U17 (Alan Hyatt).
We entered an Under 17 team for the first time this season. We had 5 games scheduled on Monday evenings in July and August, but due to rain only 2 were played. We won 1, lost 1. We had poor availability of our dwindling 17s, so had many 16s and 15s selected in the hope that the rain would abate.
U15 (Jon Clugston).
This has been an excellent season for the Under 15’s. We won five games out of seven. The majority of victories being very convincing. The team has consistently performed well with bat and ball. The only defeats have come at the hands of Water Orton in the Knockout competition, who have subsequently won the Premier League, and to an extraordinary individual century against Attock. We won the South Birmingham division and our semi-final playoff, but lost the final. As we only have 9 Under 15s, may 14s gained valuable experience and contributed greatly. As a result of our success we have been promoted to the premier league for 2010. This however means we play 25 over games on Sunday mornings, so will clash with Archery.
U14 (Dave Salliss).
The U14 league was a new venture this year, and a very worthwhile additional competition. We did not have 11 boys in this age group at the start of the season, but recruited by trials and in the end we did have 11 boys in the u14 squad. We were also able to call on some very able Under 13s to augment the team. We played 8 games in total, winning 4 and losing 4.
U13 (Jonnie Turpie).
It has also been a very good season for the Under13’s. With a record numbers of players coming through from the Under11’s and Under12’s as well as new players joining the club from local schools. We all our league games to win the South Birmingham division, but lost in the play off game when holidays and injury and illness hit the team. We reached the 3rd round of the cup competition. We also ran a B team playing friendly games.
U11 (Mark Frain).
The Under 11’s league season started slightly earlier than in previous years with no friendly games prior to the season other than a squad game. We played 4, won 2, lost 2. Two teams forfeited due to lack of players giving us wins. This gave us 3rd place in the league, played 6, won 4, and lost 2. We entered an 11 aside league to extend the season, but unfortunately all 3 games were rained off.
U10 (Oliver O’Brien).
The Under 10’s played 5 games winning 3 games and losing 2 placing us third in the tables. The boys showed demonstrable progress over the year in all forms of the game. The progress in batting was particularly pleasing with the boys proving adept at keeping their wickets intact for the periods they batted. There was also the opportunity for U9s to play in the side and they acquitted themselves well. Overall a proficient start at hard ball cricket for the boys.
U9 (Dave Salliss).
We had a squad of 20 Under 9’s practicing and playing softball with good success. We entered one team into the South Birmingham District festival where we played Harborne in the final in a 20 over game. Our boys performed superbly to win the game by 31 runs to become the first winners of the South Birmingham shield. We also entered 2 teams of equal ability into the Solihull festival. One team played 4 games, won 2 and lost 2 and the other team played 3 games, winning 2 but losing 1. Both teams finished 2nd in their group but unfortunately only the group winners went into the final. An excellent season by all the boys.
Girls (Joanne Malcolm).
Our Girl’s squad, following on from some excellent winter coaching developing basic batting and bowling skills, started the season having already made good progress. Five girls were selected to the county u13 and u11 squads. Seventeen of last year’s eighteen girls reregistered with 5 being u13s and 12 being u11s. The girls were able to be divided into hardball and softball groups. We were able to participate in the three u13 Super league softball festivals and an indoor u11 festival. With their batting and bowling showing progress, the girls now need to focus on developing their fielding and match play skills. WCB with our support ran a Girls Chance to Shine After School Club prior to the girls training session. Unfortunately only 6 girls attended although the feedback from parents and girls was good. Two of these girls have now joined along with another who was inspired by our victorious English women’s team!
