18th July 2012
| Mallory Gray
Newport make progress in ECB Under 15 Club Championships
The Cricket Wales finals of the ECB Under 15 Club Championships were scheduled for Sunday 24th June at Newport but like a lot of recent events had to be postponed due to bad weather. Following failed attempts to re-schedule the competition, all four finalists – Newport, Pontardulais, Mochdre and Burton – agreed that Newport would play Pontarddulais to determine Wales’ representatives in the ECB stages, with the Welsh finals being played later in the summer.
Having been crowned UK U/13 ECB Cup Winners in 2010, Newport Cricket Club remain on course to become one of very few teams to have won the UK title at U/13 & then defended it at U/15.
Having qualified to represent the Welsh Zone by beating Pontarddulais in an indoor match (thanks to the weather!), Newport made further progress with victory over Frocester (Gloucestershire) in National Stage Round 1 of the ECB U/15 Cup :-
Frocester 118 - 4 (B. Tegg 39not out, A. Ireland 25)
Newport 121 - 2 (J. Thorpe-Yon 50 retired, S. Thornton 39 not out)
Newport won by 8 wickets.
Newport C.C U/15's then beat Old Elizabethans (Worcs) in Play Off Round 2 of the ECB U/15 Cup :-
Newport 118 - 7 (Dan Lezar 36 n.o, Jack Thorpe-Yon 35, Matt Jones 32. D. Donaldson 3-12)
Old Elizabethans 109 - 8 (H. Martin 47)
Newport won by 9 runs.
Newport now go forward to the Regional Finals (Quarter Finals) at Weston-s-Mare on Monday 30th July, where they will play 3 other Zonal Winners for a place at the UK Finals Day at Kibworth Cricket Club on Wed 22nd August.
ECB Under 13 National Club Championship
CARDIFF CRICKET CLUB MAKE THE FINALS!!
The ECB U13 National Championship reaches its climax in early August with the National Finals being held in the picturesque surroundings of Oakham School, Ruthland.
Last year, over 1700 teams entered the competition with just six teams reaching the National Finals. Cardiff CC participated in these Finals and finished a very creditable 3rd place.
This year, with even more teams entering, Cardiff CC have again won through to the National Finals after winning eight preliminary rounds. They clinched their place with a couple of impressive victories against Thorverton CC, the Devon champions and then accounted for Bristol CC in the final at Weston-super-Mare CC to add the South Wales trophy to their much valued Welsh Championship Title.
Cardiff posted a score of 114-3 against Bristol. Openers Sam Wall and wicketkeeper Dafydd Manley displayed sound technique, intelligent stroke selection and well judged singles to give a solid platform to the innings and were then aided with further contributions with the bat by Prem Sisodiya and David Kett.
In reply, Bristol replied positively but Cardiff applied pressure in the field, resulting in gaining four run-out decisions. The bowling of Dan O’Sullivan proved crucial as his 2 for 16 helped Cardiff dismiss their opponents for 92 to gain a hard fought victory by 22 runs.
Earlier, in the South West/Wales - National Stage Round 1 - Cardiff C.C entertained South Wilts C.C to play for a place in the National Quarter Finals. The visitors made a steady start, putting on 52 runs for the loss of just 1 wicket after 12 overs. However, with the introduction of spin, a collapse in the batting took place, resulting in South Wilts C.C being reduced to 68 all out within their allocated 20 overs.
The Cardiff CC U13 squad
In reply, the hosts began their innings slowly but initially kept wickets in hand to gain victory by 6 wickets with 2 overs to spare.