Youth Cricket Shield 2015

Finals Day

This year's Day took place over two Sundays, thanks to the weather interfering, at Malpas Cricket Club.  On August 30th, it was only possible to complete the Under 15 Final before the rain made any more play impossible.  It was a much better day on September 13th when the other two were completed.

U11 Final - Chepstow CC v Newport CC

                       Winners - Newport                                                                                       Runners-Up - Chepstow

The Under 11 Final took place at Malpas Cricket Club between Chepstow CC and Newport CC.  Batting first, the Chepstow openers, Ben Kellaway and Ollie Rayner, steadily built an imposing total score. Kellaway was particularly impressive hitting the ball all round the ground to finish with a fine 74 not out in twenty overs.  He was very well supported by Rayner who was unbeaten on 28 at the other end; both ran very well between the wickets.  The Newport fielders stuck to their task well but a number of loose deliveries were punished ruthlessly by the batters.  The target set by Chepstow was a rather daunting 119.

In reply, Sam Protheroe and Harry Hughes built their own notable opening partnership taking Newport to 75 without the loss of a wicket in the fourteenth over and were handily placed requiring 42 runs off 6 overs.  However, Kellaway had other ideas and disposed of them both in the same over trapping Hughes lbw for 29 and clean bowling Protheroe for 30.  With two new batters at the crease, Sophie Thomas and Ross Mohring, the match had swung Chepstow’s way.  However, they they kept up the run-rate and were helped in their task by some wayward bowling which saw Chepstow concede eighteen wides to Newport’s four during the game. 

Mohring and Thomas scored 20 runs in the eighteenth and nineteenth overs to leave them with just six to win off the last over.  This became two runs off the last ball as they scrambled four runs against some tight bowling but they seemingly managed to score only one bye off the last ball.  This would have tied the game and Chepstow would have been the winners, having lost less wickets, if it hadn’t been for the fact the umpire called it a ‘wide’.  This meant that Newport had one by one run with one ball left.  This was a superb game of cricket and a perfect way to bring down the curtain on this year’s youth cricket season.

Despite his side losing the game, Ben Kellaway was awarded the Macey Sports Player of the Match award, adjudicated by the umpires, for his all-round performance with bat and ball.

U13 Final - Chepstow CC v Newport CC

Winners - Newport                                                                                       Runners-Up - Chepstow

The Under 13 Final took place at Malpas Cricket Club between Chepstow CC and Newport CC.  Batting first, the Chepstow openers, Ryan Scrivens and Harry Taylor, had scored 16 runs off the first two overs and a big total was in prospect.  However, a mix up in the third over saw the dangerous Scrivens, who had scored a century in the sem-final, run out and Taylor clean bowled by Owen Humphries in consecutive balls. This put the brakes on but Matteo Goddard and Tom Franklin worked hard to steady the ship putting on 30 runs in the next seven overs. However, both were out within two overs of each other to leave Chepstow on 53 for 4 with Franklin scoring 21 and Goddard 11.  

Worse was to follow as the dangerous Ben Kellaway was also run out and Chepstow lost their last seven wickets for 11 runs.  This was down to a high-class bowling and fielding display by Newport. The pick of the bowlers were Muaaz Shahid with 2 wickets for 8 runs in 3 overs and Harry Bachelor with 2 for 0 in 9 balls.  They were well supported by run outs from Jess Thornton, Morgan Mohring and Will Salter and a catch by Harry Bachelor.  Behind the stumps, captain Nathan Berry, took a catch and two stumpings as Chepstow were bowled out for 64 in the seventeenth over. 

In Newport’s reply, Kellaway bowled a very tight spell of 4 overs for 8 runs while Joe Truckel and Goddard took a wicket apiece.  However, Berry and Mohring, both unbeaten on 25, steered Newport home to a comfortable victory with five overs to spare.

Nathan Berry was awarded the Macey Sports Player of the Match award, adjudicated by the umpires, for his all-round performance with the bat and behind the stumps.

U15 Final - Chepstow CC v Newport CC

Winners - Newport                                                                                       Runners-Up - Chepstow

The Under 15 Final took place at Malpas Cricket Club between Chepstow CC and Newport CC.  The game started in overcast conditions after overnight rain with Newport asking Chepstow to bat first. 

Lewys Jones made light of the conditions with a quickfire 33 which included a huge six which disappeared through an open door into the pavilion!  Ryan Scrivens (16) played the supporting role well and they put on 49 for the first wicket.  Jones’ innings was ended when a ball going for another six was superbly caught by Tom Lynbeck off the bowling of Tom Protheroe. Scrivens was also out to a fine reaction catch by Krishnan Hariharan off Jack Waters.  With both openers out, wickets fell regularly as the batters chased the runs and some good Newport fielding resulted in four run-outs.  Chepstow finished on 103 for 7 with Matteo Goddard unbeaten on 15.

The Newport innings was played in increasingly heavier rain but Chepstow stuck to their task well.  Lewys Jones completed a fine individual match performance taking 3 wickets for 10 runs with Dylan Sillence, Matteo Goddard and Jake Bryant also taking wickets.  They were well supported in the field with catches by Bartlett and Sillence and two dismissals by Scrivens behind the stumps. However, the innings was dominated by Sam Hope-Bell who compiled a terrific 51 before being compulsorily retired.  This caused a few flutters in the Newport camp and they still needed two runs at the start of the last over. However, Jess Thornton and Cameron Pardington held their nerve and Newport won the game with one ball left to become the Shield Winners for the fifth consecutive year.

Although the fine all-round performance by Lewys Jones made it a tough decision, the Macey Sports Player of the Match Award went to Sam Hope-Bell for his match-winning innings.

Report of Semi Final Matches

The Under 11 Final will be between Chepstow and Newport.  In their semi-final, Chepstow had a comfortable ten-wicket victory over Ponthir who they bowled out for 50.  James Kellaway and Jack Williams took three wickets apiece while Ben Kellaway took a remarkable five catches.  Shay Ryan scored 27 of his side’s total.  In reply, Ben scored an unbeaten 41 to secure victory for Chepstow.  In the other semi-final, Newport posted 117 for 4 thanks to Sam Protheroe’s unbeaten 59 and Harry Hughes’ 26.  Sudbrook came up short on 71 for 7 with Thomas Pipe scoring 30.

The two clubs also contest the Under 13 final.  Newport totalled 127 for 3 led by Morgan Mohring with 37no and, while they only lost one wicket, Newbridge were restricted to 76 runs of which Alex Horton scored 47.  Meanwhile, Chepstow amassed 196 for the loss of one wicket against Abergavenny.  Ryan Scrivens scored a terrific 114no in 77 balls and was ably supported by Harry Taylor with 47. Despite all these runs, Alex Wainwright took a remarkable 3 wickets for no runs!  In reply, Abergavenny had a real go and achieved a very creditable 159 for 8 with Morgan Bevans making an unbeaten 57 and M Jones 40.  A total of 355 runs were scored in the match at a run-rate of almost nine an over.

At Under 15, Chepstow reached their third final with another victory over Abergavenny, who scored 87 for 6, with Morgan Bevans again top-scoring unbeaten on 31 not out.  Lewys Jones, with 43, led Chepstow to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.  Their Finals Day opponents are, yet again Newport!  They bowled Malpas out for 41 with Tom Protheroe taking 3 for 3 while Ellis James top-scored for Newport with 26 not out.  In reply, Newport passed this total without losing a wicket.  Sam Hope-Bell led the way with an unbeaten 29.

Report of Quarter Final Matches

In the Under 11 Division, Sudbrook had a fairly convincing win against Newbridge whom they restricted to 48 for 6 in their twenty overs. Sudbrook the passed this score for the loss of 3 wickets with Kai Taylor scoring an unbeaten 20.  They now go on to host Newport in the semi-final.  The reigning champions scored an impressive 122 for 0 with Sam Protheroe and Harry Hughes both making fifties while they restricted Usk to 76 for 6.  In the other half of the Draw, Llanarth posted a creditable 80 for 3 led by Will Heath with 40no.  However, Chepstow passed this total, also with the loss of three wickets, led by Josh Truckel with 25no and Ben Kellaway with 22.  They now host Ponthir who posted 71 for 5 before restricting Monmouth to 58 for 3.

At Under 13, Abergavenny totalled 123 for 7 thanks mainly to Morgan Bevans and James Roberts, who were both unbeaten in the thirties.  Dylan Beaumont-Welsh, with 5 for 10, and Meici Jones, with 4-11, then ensured Rogerstone were all out for 34.  Abergavenny now host Chepstow, who had a comfortable win in their local derby with Sudbrook who posted 87 for 5 in their innings with Matteo Goddard taking 3-21. He then, with 22, supported Ryan Scrivens, who made 53no, as Chepstow won by nine wickets.  In the other half of the draw, Newbridge made 103-4 thanks mainly to Alex Horton with 40 and Joe Westwood's 29no.  Westwood then took 3 for 14 as Monmouth came up short on 87 for 5 with Joe Harris top-scoring with 25.  Newbridge now go on to face the Champions, Newport, in the other semi-final.

In the U15 Division, Champions, Newport, played the game of the Round against newcomers Brecon.  Batting first, Rhys Pritchard's 32 helped Brecon to reach 94 for 8 despite a devastating spell of bowling from Sam Hope-Bell, taking 4 for 9.  An unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 42 between Nicole Reid and Nathan Berry helped Newport towards the total but they were still one run short of Brecon's total with one ball to play.  A scampered leg bye off the last ball meant the scores were level, but Newport were the winners on the basis of losing less wickets. Their semi-final opponents will be Malpas.   In the other half of the draw, Lewys Jones, with an unbeaten fifty, led Chepstow to 121 for 4 and a good all-round performance by their bowling unit ensured Usk were bowled out for 64.  They now meet Abergavenny who totalled an impressive 144 for 6 thanks mainly to Drew Heffernan with an unbeaten half-century and Morgan Bevans with 41.  Newbridge put up quite a fight led by Travis Morgan with an undefeated fifty but, with B Barker taking 3 for 2, they finished on 112 for 6.

Report of First Round Matches

In the Under 11 Division, Newbridge posted 71-2, led by Edison Griffiths with 25no, which proved just too good for Ebbw Vale who finished ten runs short on 61-2.  Usk posted, 105-0 thanks to an unbeaten half-century by Oscar Watkins, and then restricted Croesyceiliog to 67-2.  Ethan Oliver also made 50no as Ponthir totalled 96-3 with Malpas coming up short on 30-7. In the last match of the Round, Llanarth scored an impressive 159-4 with Angus Brown leading the way on 35 supported by Dan Moseley with an unbeaten 27no.  In reply, Abergavenny finished on 86-4.

At Under 13, Newport Fugitives game up against last year’s runners-up Chepstow in top form and were bowled out for 35.  Tom Franklin then steered Chepstow to a ten-wicket victory with 21no.  Subrook also had a low-scoring encounter with their 57-5 enough to defeat Llanarth’s 55 for 7.  The current champions, Newport, saw Nathan Berry, with 56, score half their side’s total of 111-3 and they then restricted Ponthir to 60-5.  Finally, Anton Lodder and Paul Dugdale both scored 23no as Blackwood reached 101-8 but Newbridge eased to victory by seven wickets thanks to Alex Horton with 31no and Joe Westwood’s 29no.

In the Under 15 Division, Adam Hart led Monmouth to 109-2 with an unbeaten 41 but Croesyceiliog reached 112-8 thanks to Derryn O’Rourke with 50ret and Ryan Avery’s 31.  The reigning champions, Newport, posted 154-3 led by Will Smale with 50ret and Sam Hope-Bell’s 34 and the restricted Rogerstone to 91 for 9.  Jimmy Watkins scored 50no out of Brynmawr’s 83-8 but this was matched by Lewys Jones who scored his own unbeaten half-century as he led Chepstow to victory by 10 wickets. The last match saw Usk, with 73-2, overcome Sudbrook’s 72-3 in a low-scoring affair.