. 

The game was followed by a BBQ organised by Karen's sister and we parted as friends.

 

The third game in Halifax always looked in the balance as we packed and left Leeds in a steady drizzle.  Lovely setting, but a wet pitch meant the game was abandoned without a ball being bowled:  A damp end to a very successful tour.

 

Thank you to the boys, who were excellent, and the support crew of drivers (and always enthusiastic supporters).  Special thanks to Karen and Alb for setting everything up and ensuring everything ran smoothly.  Good times.

Has anyone got contacts in the West Indies for next year?!

 

Nick

23 Aug 2010 / Club BBQ on Sunday 29th August

Club BBQ this Sunday 29th.

All club members are invited and food will be served from 3pm onwards. 

We hope to see everyone there.

Regards

The Committee

29 Jul 2010 / Latest UNDER 13 Match Reports

ROTCC V ELLERSLIE  30/6/2010 NYCL

Ashraf S, Dickinson, Holliday, McConachie, Purcell, Davies, Dobson, Hollingworth, Ashraf H.

With a significant number of unavailabilities, and only fielding nine players, we could have done with batting first.  As it was Ellerslie got a score of 113 for 6 and we were up against it.

In reply, Lewis Dickinson played a captains knock, turning ones into twos and never missing an opportunity to score.  Lewis enabled Saad to play his natural game, the latter retiring 40 not out, hitting a six off his last ball.  When Lewis departed on 29, it was left to Holliday supported by McConachie to see ROTCC over the line 116 for two off 15 overs.

Ellerslie 113 for 6 off 20.  ROTCC 116 for 2 off 15.  ROTCC won by 8 wickets.

ROTCC V LINDUM 18/7/10

Holliday, Marshall, Roche, Ashraf, Sidebottom, Mike, Playle, Dickinson, Baker-Deavin, Leaver, Bishop.  12^th man Purcell.

ROTCC U13's pursuit of national honours came to a sticky end in this frustrating game.  With the first choice wicket keeper going AWOL, losing the toss and having to bat our early overs in rain, the gods conspired against us.

No excuses though, we were beaten by a better side.  Our batting for the first time in a long time failed to ‘click' and only Ashraf, 27 not out from 28 balls did himself justice.  Lindum's bowlers were accurate and their field placings spot on.  We finished on 81 for 5, twenty runs short.

In reply the Lincolnshire champions accumulated rather than smashed their way to victory, recognising that the only way they could loose was by being bowled out.  Both of their openers retired on 31 not out.  The big left hander Wright hit his runs off 28 balls, his partner Kimber off 27 balls.

The ROTCC skipper once again was the pick of the bowlers 4 overs, 1 maiden 0 for 9.  Our score of 81 however denied us the opportunity of applying any pressure.

Lindum reached the required total in the 16^th over without loosing a wicket.

ROTCC 81 for 5 off 20 overs.  Lindum 82 for 0 off sixteen.  Lindum the worthy winners by 10 wickets.

ROTCC V BURTON JOYCE 19/7/10 NWK League

Dickinson, Holliday, Purcell, Purcell, Roche, Roche, Farnsworth, McConachie, Ashraf H

The day after playing in a regional final the U13s found themselves in a Newark League game at Burton Joyce with only 9 players.  BJ batted first and scored 78 for 9 off 18.  The bowling was shared around with both the younger Roche and the younger Purcell getting a go.

 

Whilst all this was going on, in the field next door a group of adults were playing bows and arrows.  All very well but a bit dull without a live target, ...I think I'll stick to cricket.

Our reply didn't quite go to plan as Lewis managed to run out Michael Roche before the poor lad has faced a ball.  In fact on 22 for 3 off 7, things looked very dicey indeed.  It was left to the big gun Holliday to put paid to any nonsense.  Ably supported by McConachie, Lui hit 35 off 19 balls before retiring, leaving Ken to finish off the job in the 12^th over.

BJ 78 for 9 off 18.  ROTCC 79 for 3 off 12.  ROTCC win by seven wickets.

 

ROTCC V UNITY 22/7/10 NYCL

Dickinson, Bazmi, Bazmi, Dobson, Playle, Farnsworth, McConachie, Purcell, Ramsden, Day.

With unavailabilities beginning to have an impact ROTCC lost a tight game against Unity in the NYCL.  The league title may still be ours but we cannot afford any more slip ups.

Batting first we posted a total of 84 for 2.  We accumulated our score. Credit must go to the Unity bowlers, particularly the spinners who prevented us from ever ‘getting away'.  Lewis Dickinson top scored with 27.

In reply Unity set off at a brisk pace.  We were aware that if we got the opener, Bowles early then our score was probably adequate.  It wasn't to be.  He retired not out and Unity chased the score down in the 16^th over.

ROTCC 84 for 2 off 20.  Unity 84 for 2 off 15.