Derbyshire Cricket Board - Boys

Room 25 was the party room this year (Stumpcam again!) and the first night revelry continued to be heard almost up until the witching hour. The Repton Festival is an exciting event for the boys and they certainly were excited. Yard cricket, hide and seek in ‘Hogwarts’ and active use of the games room were attractions so difficult to ignore that the boys deemed a 5.30am start the next

morning as necessary to get full enjoyment out of the event. As the cricket staff for the weekend we were pleased that they were enjoying themselves, however on the first night our opening words of ‘you are here primarily to play cricket’ were largely forgotten. This in turn did have an impact on the boys performance on the second day but they bounced back in fine style on the final day. The Repton Festival is one that hopefully they will have fond memories of, some of which may also be cricket related as it is certainly a privilege to play on the hallowed Repton 1^st XI square at such a tender age.

We cannot blame the party atmosphere for first our performance against Shropshire, a team who we had convincingly got the better of in our encounter earlier in the season. The main culprit was our batting, which reverted to it’s early season approach as we were unable to bat out our overs. These thirty balls lost made the difference in a match that went down to the penultimate ball. Only Alex Cooper (35) with his first of three sensibly crafted innings during the Festival and Archie Moore (21) were able to apply themselves, whilst Archie Shannon (9*) batted well at the end but ran out of partners with our total finishing on 117. We would have to turn things round in the field and with Shropshire 55 for 4 off 20 overs, we thought we had done this and were certainly in the driving seat. Miserly bowling from Joe Whitfield, Nils Priestley and Archie Shannon (who also added a run out), coupled with wickets from Archie Moore, Harry Whitworth and Charles Barlow had set the scene. As expected Shropshire came out of the final drinks break with more intent. And here we lost our cool as their batsmen intelligently maneuvered the ball into gaps and we needless tried to ‘hit em’ when we could have hung on. Basics of backing up went out the window as no less than 12 overthrows were conceded in the hurly-burly. In the first 6 overs after the break we had leaked nearly 50 runs with only 3 boundaries. With Shropshire only now needing 7 to win with three overs left could we salvage a victory? A run out and two wickets for Archie Moore (5-1-10-3) suddenly swung the balance again. The next Nils over saw a boundary but also a run out. None down now with two needed off the last. Could we pull it off?

The answer unfortunately today was no. In spite of an excellent over by Archie Moore (four dots off the first four balls) an outside edge eluded third man and it was over. How did we lose that game? See above for reasons. Lessons continue to be learnt by the Derbyshire U10s.

So the Sleepless in Repton crew went on to face the strongest team in the tournament Staffordshire on a baking hot day. And to be fair we tried hard and competed for large portions of the game but whether it was tiredness or whether we were just outplayed it is hard to say. Perhaps a little of each. We started brilliantly Nils Priestley and William Kilgour removing the openers with only 6 on the board. The Staffs pair of Redman and Taylor however looked strong and the next wickets did not come until half way through the allocated overs when Josh Lacey found himself on a hatrick that included a smart stumping by Joe Newnham. At 20 overs with Staffs 48 for 4 we were once more on top. But again the pressure told and we leaked over 70 in the last 10. There were less overthrows for sure but this time the bowlers were a little off line. 121 was posted by Staffordshire, par for the Festival but somewhat of a recovery. We could have done better. However ultimately it was our batting that let us down again. We were all out for 74 this time and in only 20 overs. Staffs bowled well with no-one providing us with an opportunity to get away. However when your top two scorers Joshua Lacey (13) and Alex Cooper (13*) just scrape into double figures, you can say with confidence that the batting unit has not performed to county standard. The bowling was good but it was not that good. So another disappointing result although to the

coaches the defeat on the first day was still rankled more. Some improvement would be needed on the final day.

How would we fare on the last day? The morning started well off the pitch. The boys exhausted by fatigue and their efforts on the Saturday woke up with all the benefits of a great night’s sleep. The energy in the camp had returned and the mood was positive. This was directly reflected in our batting performance soon after. For the first time this week the top order fired and Reece Holmes (44) played magnificently putting on a 60 partnership for the second wicket with Joshua Vaughan (13) at a healthy run rate. The entrance of Archie Moore (50*) though boosted this further as he has done all season. His undefeated partnership of 70 with Alex Cooper (19*) included some violent

strokes including one flat six that nearly cost Repton School some repairs to their electronic scoreboard. The last ten overs were dispatched for 80 as the Hunts bowlers and fielders started to flag on another hot and humid day. A final total of 156 for 4 off our 30 overs would take an extra-ordinary effort to beat. And so it proved. With wickets falling at regular intervals the Hunts batsmen never looked liked threatening our total and ultimately fell some distance (80 runs) short when Will Kilgour (3-1-2-1) took the final wicket. Special mention with the ball should go to Nils Priestley (4-0-12-2) who playing his final county match of the season bowled a hostile opening spell, sending one batsman’s off stump flying out of the ground and barring a very special performance in our last fixture he will end up as the season’s leading wicket taker with 12. However the honours for the day were shared by two bowlers who both were not quite able to complete hat-tricks; Joshua Lacey (4-1-6-3) who’s decision to switch to off spin at the start of the season has been paying dividends and Archie Shannon (5-2-4-3) who has strived hard all season without full reward, successfully bagging his wickets today combined with the captaincy. All in all a very satisfying way to end the Festival.

Well done to the boys for all their hard work over the three days. I hope that they will have some great memories both on and off the pitch. Thank you also to Richard Wood for his invaluable help, to Jon Dyson for sparing his time to support and to Steve Dixon for his help through the three days. A rematch against Staffordshire awaits as the finale to our season.

Having started the season struggling to bat out our overs, the Derbyshire u10s top order came to the party for the second match in a row setting our best total of the season at 188 for 5 off our 35 overs. Add to this the probing spell from Charles Barlow who returned his best county figures of 7-0-22-4, the Derbyshire U10s should have finished the game on top. And in truth we did, however we left the wonderful setting of Wellington CC also a little frustrated as we were unable to bowl Shropshire out.

Back from illness and opening the batting, Reece Holmes, 57 (pictured) was today's rock finally out in the 28th over having completed his first county fifty and playing a significant part in two outstanding partnerships of 50 and 100, which included some excellent running between the wickets. The first partnership was with Luke Baddeley (23) who for the second game in a row played straight and looked comfortable against the new ball. His partner for the second was Archie Moore (48) who followed up his near miss half-century today with another even nearer miss, but even better innings than the last. Two half centuries and two forties from the top order in the last two games has meant that we are now setting the opposition some stiff challenges and shows that the boys are learning fast how to adapt their batting to this longer form of the game. The innings finished in bright style with an Alex Cooper maximum over mid-wicket with still time for a positive 20 run partnership between Joshua Vaughan and Ben Porter. Thank you to the Vaughan family for rushing down at very short notice to fill in for the sick Joshua Lacey - hope you get better soon Josh!

As he does so often Nils Priestley started us off well with the ball taking a wicket in his first spell. From there on it became the Charles Barlow show. Bowling with great accuracy Charles managed to tempt three Salop batsmen into cover drives, on each occassion the ball skewing to the safe hands of skipper Reece Holmes at extra cover. He picked up his fourth wicket through a diving catch by Will Kilgour! And with an excited crowd willing him on he came very close a couple of times to claiming a fifth victim. Although Will Kilgour then with the ball picked up a wicket in his tidy spell of 4-1-5-1, we were ultimately furstrated by a seventh wicket stand that kept us at bay for 13 overs. Whilst Shropshire never threatended our total Parry & Lewin batted very well and fundamentally this secured the draw for their team. This was not before a little more excitement as Nils Priestley came back to claim a wicket in the 31st over and in the next over a great piece of fielding by Archie Moore abetted by keeper Joe Newnham claimed a run out. It was alas too little to late as the remaining batsmen blocked their way through the remaining 3 overs, not without some close calls.

All in all another positive day for the Derbyshire u10s. Progress is certainly obvious in the batting and catching. However attention has to be drawn again primarily to the seamers (and there are many in this squad competing for places) that such a large number of wides again (39 today!) is not acceptable at county level. In addition, most seamers today generally bowled too short or too wide. Please work on this over the next couple of weeks - some old fashioned line and length is needed. We also will be looking for some more 'zip' in the fielding. Fortunately we have a ready made opportunity to show some improvement as Shropshire will be our first fixture at the Repton Festival. Well done boys, let's keep improving.

On a sunny day in the south Derbyshire countryside, the Under 10s delivered their most mature performance of the year winning by 23 runs. We batted through our overs for the first time this season with significant individual performances and we then bowled/fielded with determination to keep the plucky Steelbacks at bay. There were some excellent performances through the day, not the least being Alex Cooper who at the last minute stood in as skipper in place of Reece Holmes who was unfit to play.

Batting first on a pitch that had yielded 600 runs the previous day was a 'good toss to win'. Our innings of 168 for 3 off 35 overs was an excellenteffort with partnerships flourishing and wickets in hand allowing us to accelerate at the right time. The biggest plaudits go to Josh Vaughan (53*) who batted through the innings (bar 4 deliveries) to record his first half-century, an oustanding effort. He did this in three partnerships of 38, 41 and 89*. Luke Baddeley (15) battled stoically to help us get to a good start and Nils Priestly provided a typical cameo slamming 29 off 19 balls. However the highlight was watching Archie Moore 47* off 34 balls play an intelligent and aggressive knock with Vaughny at the end to see us set a challenging total.

Scoreboard pressure does exist and that was certainly true today. A talented Northamptonshire batting line up gamely chased the total but when Sachin Kalyan was third out after crafting a stylish 36, the run rate started to creep up as further wickets also fell. In truth the Derbyshire bowling and fielding was good but could still be better. 31 extras and wavering concentration in the field on a hot day, represent areas to work on. But it would be callous not to look on the positive side. William Kilgour and Harry Whitworth bowled tightly without just reward, the three spinners Charles Barlow, Ben Porter and Joshua Lacey combined for 2-32 off their 10 overs making life generally difficult for the batsmen. Two good run outs, one stumping and Nils Priestley returning 3/20 to finally knock the fight out of the Steelbacks. Fuelled by the 'tea of the season' provided by our welcoming hosts at Swarkestone CC, we deserved our well-fought victory today. It was also great to see the injured Josef Whitfield and Reece Holmes come and support their team-mates, well done boys.

Looking for a repeat performance next Sunday!

There are definitely different ways to lose. In our last outing we threw away the game with an ajbect batting display, today Warwickshire won the game with an outstanding batting display. It is unique at u10s level to see a team so crammed with batsmen who approached their innings maturely and with good technique. And although we could have bowled better (30 wides - extras continues to be our most devastating opponent this year), the technically strong but assertive approach of the Warwickshire batters meant that they fully deserved the game.

Having put them them in to bat 73-1 off 8 overs was an explosive start by the Bears. One superb yorker from Archie Moore aside, our openers bowled with pace but waywardly - this was a general description of the seamers today. However Joshua Vaughan did step up to capture 2 wickets. He was supported by Joe Whitfield 4-0-14-1 and Archie Shannon 4-1-7-0 who probably took the bowling honours and arrested the batting onslaught. This was backed up by some excellent catching including Will Kilgour taking 3 catches in a match for the first time! Harry Whitworth making his full county debut also impressed with 4-0-14-2. But in general the Warwickshire boys kept on finding ways to plunder runs and even at the end a last wicket partnership of 22 took them to an impressive 196-9 off the 35 overs.

As against Lincs our openers started confidently until falling in quick succession. Reece Holmes (10) again looked comfortable at the crease and it was a surprise when he was played slightly down the wrong line. Nils Priestley was typically audacious scoring 27 off 16 balls, however he and the other members of the top order would do well to reflect on the difference between how the Warwickshire top order approached their innings and how we did. Our middle and lower order did however apply themselves against a good quality bowling attack. Archie Shannon (17) was the lynchpin of two battling partnerships that recorded 50 cumulatively supported first by Archie Moore (9) and Alex Cooper (17). At Lincs most batsmen gave their wicket away. Today against a better attack we showed some fight and most wickets fell to good bowling. Apart from Stumpcam, Charles Barlow managed to channel his energy towards doggedly seeing us to the end of our 35 overs. He batted Boycott-esque for 37 balls longer than any batsman from either side and alas was last man out LBW with just 8 balls left.

There are still many areas to work on. We continue to average nearly 40 extras a game - this is giving our opposition a head start. The concentration in the field is variable - players need to understand where they have been asked to field and not stray from there. We are some way from being a typically strong Derbyshire fielding unit. Bowlers need to work on the accuracy - good old fashioned line and length. And batsmen need to learn how to build an innings - don't give away your wicket make the opposition work for it.

But there is always a silver lining. We caught our catches excellently, our spinners bowled with accuracy/guile and we batted 8 overs longer than in our previous two outings nearly reaching the elusive 35. There was also some grit shown out there today.

There are nearly 3 weeks until our next match against Northants. Use this time wisely to work on your game boys. Competition for places will start to hot up as the season progresses.

On a blustery day at the lovely Bracebridge Heath ground, the Derbyshire U10s were blown off course as much by ourselves as the bracing conditions. 97 is a tough target to protect in 35 overs. The fact that we were bowled out with 10 overs remaining of our innings highlighted the transition that the boys need to make from pairs cricket to county level.

In spite of the fact that all the pre-innings talk focused around the amount of time available for to bat, concentration, crease occupation and patience seven of the Derbyshire batsmen lost their wicket trying to hit the ball over the in-field or got themselves run out. Lusty blows playing Under 11s club cricket often bring glory and praise from onlookers ... at county level the bowling is better, the fielding sharper (and credit to Lincolnshire they fielded exceptionally well) and balls hit in the air often mean you are out. Such was the case today. Probably only the opening pair Reece Holmes (12) and Joshua Lacey (11) could claim that they applied themselves in the right manner until some stubborn tail end resistance from William Kilgour. For the remaining batsman a harsh message from the coaches ... if you want to bat high up the order then you have to approach your innings more maturely. A top score of 14 in the innings at a run a ball is unlikely to bring much praise from coaches to the batting unit. Fortunately there were some glimpses today that there is talent in the batting line up and we look forward to seeing it on show in the next game. And to answer a question asked to me today remarkably by two of the boys, when you are out - you ARE out, there is no going back in. The message is clear - don't throw away your wicket, value it and make the bowler fight to earn it!

Which brings us onto the second low point of the day. Defending 97 is difficult. Conceding 36 extras in 18 overs (86 extras in 42 overs in the two games played to-date) means that the 'difficult' becomes 'impossible'. The large number of wides and byes were the main culprit and bowlers will need to practice hard over the next couple of weeks on their bowling lines. Lapses in fielding are however more down to concentration. I would encourage all players to work hard with their coaches on this aspect of their games. Understand the fielding position you have been put in (are you saving 1 or 4) and don't creep away from that position. Derbyshire junior teams have an reputation for fielding excellence and this Under 10s team will have to step up again to achieve this level. Again some positive glimpses with two excellent run outs show that the potential is most certainly there.

The most positive part of the day was watching Nils Priestley, Alex Cooper and Archie Moore steam in working up a good head of pace bowling full and fast. Remove the 36 extras and I genuinely believe that our bowling attack would have won us the game.

Our next game is against Warwickshire. It is always a tough fixture but we know that these Derbyshire boys are made of strong stuff and we look forward to seeing improved concentration and effort at Bedworth on 14 June.

Derbyshire Under 10’s off to a winning start against Foremarke Under 11’s

The first game of the DCB under 10 squad was a great success on many levels. The game was played at the superb venue - Foremarke Hall. An attractive setting for any junior game of cricket particularly in the sunshine on the day.

A small ground, with small boundaries provided opportunities for scoring and challenged the players where best to field when saving the one or the boundaries. Reece Holmes captained on the day and it was pleasing to see the development during the game and how supportive the players were.

Derbyshire batted first in the 25 over game. The openers Reece Holmes and Joshua Lacey put on a solid start of 19 off 7 over’s. The openers never looked in trouble when finding their feet at this early stage of the season. This partnership should have been more as there were singles being missed whilst the players learned their trade at this small ground.

After Joshua Lacey was bowled out, Nils Priestly entered the game and put on a solid partnership of 38 with Reece who was out LBW in the 12^th over (57 for 2). Archie Moore immediately followed to a good ball that went through the gap. Luke Baddeley joined Nils and put on the second solid partnership of the day (41).

The running between the wickets dramatically improved and all the observing players realised how easy it was to increase the rate comfortably. Nils narrowly missed out on a half century (46) and at 98 for 4 in 20^th over it was all about getting as many runs as possible with the wickets in hand. Ben Porter, Archie Shannon, Alex Cooper all had their turn and the team finished with a competitive 123 for 7.

After tea it was time for Derbyshire to show their fielding and bowling capabilities. The fielding was superb, all the players were keen to be involved and hungry for the ball. It was great to see so many players backing up the throws which resulted in two run outs. Joe Newnham kept wicket and did very well considering the small boundaries which meant byes amassed quickly with any width from the bowlers.

It was great to see a tidy stumping off the bowling of William Kilgour. Bowling wise all the players involved in the game bowled and it is safe to say Derbyshire have options available as everyone bowled well. With a blend of spin (wrist and finger), pace and medium pace, picking the bowlers for future matches will be a hard task which the coach will have much deliberation.

A summary of the bowling:

Wickets went to Nils (2), Archie Shannon (1), Josh Vaughan (1), William Kilgour (1), Josef Whitfield (2), Barlow (1). Some highlights are Ben Porter 2 over’s (2 maidens), Charles Barlow 2 over’s (1 wicket maiden and 1 maiden), Joseph Whitfield 2-1-1, Josh Vaughan 2 over’s of which 1 was a wicket maiden. All the other bowlers not mentioned specifically bowled well in addition the above. Wickets fell consistently through the innings with only two partnerships of 20 forming late in the innings. Foremarke were all out for 108 with 2 balls left in the innings.

A great day had by all, many thanks to Archie Shannon’s and Joe Newnham’s Dads for scoring on the day. If you have any pictures from the day please email them to John Sookias for distribution. The Foremarke School photographer also took plenty of pictures and will send a link to John for our viewing.

Well played lads, looking forward to the next game.

Thanks to Woody and in particular Russell Holmes for assisting for the game.

John Sookias - U10 Manager