Team coaches
This year, the team
will be coached by:
Andy Batty, Tom Holloway and Paul Vesey
If you have any questions about the team, please
direct them to the coach first.
2007
Season Report
The 2007 season can be summed up thus: rain, rain,
rain….and then…….more rain!
Thursday nights seemed to be reserved for rain. The net effect was
that out of fourteen games that we should have played, we managed to
play seven.
However, none of this was presaged when, on a beautifully sunny
evening in May, we beat Radcliffe by nine wickets. This was followed
by three successive defeats: SW Manchester, Monton & Weaste (cup)
and Monton & Weaste, by two runs, three wickets and loads.
Incidentally, the defeats by M&W were down to playing against one of
the biggest hitters I have ever seen at U-14 level: A lad of
fourteen clearing a pavilion with a straight hit, not once but three
times, is something I don’t think I have seen before and, probably,
never will again. Lenihan! a name to watch for the future?
Apparently, Lancashire will not pick him because he hits the ball in
the air. All I can say is that they must have some b*&&%y big
grounds in Lancashire. Lenihan only played three U-14 games, all
against us, which, in my view, is a backhanded compliment.
Worsley were beaten by ten wickets and after that it rained but with
a sufficient break for us to beat Sale by nine wickets. There was no
more cricket until, in frustration, we played Cheadle on a
completely unfit pitch, without three team members, and lost by 11
runs.
Finally, in July, the weather relented. We played Radcliffe and won
by 27 runs.
And that’s about it folks. The under 14 season for 2007. Not a
memorable one by any means. For the record, we finished fifth in the
league (out of twelve).
When you have weather like we have had to endure this year, it makes
it extremely difficult to get people a game. All the plans you have
for when you play the weaker teams go out of the window, because
these become must-win games to maintain a league position. So for
those of you who feel you have not been given a fair crack of the
whip, I apologise.
Also, when grounds are barely fit, they become great equalizers. The
pitches are slow and players who you can expect to knock over are
able to stick around. Balls that would normally go for four get
caught up in the outfield and so on. It really was very frustrating.
Finally, it would not be right to conclude this report with out some
thank you’s. Hazel Leach, what would I do without you? Money
collector, scorer, organiser extraordinaire! Every team needs a
Hazel Leach. Thank you.
To all the parents who transported children over Barton Bridge, in
the rush-hour, to the far flung grounds in Salford, thank you.
To Alan Clowes who stood in for me whenever necessary, thank you.
Incidentally, whenever we won a game, Alan was the umpire. Perhaps I
can take a message from this.
And finally, a big thank you to the U 14 players. They are always
good fun to be around. Some friendships for life are being formed
and they will serve Brooklands well in the future. It has been a
pleasure coaching and umpiring you. Winter well and we will see you
all next year.
Hash Maitra
Please check the
Archive
for averages, results, fixture records, etc.
Previous Seasons
All match reports, season reports, averages, fixtures, team
photos, league tables, etc from previous seasons which have been submitted to
the website are now stored in the club
Archive. Click
here to access them,
or follow the links from the menu (under Members Area).
