Page 48 - West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club Yearbook 2016-17

UNDER 15 – AGE CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT
The U15’s fielded 3 teams in 2016/17 in a strong competition. The Gold Team backed up making the finals for the 2nd Year running, finishing 4th before drawing the Semi Final in a rain affected match. The Blue team were unlucky to pip the gold team for the last finals spot missing out by 1 point to finish 5th. The white team whilst finishing last had some close results, but just could not maintain momentum throughout the year.
Thanks to all the team Coaches, Managers, Umpires, Scorers and weekend support staff on behalf of WPHCCC.
Andrew Morris - U15 Co-ordinator
Under 15 Blue
This season the Blues had a playing roster of 12 and this gave each boy the opportunity to maximise their time on the field, which they relished. Unfortunately, significant pre-season and early season injuries to key players and unavailability of others resulted in the team playing short in the first three rounds. Two of these games were against teams that finished first and third on the ladder and a heart-breaking loss in the second last over of game three left the Blues registering three losses from their first three games.
Such early season disappointment would have crushed the enthusiasm of most teams but the boys knew cricket couldn’t get any tougher than this and developed a steely resolve. Each boy continued to train with exuberance and responded with three good wins from their next three matches. Playing under the mantra of “never give up” and “it only takes one ball” the Blues were a hard side to beat with a full complement of players, especially when defending their total.
The boys played near faultless cricket after Christmas, culminating with an exceptional win (with only ten players) over a full strength second placed Normanhurst team. This was followed up with a good bowling performance in their next game, only to be denied victory the following week by Sydney’s heat wave, and in their last game of the season the Blues came close to winning outright which would have resulted in the team sneaking into the semis.
With 5 wins, 5 losses and a draw, the team finished 5th, just 1 point shy of a semi-final berth. At the end of the day, given the start to the season, this was a good result.
Season Highlights:
• Attendance and attitude at training – fantastic.
• The parent group responding (positively!) to the coaches’ request (demand) of an early game arrival to allow time for pre-game stretches and warm ups. The Blues were always first to arrive at the ground as a team and looked professional as they went through their routines.
• Round 3 vs Hornsby-Berowra – Scored 6/183 without the services of the team’s two top run scorers. This gave the boys a glimpse of what could be achieved with determination and it kicked started their season.
• Round 4 vs WPHC White – bowled out for 186 the Blues made the most of their opportunity to bowl eight overs before close of play to take 3 for 13. This set up the first win of the season.
• Round 9 a one-dayer vs Normanhurst – 3/145 vs 8/129. This win was achieved with only ten players and reversed the heavy defeat inflicted on the team by Normanhurst in Round 2 (95 Vs 9/237). A benchmark game demonstrating the vast improvement in the side.
• Round 11 vs WPHC White – 3/171 vs 53 and 6/95. The boys clinically executed their game plan in a phenomenal all round performance that kept the team’s semi-final hopes alive right to the very last over of the season. What a way to finish the season.
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