Mixed fortunes for U9 sides

IL
Ian Lamont 17 July, 2015

The club's U9 Eagles won this week, while the U9s were Hawks were defeated.

The Eagles scored 298-8 against Southern Railway and Kenley's 267-7, winning by 31 runs.

Another hot and sunny morning  was provided the Eagles’ last away match of the season.  It was a particularly important game for the Eagles to win for Will John-Cox and Flynn McRobbie who, as members of the Merstham Hippos, had lost to them by one run in the final of the Capel six aside tournament last month.  With only nine players on the day, the boys knew that they needed to perform at their best, which was exactly what they did. 

Captain for the day, Luke Hirchfield won the toss and elected to bat.  Runs scoring occurred in leaps and bounds with notable performances by Michael Noad (15 off his two overs by himself), Will (27 off 15) and Connor Morris whose big hitting resulted in a six clearing the longest boundary seen all season.  The team score would have been considerably more had it not been for SR&K’s opening bowling pair and their tidy fielding throughout.

In reply, Merstham’s boys all bowled superbly, with only two wides and three no-balls in the whole twenty overs.  Luke Hirchfield took 2 wickets with one each to Will, Michael, Flynn and Ben Wright.  As ever, Hamdan Rashid bowled tightly, conceding only 2 runs off his two overs.  Freddie Stevens took catch of the day in the same over as stopping two fours that looked like certainties and Barney Turner’s quick responses resulted in a great run-out.  Man of the match went to Hamdan for a superb four.

Thanks go to Glenn Hirchfield for coaching on the day in the absence of Nick Thomas, Darren Turner for umpiring and Jude McRobbie (Under 11s player) for his first full go at scoring.

The U9 Hawks faced a very strong Reigate Priory, who were further strengthened by the inclusion of a number of their NEC players.
The Hawks got off to their customary fast start in the field, with two wickets in the first two overs.  
 
But although the team yet again bowled fantastically, for the next 16 overs further wickets eluded them - countless balls whistled narrowly past the stumps, run-out chances weren't taken, and the number of shots that looped agonisingly just out of reach was unbelievable.  
 
But, as throughout the season, the team's enthusiasm and effort in the field never wavered, and they were rewarded with 3 wickets in the final 2 overs - of particular note Harry Colbourne's run out - a fantastic flat fast fling from afar.
 
Priory finished on 288-5, Ollie Durston the pick of many great bowling performances with 2 wickets.
 
But - as much as their bowling has been their undoubted strength this season, the Hawks’ batting hasn’t quite been at the same level, and they struggled to score runs against a very strong bowling and fielding performance from Priory.  Fred Cantrel and James Pieters both displayed powerful hitting in scoring 11 and 16 respectively, but the Hawks never really threatened Priory's total, and ended on 232-10.  
 
Yet again the team were enthusiastic and committed throughout the match, and gracious in defeat.