WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD U 13 CUP FINAL OMBERSLEY v WOMBOURNE
After a season of ups and a couple of downs, our Under 13’s battled their way through to the final of the WCB U13 competition where we came up against Ombersley who provide a large proportion of the Worcester U13 squad. In fact, following our victory over Rushwick in the semi-finals, the Rushwick coach told me that had they won he would have probably conceded the final because Ombersley were so strong. It must have slipped my mind to pass this information onto the boys themselves – strange how coaches can be that forgetful sometimes.
At the beginning of the season the final had booked for…..Ombersley, so to make things worse we were playing on our opponent’s home ground. With the start scheduled for 10:00, we duly met at the ungodly Sunday hour of 8:15, which resulted in some very bleary eyed players (and the odd bleary eyed parent) setting off in convoy. We had plenty of time to prepare and get ready for the game unlike our opponents turned up a good half hour after us…maybe they were taking us lightly.
The coach’s battle plan (as practised in training on Friday night) involved pinching every possible run when batting, cutting down our wides and no balls when bowling and fielding like demons.
Brookesy won the toss and elected to bat, but unfortunately we lost TC to a smart catch first ball and Jack Harry for 5 in the 3rd over. Up against it at 12 for 2. Enter Brookesy who proceeded to play a ‘Captains knock’ just when it was needed, all they way to 30 when he had to retire (U13 rules for the un-initiated). Other contributions cam from Vern (15) and Jake Heath (16no), but our 2nd highest scorer was Mr. Extra, who contributed 29 (24 of the wides). So we finished on 124 for 6, a very creditable effort considering the standard of the opposition we were up against. As the players left the field following the first innings one of our opponents was overheard making a comment about how they would get the runs comfortably. No motivation needed for our lot then!
With the coach’s instructions ringing in their ears (along the lines of don’t bowl any wides and stop anything that comes anywhere near you), Jack Harry opened the bowling, determined to make up for his early dismissal with the bat. After finding his range with the first 2 (slightly over-pitched after adjusting from 22 yards the day before to the U13 wicket of 20 yards), he crashed one into the openers pads – 1 down. In his 2nd over, he had their No. 3 caught by the skipper – 2 down with only 9 on the board. The skipper then bought himself on for Chillo, but after 6 overs Ombersley were 35-2 and up with the rate. Cue the arrival of the spin-twins Niall ‘Lofty’ Cooper and Jake Heath, and backed up by some superb fielding we started to build the pressure. A smart stumping from Windy got rid of the other opener, and after 3 overs Niall’s figures were 2 for 1.
Jake only went for 14 from his 4, and after 12 overs Ombersley were 50 for 3
Our opponents were starting to wilt under the pressure, and Brookesy went for the kill, bringing on Jack H for the 15th over. 2 wickets later, Jack finished with figures of 12 for 4 off 4, a tremendous effort. Jake then pulled off 2 tremendous pieces of fielding to run out 2 more, and we were home and dry. Ombersley finished on 85 for 9. Our lot had won by the small margin of 39 runs. Marvellous!
Bill Heaton, the league organiser making the presentation said that the main difference between the 2 sides was the standard of our fielding and the fact that we only bowled 9 wides against Ombersley’s 24. How right he was. It was very gratifying that the things we practiced in training on Friday with together with Malcolm Hughes were the things that won us the game. Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?
Thanks to the parents for getting up so early and supporting the lads on the day, and during the league matches and play-offs earlier in the season.
The team for the final was;
Mike Brookes (captain)
Tom Cowen
Niall Cooper
Jack Harry
James Vernon
Jake Heath
Alex Chilton
Ryan Crowther
Chris Ryan
Ryan Windmill
James Whitehouse
Todd Quiney played in every game except the final, and Robbie Mills played in most of the league matches before picking up a long term injury. Other lads that have played this season are Ben Wilcox, Jack Beedle, Danny Robinson, Danny Sadler and James Calleia. One of the reasons we have had such a good season is the strength in depth we have in this group which is borne out by the fact that most of the lads have played senior Saturday cricket this season.
I am now going for a lie down
Tigga
Related Links:
Under 13 report
U13 Update
3rd XI vs Aldridge
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