| 17/03/2008 |
U15 COLTS WIN INDOOR LEAGUE 1 DAY COMPETITION |
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Wooburn Narks U15 team brilliantly won the Under 16 section of the inaugural 6 a side indoor league tournament at Handy Cross on Sunday 9th March.
The tournament consisted of a round robin group of 4 teams with the two best placed teams meeting in the final. The three other teams in the group fielded several sixteen year old players whilst all of the Wooburn Narks team were aged 15 and 14. It was clear that the strong, powerful and older Gerrards Cross team, who have won ten out of ten matches in the league format which has taken place over the winter months, would take some beating so effectively the Young Narks knew at the outset that their two group games against Flackwell Heath and Great Kingshill would be crucial if they were to have any chance of reaching the final.
Group games
Wooburn’s first game was against local rivals Flackwell Heath. Put into bat, the young Narks made a highly respectable 75 for 4 in their allotted 8 overs. Andy Grable was the star batsman, striking 39 not out with two sixes and two fours and Rob Furlong chipped in with a useful 16. In response, the Flackwell Heath batsmen were never allowed to settle with Rob Hall taking the crucial early wicket of Gleeson. James Dolan then took two wickets for one run and, displaying some excellent bowling and fielding, the Young Narks bowled Flackwell out for just 20 to win with over three overs to spare.
In the next game against Great Kingshill, the Young Narks were again asked to bat. After the early loss of Sam Tomkins, Rob Furlong (21) and Rob Hall (14) steadied the ship, enabling a late onslaught which saw the Narks plunder 38 from the last three overs. Andy Grable with 12 and Sam McCarthy with a quick fire 15 ran excellently between the wickets and saw the Narks through to another highly respectable score of 76 for 4 in their 8 overs.
The Wooburn lads then bowled and fielded with a tigerish determination. Rob Hall again took a crucial early wicket and some excellent back-up bowling by James Dolan (2-10) and Sam Tomkins (2-10) saw Great Kingshill bowled out for just 53 to give the Narks another emphatic victory.
The final round robin game was a dead rubber on the basis that the Narks and Gerrards Cross had both won their two opening group games. Batting first, Gerrards Cross scored 82 for 2 with Nicky Craig and Sam McCarthy taking the wickets. In response, James Dolan powered his way to a well struck 35 but the Narks finished on 54 to fall 29 short of victory. Gerrards Cross had played well and appeared to believe that they only needed to turn up to win the final.
Final v Gerrards Cross
The Narks lost the toss for the fourth successive time but came out yet again and showed great determination in their bowling and fielding, reducing Gerrards Cross to 31 for 4 after 5 of the allotted 9 overs. Sam Tomkins (3-15) bowled with superb pace and accuracy to blow away the middle order, although some sensible late batting saw Gerrards Cross finish with a very decent total of 75 for 5.
James Dolan, fresh from scoring runs against the same opposition in the previous match, opened the batting with Rob Furlong and these two added an excellent 52 off only 5 overs, both ending with 25 apiece, to put their team in with a fantastic chance of winning. Andy Grable and Rob Hall then batted with a great sense of maturity, keeping up the required run rate, and leaving just 6 runs to win from the final over. Andy Grable was marginally run out for 11 but Rob Hall and Sam Tomkins both placed the ball expertly to ensure the Young Narks were to be victorious.
The first winners shield was presented to the team along with medals to end a really memorable day for a very talented bunch of young players. Each and every one of the seven man squad played superbly on the day, doing the club, their manager and themselves proud.
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© 2010 Wooburn Narkovians Cricket Club
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