2011 News
Wednesday September 2011 - NIDDERDALE JUNIOR LEAGUE FINALS DAY
On Sunday 4th September 10 teams took part in the Finals day hosted by Harrogate CC at St George’s Road. This was the first time that Harrogate had had the chance to show off their new facilities to the junior league and show off they did.
The U9’s pairs final was between Harrogate and North Stainley; North Stainley had already won the Coad Cup earlier in the season so if all went the same way as the previous two seasons they had to be favourites. Stainley batted first and posted a very useful 257 with contributions from all the team. The way that Harrogate then attacked the score it looked for once that the favourites might just lose out. There then came a spell of very useful bowling and a couple of wickets were lost and to finish off in style Luke Bourne-Arton took two of the best catches that actually deserved to have an effect on the outcome which they did as the runs lost by Harrogate meant that they couldn’t come back into the game. Yet again another double by an under 9’s side, taking both league and cup Trophies. Well done North Stainley.
The U11 pairs again saw Harrogate feature this time taking on Helperby. Harrogate batted first and posted again 257 runs Ben Wilkinson top scoring with 15 runs. It wasn’t to be Helperby’s day though as Charlie Papworth was really on form with the ball taking 4 wickets for only 9 runs, even his Lord’s Taverners teammate Herbie Milton couldn’t alter the tie when he came in, especially as he was greeted with a beamer first ball from another Lord’s Taverner (Ralph knows who he is). So that was Harrogate’s first victory of the day.
The Second was to follow later in the U11 11 a side final versus Beckwithshaw where a lot of familiar faces from this year’s Lord’s Taverners team were pitted against each other. A great final between two very good U11 sides: a credit to their clubs.
Knaresborough were facing Beckwithshaw in the U13 final, Beckwithshaw batted first and started out very well with both openers Harry Stanford and Ben Bond retiring on reaching 25. Knaresborough then had a flurry of wicket taking getting 5 for 33 runs to limit ‘Shaw to a total of 105. ‘Shaw then looked to be in a very commanding position having ‘Borough at 10 for 2, but a skipper’s innings from Eddie Barnes and a quick cameo appearance from George Davies and another 26 from James Webster took them past Beckwithshaw with 3 overs to spare, despite Tom Lawson’s best efforts with 2 for 20. Yet another disappointment for the ‘Shaw.
Unfortunately for Beckwithshaw it wasn’t going to end there. Harrogate had only just managed to get the semi final v Spofforth played the same morning so were nicely warmed up for the U15’s final. The same however could be said for Beckwithshaw as a number of their players had already represented the club at U13. Harrogate bowled well to start off the game a kept the runs very tight. Beckwithshaw having to work very hard to keep the scoreboard turning over. In the second innings it wasn’t going to be easy for Harrogate though as ‘Shaw managed to get a couple of early wickets to make the game interesting, but it was to be Harrogate’s day in the end and a hat full of runner’s up medals for Beckwithshaw throughout the day.
A massive thank you to Harrogate CC for hosting the day and the league look forward to returning on Monday 12th September for the presentation evening where Yorkshire CCC Skipper Andrew Gale will be in attendance to present the trophies.
