01 Jul 2009 / Latest Match Reports - 27th / 28th June

To see this weekends match reports,click on the match below 
ROTCC Saturday 1^st XI vs Gedling & Sherwood

30 Jun 2009 / Latest Junior Newsletter - June 2009

ROTCC JUNIOR NEWSLETTER 2009:  No 2/June

JUNIOR CHAIR'S REPORT:  23 June 2009

It would seem appropriate, as we reach the halfway stage of the season, to report on the club's progress to make you aware of the issues currently exercising the minds of your team managers, and to thank our army of volunteers who give freely of their time in support of your junior development programme.

At a recent junior meeting, we reviewed how we structure our coaching sessions and whether this is appropriate in meeting the needs of those who wish to learn.

On Friday evenings, we split cricketers into year groups.  We then seek to further separate these into broad ranges of ability.  Depending upon numbers present, we may merge some age groups together - again, based upon levels of ability.

As I am sure you appreciate, this is not an exact science.  We sometimes get our groupings wrong and, indeed, it can take several weeks at the club before we - as coaches - have a clear enough picture of a player's ability to place him or her in the correct group: all I ask for is patience.  We aim to support each and every club member in becoming the best player they possibly can be, regardless of ability.  Please don't hesitate to discuss with myself or any of the other coaching staff if you have any concerns: I am contactable on 07815 313 427.

The manner in which we deliver our programme does seem to be working, however.  Whatever measure you would care to use in order to gauge success - be it participation rates, outreach to disadvantaged groups (we are currently delivering a programme to an inner city primary school), girls and ladies cricket, numbers of coaches developed, numbers of volunteers developed, numbers of teams entered into local leagues, numbers of county, sub-county and district representative players developed, and levels of coaching and participation during the winter, then I believe our programme to be second to none.

On the field of play, our teams are enjoying considerable levels of success.  You can check on this through the Playcricket website (http://radcliffeontrent.play-cricket.com), on the Nottingham Youth Cricket League (NYCL) home page (http://nycl.play-cricket.com/leaguetables/competitions.asp) and the Newark League home page (http://newarkcyl.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp) for the latest fixtures, results, and league positions.

Our most recent Champagne moment was winning the County Cup at U13 (Year 8):  The final was played against Kimberley U13 on Monday 22 June at the neutral venue of Caythorpe CC.  Bowling first, we restricted Kimberley to 77 for 9 off 20 overs and proceeded to knock them off in 14 overs for the loss of only one wicket:  a comprehensive victory, well done boys!   We now progress to the regional stages of this competition and, ultimately - if successful - the national finals played at Oakham School in August. [Post report note:  The U13s are now through to the National competition (Round 2), having comfortably beaten Lincoln Lindum on Sunday 28 June.  They face the winners of the Leicestershire County Cup on Sunday 19 July for a place in the Midlands Regional Finals, and we all wish them the best of luck!  A full report appears in the Main News section of the website.]

The U12 side (Year 7) have competed in a number of challenging fixtures against strong opposition in the 40-over format of the game.  Beginning the season with fixtures against Loughborough Grammar School U12 and King Edwards School, Birmingham U13, they followed these up with a tour of Warwickshire, playing matches against club sides Sutton Coldfield U13, Royal Leamington Spa U13 and Barton-under-Needwood U13/14.  Catch up with the match reports and photo gallery on the club website.

There are a large number of boys in the U11 age group, with the majority who are capable of playing hardball regularly playing in games.  Two sides are entered into the NYCL and we have one entered in the Newark Colts League.  In one week alone, twenty-three different players represented the club at U11 level in a variety of fixtures.  Additionally, an U11 team played an away match to Oakham School's U12 side, a fixture we have played annually for the past eight years or so - with the exception of last year - and, for the first time, this year we won.  Again, you can check all U11 match reports on the club website.

Our U10 sides - managed by James Pavis and Pete Playle - are competing well in what is the first year of hard ball competitive cricket for these boys.  Similarly, James and Pete are managing for the first time and have risen ably to the challenge.  I am heartily reassured by the level of parental support this age group is attracting - long may it continue!

A combined U14/U15 side is due to tour Yorkshire in August, and our boys Kwik Cricket campaign has just started.

Our girls hardball team have begun their season with a squad of ten players and are playing in the NYCL girls competition while our girls U11 Kwik cricket team has now started playing two fixtures every Sunday morning in the annual Kwik cricket contest.

We wish all of our teams success for the rest of the season!

Off the field of play, parents and members will have noticed the extension to the clubhouse and improvement to our facilities.  Friday nights have maintained their place as a social hub for all of the junior membership, and I am very grateful to our volunteers both behind the bar and on the BBQ for their efforts in keeping us all fed and watered, and for raising vital funds for the club in doing so.

Finally, an appeal for additional support:  Passive support (turning up on time, appropriately dressed to play, and armed with match tax/coaching tax) should be a given;  Active support (scoring, umpiring and coaching, cooking, serving behind the bar) is vastly appreciated, however.  If you can find the time to help with any of these activities, please volunteer!  On a Friday night after coaching, any number of people will approach me and say, ‘What we ought to do is ...' What I am looking for are people who say, ‘I can/will do ...'

We have a wonderful club:  please volunteer so that it can develop and grow for the benefit of our junior players.

 

Bill Brown

Junior Chair

 

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OTHER JUNIOR NEWS >>>

EASTER PRE-SEASON TRAINING AND MONDAY NIGHT COACHING

We were delighted to secure the services of ex-Notts captain, John Birch, for a series of pre-season coaching sessions at Carrington CC during the Easter holidays which many of our U11s and U12s took advantage of..  Despite a constant drizzle, our juniors were able to brush up on their outdoor cricketing skills ahead of their teams' bids for success in the local leagues and cups!

SUMMER ACADEMIES

To complement our Friday night club coaching, John Birch will again run two Junior Pro Cricket Academies at ROTCC across all age groups during the summer holidays, given the success of last year's sessions.  Invites are currently being distributed.  Administrators will be Sallie Towndrow (U9-U10) and Karen-Anne Holliday (U11-U13).  Please note that responses are requested by Friday 10 July 2009 in order for the necessary administration to be completed.

 

U12s TOUR - MAY BANK HOLIDAY 2009

 

As mentioned by the Junior Chair, the U12s enjoyed a fabulous tour of Warwickshire during the Whitsun bank holiday.   Under a burning sun, the boys competed in a series of three very challenging matches against U13 sides, one of which they deservedly won through a skillful and sustained whole-team effort that was a joy to behold.  Our hosts were warmly welcoming throughout, and everyone - boys, parents and coach - had a fantastic time!  A tour report can be found under U12 match reports, as well as in the Junior News section.

 

U15s TOUR  - 26-28 AUGUST 2009

 

Steve Harbottle is taking our U15s to play three Yorkshire U15 sides in a competition based at Leeds University in August this year.  Their opponents will be North Leeds CC, Guiseley CC and Olicanian CC.  We hope to bring you an overview in the next newsletter.  Good luck, lads!

 

KWIK CRICKET:

SUNDAY FIXTURES AND MATCH REPORTS; NAMING COMPETITION

Both our girls and boys Kwik cricket teams are now playing back-to-back matches every Sunday morning.  These have been well supported, although we still need more parental assistance with transportation, scoring and umpiring (please see Kwik manager, Barry Trussler, if you are able to give up a few hours each week to do this).  Match reports are now being posted regularly on the Junior section of the website (under Teams > Kwik > Reports).  Results so far this season have been mixed, but we are only at mid-season so plenty of time for improvement!

 

Also, in line with other clubs' policy of giving a more personalised name to their Kwik cricket squads, Barry is still running a competition to name next year's Kwik squads.  If you are a junior parent/member and you feel you can think of a suitably inspiring name for our Kwik cricket sides, please send your suggestion(s) by email to stella@trussler.orangehome.co.uk or write them down and hand them to your coach.  Please make sure your name, age and contact details are printed clearly on any entry.  As there will be a prize for the winning entry(ies), you'd better get your thinking caps on!  The deadline is Friday 21 August, and the winning entries will be announced - and prize(s) awarded - during Junior Presentation Day at the end of the season.

 

ONLINE JUNIOR KIT

Please remember that new junior kit is now only available online from our kit shop at www.customsports.co.uk.  Full details of how to access the shop appear in the 2009 ROTCC Junior Cricket Handbook and on the Junior Noticeboard in the clubhouse (far wall).  The shop is Protx secured for your peace of mind.  Embroidered/customised items take approximately 3 weeks from date of order although urgent orders are possible - speak to Andy or Paul as they may be able to shave a week or so off the time for you!  Delivery on each item is free, so nothing extra to pay other than the listed price.  You may also collect items in person from Custom Sports in Wilford.  When ordering, please note that initials and names are not allowed on match  shirts (logo only on these, please).  You can contact Custom Sports on 0115 982 4535; Or find them at Unit 16, Nottingham South & Wilford Ind Est, Ruddington Lane, Wilford, Notts  NG11 7EP.

Dan Sutton would like to add that limited items of old kit are still available at bargain prices direct from the Club.  For further information, please speak to either Dan or Kathrine Day on Friday evenings.

 

FUNDRAISING

 

Annual Kwik Cricket Festival 2009: Sunday 26 July

The second ROTCC Kwik Cricket Festival will take place on Sunday 26 July on our hallowed grounds!  Although twelve sides took part in 2008, the festival was such a success that the club has extended invitations to a considerably larger number of clubs this year.   If you know of any club that wishes to enter a Kwik cricket side, then please ask them to contact Dan Sutton at davidsutton2003@aol.com.  Once again, parental support will prove key to the smooth running of this large-scale event.  Jobs include making up packed lunches, collecting in and posting match reports, taking photographs, doing a stint on the BBQ or behind the bar, and marshalling cars.  Dan is appealing for help in particular from participating Kwik cricketers' parents in addition to the parents of older hardball cricketers who always help out.  Even an hour or two on the day would help - honestly!

 

Friday Night Food

Over £1,000 was raised in 2008 through food sales on Friday nights and we are working hard this year to meet a similar target.  We have been heartened by the sterling efforts of a number of new junior parent-volunteers, although there are stilll some free slots available for others who might like to take a turn?  So far we have had a series of bangers and burgers nights, a Jackets ‘n' Salads night, an evening of Mexican chilli and rice, and a exceptionally popular Curry Night, where homemade curries, pakoras, samosas and side dishes sold out within an hour or so!  It is hoped that future Friday nights will be equally supported and successful:  Keep up the good work, everyone!

 

Lads & Dads Cricket Competition:  23 August 2009

It is hoped to hold a Lads and Dads cricket competition in late August.  When confirmed, details will appear in the Main News section of the Club's website.

 

End of Season Gala Dinner 2009: Saturday 19 September

After a hugely successful inaugural event last year - we raised over £2400 profit! - we are in the throes of organising the 2009 event.  It will take place on Saturday 19 September at The West End Cabaret & Bar in Central Avenue, West Bridgford and, in consideration of the prevailing economic climate, will be scaled back to make it as affordable to as many members as possible.  We are offering a themed dinner-disco (60s/70s/80s), with a prize for the best fancy dress costume (optional), and music reflecting the spirit of the decades.  Tickets will be on sale at a bargain £25 each!  We hope everyone will support the night, whether or not they choose to dress up, as the club relies hugely on the sort of income it generates to carry out vital maintenance work and to support all aspects of junior cricket development!  Prize donations for either the raffle or the auction are very welcome - please email any offers to sue987@hotmail.co.uk.

 

SECONDHAND KIT BOX :  Donations thin on the ground!

 

As mentioned in the last newsletter, in order to be as inclusive as possible at a time when kit costs have risen in tandem with the credit crunch, we are introducing a secondhand kit box - but we desperately need donations of old kit and equipment!   So far, we have received only a green pair of tracksuit bottoms, kindly donated by Kathy Ridge.  We had hoped to build up quite a stock by now so please have a look through your child's old things to see whether there is anything you can donate.  Items can be brought along on a Friday night (please hand to a committee member).

 

ROTCC Fantasy Cricket League

 

Members may have noticed leaflets advertising the ROTCC Fantasy Cricket League lying around the clubhouse recently?  This is a fantastic in-house competition being run by Mark Taylor, an ROTCC senior player.  Designed along the lines of those run by the broadsheets, it is a great way of junior members getting to know the senior members of the club as, in order to pick your Fantasy team, you need to get to know the relative strengths of the senior players - and what better way to do that than watching them play at weekends?  After all, many of our current junior members (U12+) regularly play in these teams, along with several of their fathers!  There is a £5 entry fee per team - all proceeds to Club funds, the rules are straightforward and, after an initial nine-week stint which began back in May, the competition starts afresh this weekend.  There is even a prize for the winner!  If you fancy your chances, then please contact Mark Taylor on 07725263141 or email him at mark.taylor@ntlworld.com!  Or you can pick up a leaflet during Junior Coaching this Friday, then hand it in at the bar!

 

 

BB-KAH/June 2009

28 Jun 2009 / ROTCC U13s National Cup Campaign: Latest News!

U13s through to Second Round of MCC Spirit of Cricket National Competition

Teamsheet:  Bhabra, Buckley, Burton, Fish (wkt), Heath (cpt), James, Johnson, Khalique, Marshall, McCarthy, Nolan.

Following their success in the County Final last week, on Sunday 28 June, ROTCC's U13 team travelled to play Lincolnshire County winners, Lincoln Lindum, in the first round of the National competition.

We lost the toss for the first time this season and were put into bat by Lindum.  A combination of controlled and aggressive batting saw us reach a competitive total of 111 for 6 wickets, with Jake Fish (30 retired) and Rhys McCarthy (29) being the main performers.  In reply, Lindum started positively but, following the retirement of their opening batsman, Will Wright, their wickets fell in rapid succession as Radcliffe on Trent exerted pressure in the field.  The Lindum innings concluded on 76 for 9 wickets, with Rhys McCarthy taking 3 for 15.

The U13s now move on to Round 2 of the regional play-offs where they will play the winners of the Leicestershire County Final away on Sunday 19 July for a place in the Midlands Regional Finals!

Tim Heath, Coach/Manager

29.06.09