2006 Barritt-Stephenson Cup Final for under-11s, held at Denholme CC, Sunday 2nd July 2006
Blessed once again with a beautifully fine sunny morning , UAJCL staged its fifth Barritt-Stephenson Cup Final for u11s with a wonderful panoramic view from the hill-top ground of Denholme Cricket Club. Settle won the toss and asked Oakworth to bat first. First pairing George Ingham and Ben Howell faced up to Peter Cook and Jack Walker as the sun began to blaze. The young batsmen added 6 runs but the normally intact wicket of Ingham was snaffled twice to leave a deficit of 9 runs at 191-2. The aggressive Lewis Wrathall and compadre James Lee were next to try and restore parity for Oaks, which they did very well, Lewis taking all 12 but neither succumbed to the bowling. Last week's top pairing for Oakworth Jack Davison and Matty Lee picked up another 20 but for the loss of Lee's timbers to Peter Cook. At 215-3 the Worth Valley innings was poised and could go either way. Next pair Ben Fothergill and Jackson Rouse added 8 but Jackson was bowled by the leg-spin of the tiny John Davidson so no major progress for Oaks other than by the growing number of wides. Final pair William Wine and Jordan Bates also lost their wickets to Sean Curley and William Lamour as the Settle side, league losers to Oakworth, grew visibly in confidence. The admirable Peter Cook had returned 3-1-2-2 but his side had given 16 extras to the Cup holders. Oakworth with 6 wickets down, more than in their entire 2006 League programme, had concluded at 217-6 and a close encounter was expected after a mid-morning feast from the Denholme refreshment battalions.

Settle gambled with two top batsmen opening together and Robbie Davidson and Peter Cook duly smashed 19 runs to begin their assault on the lower than expected Oakworth total. However their joy was short lived as bowlers Rouse and Fothergill took their scalps three times to have Settle below 200 early in the innings. Jack "Whacker" Walker and the diminutive John Davidson also put bat firmly to ball annexing a very creditable 13 runs but the tenacity of the Oaks bowling was again in evidence with a wicket for George Ingham and a run out to further create slippage behind the required rate. Some equilibrium was re-established by Ben Williams & Lamour, followed by Curley & Ben Lee for an addition of 12 runs and no wicket losses. The Settle advance induced the collywobbles in Oakworth bowling and their normally exemplary lines went astray and the tally of wides mounted, taking Settle into the lead for the first time, by 2 runs. But the Oakworth strategy had been well thought out to keep back their skipper and talismanic leggie Jack Davison and his introduction completely phased the Settle attack. Freddie Taylor and Fraser Nowell tried hard to score taking five singles but Davison had three wickets and a run out during his spell. The Settle assault had been repelled and normal bowling service resumed for Oaks. The late order wicket loss plunged the Settle score line down to 189-10 and the Cup had been retained by Oaks by the margin of 28 runs.

League Chairman David Atkinson announced the man of the match as Jack Davison, amazingly playing in his fifth consecutive Cup Final; a fitting tribute. He also of course took the Cup back to Oakworth for a third time, twice in succession.

2005 Barritt-Stephenson Cup Final for under-11s, held at Earby CC, Sunday 3rd July 2005

Oaks u-11s came back from Earby triumphant in having won the u-11s Cup for the second time. The little lads took the shiny new Barritt-Stephenson Cup by 40-runs from 'home' club Earby. Oaks 213-3 didn't seem a huge score to defend but terrific bowling from all 9 bowlers ensured Earby lost 8 wickets steadily throughout their knock. Earby ended on 173-8. The 'real scores were Oakworth 37-3 and Earby 37-8 but the wicket loss difference proved crucial. Match Report:

Baking hot sun was the order of the day at Earby CC for the fourth UAJCL under-11s Cup Final. Oakworth won the toss and elected to bat first in their attempt to win back the Cup they last took in 2003. Openers Lewis Wrathall and Ben Fothergill calmly got Oaks off to a flier with two smooth boundaries from a confident young Ben. He made 9 and both kept their wickets intact. The Earby bowling was exemplary with little in the way of loose deliveries to hit. Captain Joe Hoyle and Matt Courtman similarly avoided the timber rattle and added another 4 to Oaks cause. Aggressive batting from Jason Roberts and George Ingham kept pressure on the Earby attack for another 9, 7 to Jason but crucially again without wicket loss. Oaks strength in 2005 had come from twin abilities in avoiding being out combined with straight accurate bowling to garner more wickets than the opposition. This final looked to be heading the same way until Arran Smith was out twice and his partner William Wine the once. Oaks score pegged back from 224 to 200 in a flash leaving last pair Jack Davison and Ben Howell 4 overs to re-build a target. The diminutive pairing did well claiming 11 runs and with extras the Oakworth score reached 213-3.

 

For Earby their accurate bowlers 'gave' Oaks just 3 extras in their 'real' score of 37-3 from the allotted 20 overs. Jake Ellis picked up 2-1 and newcomer Sam Wormwell 1-4 with the remainder keeping their concessions in single figures. After mid-innings butties and liquid refreshment the Earby innings commenced with the 'home' side looking to make early inroads. James Crozier did just that to give Oaks early warning that the absence of top man Chris Bowker would not be a handicap. Fielding at wide mid-on Lewis Wrathall back-pedalled up the famed Earby slope to grab the ball from Lewis Turner to knock the Earby run-rush back by 8 points. It was a stunning catch and immediately the Oakworth demeanour changed markedly. Alex Yates and Jake Ellis picked up 4 runs but by now Earby had already equalled Oakworth's wicket loss and stood at 188-3, with 25 required to win. The Earby batters were never able to close the gap as all Oaks bowlers except Matt Courtman got in on the wicket-taking act. Luke Hipgrave and Sam Wormwell added 3 but each lost their wicket. Andrew Rishton and Lois Hipgrave fared slightly worse with only 1 run coming but with another wicket loss apiece. Oakworth were following their season-long game plan to perfection and their bowlers proved once again their trump card. Ryan Sumner and Daniel Brayton, the last pair faced an almost impossible task of scoring over 40 to snatch back the trophy. Whilst Daniel was out once they did add 9 and the final Earby total stood at 173-8. In 'real' terms they scored 37-8 including 12 extras, the difference entirely down to wicket loss. League life-members Tom Barritt and Hugh Stephenson had provided a new Cup for the youngsters and they were on hand to pass the new pot to Oakworth skipper Joe Hoyle. The first of Earby's three tilt's at junior silverware foundered gallantly on their opponents well executed plan. The Umpires rightly adjudged the 'man of the match' award to go to Lewis Wrathall for that first game-changing catch off Fothergill.