Youth Cricket Shield 2017

U11 Final - Chepstow CC v Newport CC

Rayner shines as Chepstow dominate final to lift shield

Winners - Chepstow                                                                                            Runners Up - Newport

This year's Monmouthshire Building Society Youth Cricket Shield U11 Final was, for the sixth year in a row, between the same two clubs, Chepstow and Newport, with the latter on top in the winning stakes.  It was held at Chepstow C C under grey skies with concerns about whether the light would hold for the duration of the match. 

Batting first, Newport made a cautious start losing two wickets to catches by wicket keeper Oliver Russell off the bowling of Kameel Sahabdeen.  Nicholas Thomas started to find the boundary but 34 for 2 became 34 for 4 as Filip Chitnis took two wickets in two balls, both clean bowled, with Thomas making 21.  Harrison Parsons and Jack Hope-Bell then steadied the ship, putting on 30 runs for the fifth wicket, before Parsons was another victim for Russell, this time off the bowling of Ollie Rayner, who then took another wicket clean bowled.  Hope-Bell and Vidhey Maripuri then put on 21 runs before Maripuri was caught and bowled by Aidan Tuck. Newport finished on 98 for 7 with Hope-Bell on 25 not out

In reply, Chepstow lost an early wicket to Sophia Smale but this brought Ollie Rayner and James Kellaway together and they were destined not to lose another one.  Twenty eight runs off 6 overs became 71 off 10 as both batters cut loose in the gathering gloom.  Chepstow passed the Newport total in the thirteenth over with Ollie Rayner making a fine unbeaten half-century and James Kellaway 37 not out.

Chepstow were worthy winners and the Macey Sports Player of the Match award, adjudged by the umpires, was made to Ollie Rayner for his match-winning batting display.

U13 Final - Monmouth CC v Newbridge CC

Harris and Swingwood spin Monmouth to victory

Winners - Monmouth

The one thing was that was certain, at the start of this years’ Monmouthshire Building Society Youth Cricket Shield U13 Final, was that there would be a new name on the trophy as neither of the two teams involved, Monmouth and Newbridge, had won the competition before.  The match was eagerly anticipated as both teams had won their respective League Divisions without losing a match.

Monmouth won the toss, asking Newbridge to bat first, and they got off to a storming start, scoring 35 off the first five overs.  However, this came to an abrupt halt when Alex Horton was run out, after a running mix-up, by Angus Whitehead.  Until then he had been in complete control scoring 23 off just 16 balls. He was soon followed by Joe Westwood for 14, scored in just three shots, who was the first of two wickets in one over for 11 year-old spinner Owen Harris. In the next twelve overs Newbridge could only score 11 runs while losing 7 wickets with Harris finishing with 3 wickets for 3 runs in his 4 overs and Sam Swingwood, also bowling spin at the other end, taking 2 wickets for 3 runs in his four overs.   This was as fine a display of spin bowling in tandem you could wish to see.  A couple of late boundaries from J.Kinsey saw Newbridge reach 60 for 7 off their allotted twenty overs.  The other wicket was the result of a fine diving catch by Swingwood off the bowling of Alex Lawson.

In reply, Monmouth knew that steady batting was required against Newbridge's strong seam attack, and when Joe Harris (10) was given out lbw in the fifth over with the score on 22, the game was still in the balance. However, Swingwood and Oliver Berry (17) steadied the ship and took the score to 41 before Berry was removed by a good delivery from M.Evans.  However, Swingwood (16no) and Charlie Weldon (7no) saw Monmouth home comfortably in the fifteenth over for a well-earned victory.  

The trophy and individual medals were presented by ex Gwent Young Cricketer Cameron Herring who has played first-class cricket with Gloucester CCC and Cardiff MCCU and is now with Glamorgan CCC.  He also presented the Macey Sports Player of the Match award, adjudged by the umpires, to Owen Harris for his match-changing bowling display.

U15 Final - Newbridge CC v Newport CC

Evans stars as Newport lift shield for the sixth time

Winners - Newport

The final match of the Under 15 Final took place on a beautiful sunny evening at Newport CC.  Of the two finalists, for Newport it was their sixth consecutive appearance whereas it was Newbridge’s first.

Newbridge won the toss and decided to bat.  They started cautiously and had scored 16 in four overs when they lost their first wicket to Will Smale.  In fact he and his opening partner, Tom Lynbeck, restricted the opposition to just 26 runs in the first eight overs. Azhar then came on to bowl and took two wickets in his first two overs while Charlotte Scarborough conceded just six runs at the other end leaving Newbridge 41 for after 12 overs.  Azhar then dismissed Alex Horton, who had battled well through the innings for 21. This brought Tomas Witcombe, who was clearly on a mission to attack, to the crease and Scarborough took some stick in her next two overs.  This came to an end with the introduction of Tom Protheroe in the seventeenth over. His two-over spell saw him take three wickets in two overs, including a double-wicket maiden, with the only runs scored against him being a six by Witcombe.  Protheroe got his revenge, however, by bowling Witcombe for a belligerent 23.  At the other end, Jack Davies took one wicket in conceding six runs as Newbridge were restricted to 6 runs in the last three overs.  Remarkably, seven wickets were clean bowled with Will Smale taking a smart stumping for the eighth as Newbridge finished on 83 for 6.

This target was always within reach as Newport had clearly planned not to get ahead of themselves. They only lost their first wicket in the eleventh over when Will Smale was lbw to Bradley Parker for 25. This brought Tom Lynbeck in to partner opener Tom Evans and they were destined not to lose another.  The pick of the bowlers were Joe Westwood, Jack Tudor-Webley and Witcombe who kept the run-rate down.  However, they could do nothing to prevent Newport from achieving a nine wicket victory in the seventeenth over.  Evans had controlled the run-chase especially well, compiling a personal score of 40 not out, while Lynbeck finished on an unbeaten 16.

Newport were worthy winners and became champions for the sixth consecutive year.  There were several good individual performances on both sides but the Macey Sports Player of the Match award, adjudged by the umpires, was made to Tom Evans for his match-winning batting display.

Report of Semi Final Matches

The Under 11 Final will be a repeat of last year’s between Chepstow and Newport.  In their semi-final, Chepstow posted a substantial total of 130 for 5 thanks mainly to Ollie Rayner with 46 and Kameel Shabdeen’s 30no.  In reply, local rivals Sudbrook put up quite a fight, led by Curtis Warburton (21) and Toby Palmer (20) but, in the end, fell 31 runs short on 99 for 6.  The other semi-final was a much tighter affair. Newport, put into bat by Ebbw Vale, scored 91 for 4 with Sophia Smale batting right through the innings only to be run out off the last ball for 36. In reply, Matthew Hall and Jaiden Caswell seemed to have the game under control at 76-1 off 16 overs, but a good spell at the death  by Vidhey Maripuri, which included the vital wicket of Hall for a fine half-century, saw Ebbw Vale fall just three runs short of the Newport total on 88-3.

The Under 13 Final will be contested by two clubs who have not been in the final before.  Monmouth posted a confident 116 for 6 thanks mainly to Ollie Berry with 28 and Joe Harris who made 26.  Ollie Rayner (27) led the Chepstow response but a terrific four-over spell of 4 wickets for 12 runs by Sam Swingwood saw them finish 24 runs short on 92 for 8. In the other semi-final, Ross Mohring led the way with a confident half-century and, assisted by Sam Protheroe’s 26, saw Newport through to a substantial 137 for 3.  Joe Westwood led the run chase for Newbridge with 33 but it was Jake Preston (26no) and Matthew Evans (21no), in an unbeaten half-century partnership, who led their team to an eight-wicket victory.

At Under 15, Scott O’Leary’s unbeaten half-century led Sudbrook to a total of 111 for 5.  However, both William Smale and Sam Protheroe repeated this feat to ensure Newport reached the final with a ten-wicket victory. Their opponents will be either Chepstow or Newbridge whose semi final has yet to be played because of the weather. 

Report of Quarter Final Matches

The Quarter Finals have now been completed. At Under 11, Sudbrook reduced Ponthir to 31 for 9 with Ben Day taking 3 for 2 and passed this total with seven wickets to spare.  This set up a Semi Final with local rivals Chepstow who comfortably beat Newbridge having amassed 138 runs in their twenty overs for the loss of just two wickets. James Kellaway with 45no shared an 81-run first wicket stand with Kameel Sahabdeen (33) and a further 57 runs with Ollie Taylor (22no).  In the other half of the Draw, Matthew Hall’s 35no saw Ebbw Vale to an eight-wicket win over Monmouth who scored a total of 60 for 6.  Their opponents in the next round will be Newport who defeated Newport Fugitives by 22 runs.  Newport posted a total of 130 for 2 led by Sophia Smale, with 47no. Fugitives made a good attempt at reaching this total, with Iwan Jones making 36no, but fell 22 runs short.

At Under 13, Chepstow compiled an impressive 180 for 0 with Ben Kellaway scoring an undefeated century and Louis Fawsitt 60no to set up the win over Ponthir.  In addition to his heroics with the bat, Kellaway took three catches and a run out.  They now play Monmouth who had a convincing win of their own over Ebbw Vale.  Rowan Saxton (35) led them to 137 for 6 with Alfie Morgan taking 3 for 20 for Ebbw Vale. Their bowlers then restricted Ebbw Vale to 53 for 5 thanks mainly to Owen Harris’ 3 for 3.  Newbridge also scored well, making 168 for 2 thanks to unbeaten 50s from Alex Horton and Joe Westwood.  Jack Kinsey and Dan Lacey then took three wickets apiece as Rogerstone were bowled out for 74.  Newbridge go on to meet Newport who totalled 163 for 3 thanks mainly to Ben Hope-Bell (43) and Harry Hughes (40no) and then restricted Blackwood to 43 for 5 with Muaaz Shahid taking three of the wickets.

At Under 15, Newport won a low-scoring game against Malpas by nine wickets and go on to play Sudbrook in the first Semi Final.  Scott O’Leary, with 53, led his side also to a 9-wicket victory over Abergavenny who posted a total of 83 for 5.  In the second half of the Draw, Jack Ryan top-scored as Ponthir reached 73 all out against Chepstow, for whom Matteo Goddard took 3 for 12.  In reply, Goddard again came to the fore, with his unbeaten 37, leading Chepstow to a 7-wicket victory. In the other Semi Final, Newbridge’s Alex Horton and Joe Westwood repeated their feat in the Under 13 Quarter Final by both scoring half-centuries as their team defeated Crosskeys by 71 runs.

Report of First Round Matches

The First Round of this year’s competition has now been completed. At Under 11, Sudbrook posted 75 for 3 with Curtis Warburton and Theo Clarke both making 26.  In the run-chase that followed Abergavenny came up short on 58 for 8 thanks to three wickets apiece from George Lloyd and Cai Couchman.  They next meet Ponthir.  Newbridge, meamwhile, had a comprehensive victory over Brecon who made 18 for 5, in reply to Newbridge’s 66 for 4 thanks primarily to Cruz Morgan’s 4 wickets for 2 runs. Their Quarter Final opponents will be Chepstow.  In the second half of the draw, Thomas McNally’s 26no led Monmouth to a ten-wicket victory over Croesyceiliog, who had finished on 71 for 2, to set up a match with Ebbw Vale in the next round. The reigning champions, Newport, will be away to Newport Fugitives in the last of the Quarter Finals. The Fugitives posted 89 for 6 thanks mainly to Fugitives’ Iwan Jones unbeaten 30.  A valiant effort by Llanarth saw them finish eleven runs short on 78 for 2 with Henry Evans scoring 34no.

At Under 13, Ponthir totalled 115 for 2, with Ethan Oliver on 44, and then restricted Panteg to 54 for 7. Their next opponents will be Chepstow whose 162 for 3, with Ollie Rayner 69no and Ben Kellaway 51, was too much for Abergavenny for whom R Townsend made 30no.  Monmouth posted a massive 192 for 0 with Sam Swingwood, Ollie Berry and Joe Harris each retiring on reaching 50.  Newport Fugitives made a gallant attempt but ended up on 93 for 5. Monmouth next meet Ebbw Vale who scored 95 for 3 to overtake Sudbrook’s 92 for 6; Alfie Morgan made 33no and Ellis Jones 27no.  In the second half of the draw, Rogerstone eased past Brecon’s 88 for 4, thanks to Aryan Rafoui with 30 and Olly Robson with 34no, to win by six wickets.  They now face Newbridge who scored an impressive 150 for 2 with Joe Westwood and Alex Horton both retiring on 55.  Despite Hugo Caldicott and Will Heath both getting into the thirties, Llanarth finished short on 101 for 5. The final Quarter Final will be between Blackwood and reigning champions Newport. Blackwood posted 130 for 1, with Joel Patterson scoring 33no and Harry Price 31no, which proved to be too much for Brynmawr who finished on 104 for 4 with Tandy scoring 36.

At Under 15, Ellis James scored 36 as Malpas reached 122 for 8 to defeat Brynmawr by 2 wickets despite D Bevan taking 3 for 28 for Brynmawr. In the next round, Malpas will play reigning champions Newport.  An even closer match took place at Abergavenny where Pontymister posted 120 for 5 and the home side only scored the winning runs off the last ball.  Their next round opponents will be Sudbrook, for whom Scott O’Leary’s unbeaten fifty led them to 155 for 3, who overcame Blackwood by 74 runs.  Ponthir restricted Monmouth to 60 for 7 but were looking in trouble themselves at 16 for 2 when an unbeaten partnership of 47 between Henry Jones and Dylan Smith saw them home with three balls to spare. They go on to meet Chepstow in the next round.  The final Quarter Final will be between Newbridge and Crosskeys who had a walk-over Ebbw Vale.