10-04-08

The First Round of UAJCL's Spencer Cup draw has handed Oaks a home match with near neighbours Denholme. Both teams have lost some talented players but both Division One teams will fancy their chances. The winners will meet either Champions Steeton or favourites Bolton Abbey in the quarter-final.

The Spencer Cup Final is to be hosted for UAJCL by Oakworth CC at Cure Hill this year, lads, so with  a decent draw we have the chance to win the Cup on our own midden. The Cup holders, Thornton-in-Craven will not be defending so at least one strong contender is out of the way. We have the talent although its as far back as 1998 since we last grabbed the pot. Have we the desire? The Final will be on Sunday afternoon 6th July (2:30pm).

You might recognise current first teamers Andy Dawson and Luke Scott!

Last year's under-15 squad came within a whisker of taking the Johnson & Johnson League for the first time. Well this year most of that squad will play in our under-17 KC2000 League side. So what are their chances of success this time around? It's not usual for teams of largely under-16 players to win the u-17 league but this squad could break that mould. The Thornton-in-Craven challenge has gone for 2008 as they will not be entering, ruling out key players Matt Haines, Adam Yates etc etc. Champions Steeton will as always be competitive and no doubt Oxenhope will have a say. Silsden look to have a good squad but after that the Division looks evenly balanced. So there's the challenge boys - win the u-17 league as under 16s. The squad will have Chris Crook and Hannah Ellis from last year along with Luke Taylor, Brannan Lawn, Jack Hainsworth, Nick Crook, Michael Clegg, Ricky Linden, Danny Aspinall, James Longbottom and Jack Cawood. It looks good.

In their final season of junior cricket Scott Hartley and Jake Hoyle joined the elite of Oakworth junior rankings. Jake has set a new all-time record of appearances of 114 as one of only four players to make it past the 100-mark in Oaks junior colours. Jake started his Oakworth career way back in 2000 whilst Scott was even earlier in 1999 at the age of 9. Scott has turned out 104 times for the Oaks and has joined again only three others in taking over 100 wickets and amassing over 1,000 runs. The pair were team-mates when the under-12 league (later u-11) was launched and have appeared in both the Bradford Junior League as well as the current Upper Airedale Junior Cricket League. Here are their records:   inns no runs av balls runs wkts av Scott Hartley 104 37 1085 16.19 2300 1459 104 14.03 Jake Hoyle 114 37 1332 17.30 1080 866 75 11.55
	Neither Scott nor Jake had their best out-turns in 2007, although Scott did manage a superb 5-10 against Upper Wharfedale in Round 1 of the Spencer Cup and 4-23 vs Silsden in a tight match. Jake has been unlucky in that his returns might well have been much better if not for his serious lung injuries back in 2005. We wish them both well in their Senior careers; Jake is already signed up at Keighley and is a regular in their Second XI. Scott too is rumoured to be heading for Lawkholme to build on his developing bowling shown this season for the First XI. For the record the leading appearances pecking order is: Jake Hoyle 2000-2007 114 Mark Beckett 1990-1999 106 Scott Hartley 1999-2007 104 John Spurr 1987-1992 102
Those four 100 wkt & 1000 runs double achievers are:
name years wkts runs Mark Beckett 1990-1999 136 1658 John Spurr 1986-1992 107 1805 David Bainbridge 1991-1997 105 1311 Scott Hartley 1999-2007 104 1085

Better Year? It certainly was. Joe C and Luke Taylor qualified for League averages whilst Scott and Jack H also came close. In his last year, prolific Jake Hoyle also signed up for Keighley whilst Oliver Stell established himself in the Oaks Third XI. Yorkshire's Hannah Ellis, whilst missing many matches, settled as a competent wicket-keeper in another steady year of confidence building playing with adult men. Chris Crook also joined the Keighley trawl of the Area's youngsters but for him was less prominent with both bat and gloves. Sadly Ben Lamb didn't appear and our much-improved fifth place would have been an under-achievement if he had been available. Brannan Lawn, Michael Clegg, Ricky Linden and Jack Hainsworth from the u-15 ranks added to the overall quality and new lad Adam Smith fitted in well.

Next year Scott, Joe, Jake and Oliver will be too old but all the above will progress I am sure once again. If Ben Lamb can be persuaded to re-appear a challenge for the title might not be beyond even this young squad.

Under 17s The Garry Kirby Cup