A slightly apprehensive team of 9 turned up for our first U10 game away at Leyland on a sunny Sunday morning. Small village cricket clubs like Gregson Lane are few and far between so for us to play a town team can be quite an experience (regardless of whether you are 7 playing in your first game or whether you are 57!) The facilities as you would expect from such a team were fantastic and we were made to feel very welcome. Our team consisted of players of various ages - 7 through to 11. (We have got a special dispensation from the Palace Shield League to allow players who are 11 in our team as they may not have an opportunity to play cricket.
Having won the toss our captain for this match William Clarke, invited the opposition to bat.
And then who could forget
William C getting a wicket with the first ball of the match
William E bowling a maiden (6 balls with out any runs) this is quite rare at this level.
Daniel K getting a wicket in his first over
Will T bowling an over where only one run was scored and he took a wicket.
Amy K getting her first wicket for the club - the first of many we think and hope
With a more experienced side and older side than us they score 263.
And then who can forget...
Benedict H getting us off to a good start when opening the batting (keep an eye on this lad he's going to be a very good batter.)
Sam W hitting a scorching 4 with his favourite pull shot.
Izaac S hitting three magnificent 4's in his knock of 13
Woody G excellent judgement in running between wickets and hitting a great 4.
We managed a good total of 237
Things we did really well: Our fantastic team spirit - everyone sharing in everyone elses successes. We played with big smiles on our faces.
What we need to try to get better at. We need to try and bowl less wides.
Match summary: Unfortunately we lost the game but the team spirit and the smiles on the faces of the players (and their rightfully proud mums, dads, friends and family members ) was a sight to behold. It showed that a small village team can sometimes compete against stronger teams that have a far larger pool of youngsters to pick from. It was great to see how a group of young people, some of whom have never played a competitive game of cricket before and whose only experience of cricket to date has been in the cold, and sometimes uninviting indoor nets, can start to gain that team ethic and have a good time. When I was elected to run the U10's this year all I wanted to achieve was for the players to come down and have a good time, whether that be batting, bowling, fielding, practicing or just coming along with their mates. I hope that I am achieving that aim. This is how I grew up learning and playing cricket and I am now fortunate to still be playing with my friends with whom I first played with 40 years ago. Unfortunately in my day we only had a U17 team (then run by Len Kerr who still occasionally umpires for Gregson Lane.
We must have made some kind of impression on Leyland as they contacted me and asked if we could arrange another match. The league omly consists of 6 matches all of which must be played by the end of June and I know from past experience the weather can intervene and leave us only playing 1 - 2 games per season. Hence I arranged a friendly for 13th May.