Under 17s NEWS                               16-09-11

Oakworth CC committee have decided that this year to help accommodate everyone with more comfort, the Presentation Night will be split by age groups as follows:

Fri Sept 23rd : under 9 & under 11 players

Fri Sept 30th : under 13, under 15 & under 17

The night will commence at 7:30pm so be there for 7:0pm to get a seat.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATERIAL?

The 2011 under-17s have largely graduated from the under-15s, where their Championship credentials shone through in 2010. The KC2000 Under-17s Championship Trophy hasn't graced Wide Lane since 1998. We came close in 2009 (2nd) but its fully 13 years since we were winners. The 2010 squad will definitely include Jack Davison, Lewis Wrathall ([pictured), Matty Lee, Ben Fothergill, James Heslop and Frazer Atkinson. Jordan Bates and Marshall Pedder have not yet declared. Under-15s James Lee, Danny King, Martin Long, Jack Keighley, George Ingham and Sam Nettleton will probably be regulars although any of the talented u15 squad might turn out.

Jack Davison, Lewis Wrathall, Ben Fothergill and Matty Lee are all selected for the initial 26-man Joe Lumb squad by Manager Simon Bailey. The squad will be whittled down to 15 after a trial on 8th May at Keighley CC. James Lee and Oliver Huck are selected for the u15s Lords' Taverner initial squad.

PRESENTATION NIGHT

Once again the clubhouse was packed to overflow for the 2010 Junior Presentation Night. The under-17 season was summarised by Team Manager Chris Ellis The expectations for 2010 were not the highest with retention of Division One status the principal priority. The out-turn was much better with 7 victories taking us to fifth place.

 Chris announced the batting award as a first that he had presented to someone smaller than he was! It went to popular winner Matty Lee who had a magnificent season finishing with 281 league runs in the year. The bowling prize went to under-15 batting winner Ben Fothergill and he doesn't like bowling!. The fielding prize was won by absent skipper Greig Hudson. The All-rounder Prize  was another deserved award for First-teamer Lewis Wrathall with 198 runs and 11 wickets.

For 2011 the 2010 under-15 boys will continue in the KC2000 League and another serious challenge could ensue despite their younger ages.

The overall winner of the SA Labels Cup was determined as under-17 Ben Fothergill's 24 & 4 for 6 against ultimate double winners Embsay in their only defeat, to Oakworth. Ben had an urgent appointment with a Bradford Comedy club and was not at the clubhouse to receive the award so sister and scorer Lucy Fothergill proudly took possession.

The 2010 Oakworth Junior Presentation Night will beheld on Friday 17th September (7:30pm) start so arrive early!! There will be prizes for batting, bowling, fielding and all-round skill. In addition the prestigious SA Labels Cup will be awarded for the best performance of the year.

2010 Prospects

After our near miss of the KC2000 League Championship last year, our sights this year might be less elevated. The u-17 side will retain Greig Hudson, Jack Atkinson and Tom Hudson, if fit following his season-halting injury. They will be joined by Marshall Pedder, James Heslop and Harry Hurren. The remainder will be under-15s probably in the guise of Jack Davison, Lewis Wrathall, Ben Fothergill, Matt & James Lee, George Ingham and Jordan Bates. the bowling strength looks good but significant batting development will be required for a tough First Division.

The primary objective must be to retain top Division status since due to suspensions our Cup prospects will be severely curtailed.

2009 Presentation Night

The Annual Junior Presentation Night took place on scheduled on Friday 2nd October at the club house. Team Manager Chris Ellis could not be here but a written resume was given by Terry. Chris praised the support he had received from Steve Hartley over the last five years and paid tribute to the support of parents and in particular the grounds-man for superb wickets. Steve will be standing down in 2010.

The under 17 awards for 2009 were announced as follows:

In a year which produced top-notch cricket and a second placing in the very tough UAJCL KC2000 League, the side performed to expectation.  An 8-run loss to Champions Sutton at Wide Lane was crucial in the title outcome in the light of a later 2-run win at Sutton. Mid-season losses to bogey-side Skipton and Cup winners Embsay were also significant in the title destination. In 2010 most of the side will be senior players but Greig Hudson, Tom Hudson, Marshal Pedder, James Heslop and Harry Hurren will be supported by a strong under-15 section.

The batting prize went to Jack Hainsworth who very much lived up to all our hopes, emerging as one of the best players in the League. He represented the Area at Joe Lumb level, just missing out on selection for the District side. The bowling award went to hitherto nearly-man Michael Clegg after finishing high in the league lists with his 'floaters'.  Michael added the Fielding prize as well to demonstrate the huge strides forward he has made in 2009 as a regular member of the Second XI. The all-rounder Prize was taken, not for the first time by Luke Taylor, who as expected was unable to receive his prize in person.

Later, the highlight of the evening was as always the award of the SA Labels Cup for the best performance of the year. A difficult coaches verdict was that James Lee's Under 15 Cup Semi-Final 27 and 2 wickets vs Upper Wharfedale was the most deserving match-winning performance in a major event.

A very pleasing 2009 season produced a very creditable second place position in the KC2000 Table. We finished only 4 points behind Champions Sutton. The difference was the two drawn matches (not replayed) with Upper Wharfedale and Haworth West End. Nine wins and only 3 defeats (same as Sutton) is a fine out-turn, our best since 1998. 2009 also sees final 'junior' appearances for a number of our players, thankfully all are well catered for in our three Senior teams. The Junior section waves good-bye to a good bunch - Jack Hainsworth, Luke Taylor, Brannan Lawn, Michael Clegg, Ricky Linden, Jack Cawood, Gordon Ingham and late recruit Jimmy Geldard.

The 2010 squad will start with Greig Hudson, Jack Atkinson and a hopefully fully-fit Tom Hudson. They will be joined by Marshall Pedder, James Heslop and Harry Hurren to give us a six-man core to which we will see yet more opportunity for under-15s Jack Davison, Ben Fothergill, Lewis Wrathall, Matty Lee and Jackson Rouse. James Lee and George Ingham may also find themselves called upon.

Under-17 rising star Luke Chapman is to spend 2009 playing Bradford League cricket at Keighley. He is expected to bat at no 7 in the Keighley 2nd XI. The stylish youngster has been steadily progressing at Oakworth and already has a fifty at 2nd team level. We will of course miss Luke and wish him success in his quest for higher status cricket at Keighley where his grand-dad is Chairman.

Notwithstanding the above Oaks under-17 squad still looks to be one of the stronger units in the KC2000 League Division One. Captain Jack Hainsworth will still be able to call on Luke Taylor, Brannan Lawn, Michael Clegg, Ricky Linden, Gordon Ingham, Jack Cawood, James Longbottom, Jack Atkinson, Greig Hudson, Tom Hudson, Danny Salvato, Tom Steele and t'other Luke Chapman. The u17s will also call on under-15s Marshall Pedder, James Heslop and Harry Hurren. All our Under-14s, last year's treble winning u-13s, will also all be in contention.

The Annual Junior Presentation Night took place as scheduled on Friday 19th September, 7:30pm at the club house. Changes to team management for 2009 were announced in that Michael Davison will manage the under 15s and Simon Howell the under 13s . It is also a possibility that the club may enter two teams in the under 17s league in 2009.

The five under 17 awards for 2008 were announced as follows:

In a year which revealed real high quality in the team, fourth place was gained with essentially a team of under-16s. They season included fine wins over ultimate Champions Steeton, Oxenhope and Bolton Abbey, who gained a measure of revenge beating oaks and going on to win the Spencer Cup at Cure Hill.

Most of the lads will be available and amongst the favourites for the 2009 Keighley Cup2000 under 17 League with only Hannah Ellis in the 'too old' category.

The batting prize went to fast developing Brannan Lawn with a few match-winning innings, pipping his skipper Jack Hainsworth who set a new club record run scoring total.  The best bowler by far was under-15 Greig Hudson who has continued his meteoric rise to senior cricket. Sadly he was unavailable to pick up his award personally as he was in Japan (!)  Catching pigeons and anything else flying low was supreme 'Jonty' Jack Cawood with the deserved fielding award. Predictably the winner of the all-rounder prize Luke Taylor was also unavailable to collect the trophy. Whereabouts uncertain but it probably involved alcohol somewhere!! But what a cricketer! For the third year in a row Michael Clegg gained the accolade of Most Improved player as his steady rise is now reaping rich rewards, witness an 80 for the Second XI.

The highlight of the evening was as always the award of the SA Labels Cup for the best performance of the year. A difficult coaches verdict was that skipper Jack Davison's Hindle Cup Final 56 vs Earby was a stupendous match-winning performance in a major event.

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.

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.