Under 15s success in 2009 continues

Following their success in the Graham Cup the Under 15 XI have progressed to the League Cup Final 2009.

The boys completed their group matches with a 100% record – details below –

all matches 20 overs unless otherwise stated:

WCC v Donacloney  (Away)           Won by 10 wkts

                                                            Donacloney 18 all out / WCC 19 for 0

                                                            (J Hall -  6 for 3 - incl hatrick all bowled)

WCC v Laurelvale     (Away)           Won by 29 runs

                                                            WCC 117 for 3 / Laurelvale 77 for 6

                                                            (R Dennison 50 no, A Kennedy 23, M. Bell 2 for 7)

WCC v Lisburn          (Home)           Won by 8 wkts

                                                            Lisburn 94 for 9 / WCC 98 for 2

(R Calvert 2 for 15, J Mitchell 2 For 17, R Dennison 2 for 31,

 R Dennison 36 no, A Kennedy 36)         

WCC v Armagh         (Home)          Won by 12 runs

                                                            WCC 171 for 6 / Armagh 159 for 3          (25 overs)

                                                            ( R Dennison 60, A Mitchell 54)

WCC v Lurgan           (Home)           Won by 4 runs

                                                            WCC 91 for 7 / Lurgan 87 for 8

                                                            ( R Dennison 21, J Hall 22, J Hall 3 for 5)

They then played Larne (Group winners of Section 1 in the semi final at Banbridge Academy on Wednesday 26 August and ran out comfortable winners in a low scoring affair played in gloomy overcast conditions. However credit should go to both teams for ensuring that this important stage of the competition was decided by a cricket match and not an artificial alternative.

WCC v Larne (Home)          Won by 41 runs

                                                            WCC 78 for 4 / Larne 37 all out

                                                            (M Bell 27, A Morgan 5 for 12, J Hall 2 for 6, S Matthews 2 for 9)

The remarkable feature of the League campaign is that all but one of the group matches was played with no fewer than 5 changes from the Graham Cup winning team. That the squad can accommodate these changes in personnel with no significant drop in performance is testament to the number and quality of young cricketers available in the club’s junior ranks.

The players who have contributed to the successful league campaign are –

A Mitchell (capt), J Hall, R Dennison, A Kennedy, M Bell, R Calvert, A Morgan, M Duggan,      S Matthews, N Simpson, P Hayes, A Dennison, J Mitchell, C Kennedy, S Wilson, C Neville

The final is to be played on Friday 4 Sept @ Saintfield - starting at 5.00pm

The boys will face North Down who will no doubt be looking for revenge after their defeat when the two teams last met in the Graham Cup semi-final in June.

Waringsown U15 win the Graham Cup Final

Waringstown 199-5 (35 overs)
J Hall 42, R Dennison 38, A Mitchell 33, A Kennedy 20, R Adair 2-20
Holywood 191 all out
R Adair 55, B Carr 55, M Bell 2-14, R Calvert 2-22, A Morgan 2-39
Waringstown won by 8 runs

In a high scoring and highly entertaining Graham Cup Final, at Middle Road, Carrick, Waringstown U15s secured a memorable victory over Holywood.
The conditions were hot and sunny so Waringstown having won the toss decided to bat first. The Waringstown batting had been solid in the previous rounds but openers Ryan Dennison (son of previous Graham Cup winner and Irish International – David) and (NICA U14 Academy player) Aaron Kennedy knew that they would face a stern task against NCU U15 inter-provincial bowlers Ross Adair and Mark Best.
The Waringstown pair looked assured and were just beginning to bat with some freedom after negotiating the initial20Holywood threat - but with the score on 41, Kennedy was caught for 20. Matthew Bell, batting for the first time this season at No.3, joined Dennison and the pair added 57 for the second wicket, in 9 overs. Bell stroked his way to a tidy 17 before being dismissed.
Dennison was beginning to find his timing and the arrival of Andrew Mitchell saw the scoring rate increase before Dennison was caught and bowled by Adair, for 38, at the start of the latter’s second spell. With 9 overs remaining and 123 runs already on the board Waringstown were well placed. It appeared that the inability to take regular wickets and the extreme heat were affecting the fielding side with errors and extras helping the Waringstown boys towards a sizable total.
Josh Hall joined his NCU U15 partner Mitchell and the pair struck the ball hard and ran positively to help add 76 runs before Hall fell to the last ball of the innings. (Mitchell 33 off 30 balls / Hall 42 off 34 balls) – Total 199 for 5 - in 35 overs.

After tea, any thoughts Waringstown had that their opponents would be overawed by the target were quickly dispelled, as the boys from Seapark raced to 111 for 1 by the 16th over. Holywood captain Adair was on 55 (off 39 balls) and was literally leading his side from the front when he was deceived by a delivery from legspinner Kennedy and was bowled. The tandem attack of offspinner Sam Matthews at one end and the legspinner at the other, ably supported by some excellent fielding, continued for 14 overs applying a brake to the Holywood run chase, with each bowler picking up a vital wicket. Ben Carr continued to play his shots until he was bowled by Andrew Morgan,
for 55, leaving the score on 166 for 5.
So with 34 runs required to win, in eight overs and five wickets in hand and the dangerous Best at the crease – Waringstown were in a dogfight. Tension was building but the “young=2 0Villagers” displayed their mental toughness and self belief. Skipper Mitchell tossed the ball to offspinner Matthew Bell – a brave move at that stage of the game in the view of many observers – however Bell found his rhythm immediately and claimed two wickets for 14 runs in his 3 over spell. Score - 181 for 7.
Opening bowler Hall was recalled for his last over and struck straight away to make it 182 for eight.
Bowling options were running out but the fielding captain showed faith in the younger of his two opening bowlers and with Best well set on 10 and 18 runs needed he called on Ryan Calvert who had 19 runs taken off his two overs at the beginning of the Holywood innings. This time however there was no repeat of the nervousness shown earlier and with the first ball of his return the 14 year old seam bowler removed Best with a perfect yorker – 182 for 9. Nine more runs were collected before Calvert, with the third ball of his next over clean bowled the final Holywood batsman to leave a winning margin of 8 runs and as cheering and relieved Waringstown supporters looked on the bowler disappeared beneath his ecstatic team mates.
Waringstown – 199 for 5 (35 overs), J. Hall 42, R. Dennison 38, A. Mitchell 33, A. Kennedy 20, R. Adair 2 – 20. Holywood – 191 all out (33.3 0vers). R. Adair 55, B. Carr 55, C. Hayes 24. M Bell 2-14, R. Calvert 2-23, A. Morgan 2-39