Hanley Castle & Upton Cricket Club

Great Scot! Seconds win again Hanley Castle & Upton On Severn Second XI Match report

Cricket Ball Fly At Former RAF Aerodrome!
On a hot dry Saturday at Perdiswell Hanley seconds again triumphed with a blend of youth and experience. Josh Lewis called correctly and positively inserted the home side to bat on a dry wicket. Needing to rely on an accurate bowling attack Hanley did not disappoint, Will Chambers tying down opener Bayliss before removing his middle stump. Chris Duckworth bowled a heroic spell of 12 overs for 34 runs with the major wicket of Bolton for 41, who had managed two fine edges before a thunderbolt return catch to the bowler was gratefully received. The Hanley youth policy paid dividends in this game with Johnny Bywater, Toby Harper and Josh Lewis all bowling very tidy spells. The spellbinding spin of Hanley's still secret weapon RRE Wright (Known as Peter to his team mates) twirled away for 3-37 with young keeper James Smith nabbing a smart catch and a stumping. Ollie Lewis and Nick Bentley patrolled the boundaries panther like and a determined team effort by HC not to fall asleep in the middle 15 overs paid "big banker bonus style dividends" by keeping OE's down to 163.

After tea, Hanley set about the chase down, Peter Wright with 26, supported by Johnny Bywater 8 gave Hanley a steady platform to their innings. OE's every youthful Tony Neel had to be treated with respect, bowling 12 overs for 35 with 2 wickets. Enter Hanley's Great Scot, Ewan Finlayson, who after scientifically working out the relative trajectory of the ball off the pitch for his first few overs took the game to OE with a comprehensively balanced innings of precision attack and Boycottesque defence. Another product of the Hanley youth system Toby Harper played an excellent supporting innings with 25 solidly accumulated runs offering Finlayson the opportunity to achieve a well deserved half century 52 no. When Harper was stumped Ollie Lewis came to the wicket and played a very attacking “Ollie innings” of 41 no to secure the win with 7 overs to spare

With two wins in two weeks there are roomers of a Public Holiday being declared in the Independent republic of Hanley Castle to reflect this wondrous achievement, achieved by a happy team spirit created by a blend of Youth and experience, and a wee dram of Scottish talent.

OE’s 161-7 off 45 Overs

HC&UoS 163-3 off 38 overs

The Cat #33

Hanley Castle & Upton On Severn Under 15's v Malvern Under 15's on 01-07-2010

Hanley Castle under 15's all have one thing in common: A Great Team Spirit with a determination to all do their very best to support each and every member of their team. The biggest problem is who not to play; such is the wealth of enthusiasm, talent and more over their enjoyment of playing the game and always supporting each other even if things don't quite work out. With this team the future for the senior side s looks very positive with many members of this team either playing for the 1's, 2's already or soon to come through to the senior club sides.

Thursday evening we welcomed Malvern under 15's to Fortress Glebe in a league game. Despite the light showers and cloud cover, home Skipper Will Chambers again lost the toss but was surprised when Malvern asked Hanley to bat. Chambers 25 and Billy Taylor 22 opened the Hanley innings in a very positive way with an opening partnership of 71 off 8.2 overs, The momentum was kept up with Tom Bottomley 7, Chris Shuard 7, Toby Harper a quick fire 10 no and Alex Spring playing a very attacking innings of 33 took the score up to 161 off 20 overs

With our policy of ensuring every player has a some action in the game Matt Dunwell opened the bowling from the Castle End took a very sharp return chance for a super C&B in his spell of 3-0-12-1, Will Chambers from the Severn End removed the Malvern opener Smith and then Coal in a spell of 3-2-4-2. Richard Clive took over from the impressive Dunwell with his Hanley leg spin and was really unlucky not to get a wicket as his bowling was almost unplayable, Louis “golden arm” Duckworth was an a hat trick in his second over but sturdy defence denied the Jug of Cola moment, Louis finishing with 3-10 in his spell. Ringing the changed kept the Malvern score down with Mark Smout taking 1-10 off 3 overs as the gloom descended, Chris Shuard's left arm bowling proved difficult to get off the square 0-7 off 3 miserly overs, and with Billy Taylors chipping in with 1-3 off his spell it was left to Tom Bottomley's new look off spin 1-0 getting a wicket at the close Malvern being 65-9 off their 20 overs.

Credit must be given to Malvern's Brown, Hill & Nicklin all of whom played dogged and determined cricket in a great effort to not get out easily, and to Hanley's Johnny Bywater who despite feeling under the weather, gave encouragement to his team all through the game.

Also Jacob Lee for watching his team when not playing, and I must mention James Smith and Tom Boldry both of whom are regular players in the side but were not available for this particular game.

HC&UoSCC under 15’s 161-6 off 20 Overs

Malvern U15’s 65-9 off 20 overs

A Hanley Castle & Upton On Severn Under 15 win by 96 runs

Rupert Chambers
U15’s Manager