Junior Cricket Round-Up - May 2025
Junior Round-Up
The U9s have just had the two games so far, with the league starting a week behind the other age-groups.
The trip to Woodley saw MCC lose by 27 in an entertaining game that saw Erin K make her debut and Thea A nail quite the six over cow corner. A week later it was Niamh F’s turn to make her debut as the 9s visited Denton West. The strong early season weather has meant excellent attendance at U9s training and it looks promising for re-entering a 2nd U9s team early in the 2025 summer.
For U11s Softball, the highlight so far has to be the May Bank Holiday Tournament held at Mottram CC. Having 3 sides representing Mottram was a pleasure to see, and a testament to the development underway in the 9s and 11s age groups.
The 8 team tournament saw teams from Hazel Grove, Charlesworth, Dinting, Stand and Greenfield join us for a day of 6-side action. Mottram Greens lost narrowly in the play-offs and Mottram Blues secured an overall position of 5th. Mottram Reds went all the way though, holding off Hazel Grove to secure the trophy in the final.
Thank you to all those who helped out, including: Dave Green, Mark Hannon, Rachel Anderson, Julie Green-Buckley, The Scotts, The Hewitts, Lucy, Brodie, Holly and Adie.
In the league, the U11s S/B bunch have just had the one game to-date, a 24 run loss to Swinton Moorside. Batting first Mottram’s 261 was spearheaded by Oliver K’s 16, including a cover drive drilled dismissively all along the floor into the benches. Swinton Moorside scored more fluently than Mottram but Oscar’s 2/10, Dolly’s 1 for 10 and Evelyn’s 1/9 ensured we were well in the game for all 16 overs.
The Under 11s Hardball team are 2 wins from 2 to-date. Week 1 saw William F 20* and Kiki B 18* help us set Stayley a commanding 124. Leo M (1/6) and Megan M (1/2) were part of the 8 strong bowling attack who all bowled strong lines to ensure Stayley finished well short.
Week 2 saw a win v Hadfield at the MCG. Niamh B 33* and Alec G 20* enabled Mottram to set Hadfield a daunting target of 120. Hadfield’s last pair came out swinging and found gaps aplenty to get Hadfield to 64 but Leo M (2/1) and Megan M (2/5) were once again in the wickets, with both getting to their hat-trick ball chance.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for the U13s, who are playing in the both the GMCL and DCCL this season.
On Sundays, it’s 1 win and 1 win defeat so far. The opening weekend saw Patrick H, William F, and Niamh B all reach the 30* retirement mark v Hadfield, with Lucy GB stranded on 23* as the 20 overs finished. Hadfield batted out their 20 overs for 40, with their obdurate resistance broken mainly by Haris A (4fer) supported by Harry M (1/5) and Thomas F (1/2).
A week later, Stayley won a close encounter with 2 overs to spare. Asked to bat first, Mottram were soon 32 for 4 with a direct hit sparking a mini collapse. Resistance came through Niamh who made 30* for the 2nd successive week. She was ably supported by George K who was not out for 32 balls and together they built a partnership worth 40. 84 scored from the 20 overs.
In response, William F reduced Stayley to 1 for 1 courtesy of a fine catch from Niamh. Iris, Brodie and Harry all bowled tidily to dry the runs up and Dan M removed the #3 with a fine yorker. From 35 for 2 Stayley wrestled their way to 68 for 3. The game looked dead until George K removed the dangerous opener, cannoning one into off stump as he played to leg. That changed the energy and re-ignited some Stayley nerves but ultimately they got across the line in the 17th over.
On Monday nights in the DCCL U13s Pairs league it’s been 2 pleasing performances but 2 defeats. Against a very impressive Dinting side, our 61 scored batting first was most notable for Benedict H battling successfully to keep out rockets from a lad 3 times his size. As a score though it was never likely to be enough and despite Dan M’s 2 for 11 and Tom F’s 1 for 7, Dinting got 106.
Monday 5th May was a much tighter affair, with our trip to Tintwistle going right down to the last ball.
Haris and Tom F built a brilliant opening stand of 22 from their 4 overs, James W motored two glorious cover drives down the hill and Niamh and William put on 15 to get us to 47.
George K’s early 2/15 gave us early momentum in defence of our 47 and Alec (1/14) and Arran (1/6)ensured that the middle order never got away from us. In-form Haris took another 2fer, with a rapid Benedict stumping and Niamh’s 1/11 from 3 meaning that in the last over, all results were possible. With 2 balls left, Benedict snaffled a high one to ensure that it all came down to the last ball. A wicket evaded us though and Tintwistle won a cracking game by 4 runs.
For the 15s, their opener is the only game of the season so far to be played in the rainy cold conditions we became accustomed to in 2024. With a sharp wind and frequent drizzle, batting first wasn’t on anyone’s bucket list but the 15s battled hard with Patrick H reaching 40*, Easa getting some valuable time at the crease for 11, and James H not out after the 20 overs elapsed. Stalybridge lost early wickets in response, but rallied to win by 8 wickets. Jack H (1/9) and Lucas F (1/16) both beating batters all ends up as they formed a strong opening partnership.
Against Glossop at the MCG, Thomas H was the pick of the Mottram bowlers as he picked up a tidy 3/24 from his 4 overs. Jack H also in the wickets again as he finished with 1 for 18. Glossop setting an intimidating looking 165. With batting the overs the name of the game in return, Lucas F (10 off 23), Easa (15 off 24) and James H (13*) showed good resistance as Mottram got to 68 from their 20.
For the 18s, our opener was a tough shift against a strong Flowery Field side who raced to 182 from their 16 overs. Daniel D (1/37) and Charlie G (1/28) the bowlers to make inroads. In response, Daniel C led from the front scoring 40* from 37, ably supported by Easa who batted finely for his 21* as Mottram reached 83 from their 16.
Game 2 v DSL saw Lucas F (1/34) and Jude S (1/19) take wickets at key moments to slow DSL’s scoring rate and keep them to a potentially chaseable 129. Wickets didn’t fall frequently during the chase, but Mottram were never quite up with the rate at the right time. Charlie G scored a watchful 23 opening up, and Dan C looked in good nick again as he scored 27* at more than a run a ball, with a 6 over the clubhouse thrown in for good measure. Him and Henry D (7*) were untroubled but ran out of overs as Mottram got to 89 for 2 from 16.
The Girls Team are yet to get their league campaign underway as their opponents conceded Game 1. All being well, they’re in action on 10th May v Stockport Georgians.
