We are the Champions!!

Coach and Manager Amanda Garrard leads the celebrations after at the end of a brilliant season

After an already successful season, with the league title in the bag, the Holmfirth under 11 side played the final of the Dawson cup on Sunday 28th August against a below full strength Thongsbridge side at Holmbridge's picturesque ground.

Captain Kieran Taylor won the toss and elected to field on a damp pitch and slow outfield. Holmfirth fielded tightly, including 2 excellent run outs and some tidy wicket keeping from the promising Jack Heaton. The team bowled well with outstanding spin bowling from Niall Hubbard (2 overs, 3 -2) alongside the ever consistent Tom Clegg (6-2 off 2 overs) and 2 wickets for Roheel Haseeb. Joseph Aylward also picked up a wicket after an excellent end of innings bowling performance. Thongsbridge scored a total of 286 for 9 (214 net).

With a low total to aim for,  Roheel Haseeb and Osman Shaffique started the innings in their usual entertaining and explosive style putting on 32 runs in the first 4 overs, losing just 2 wickets. Then followed an excellent batting performance by Tom Clegg and Niall Hubbard setting the foundation for the victory that was to follow.

 Rory McDowell and Louis Garrard played sensibly against a varied bowling attack. James Wharton and Jack Heaton came to the wicket with great demonstrations of straight batting and assessment of the game situation. All it took then was for the captain Kieran Taylor and Joseph Aylward to hold their nerve and see the team home to a well deserved victory.

An excellent all round team performance who celebrated in style receiving the Dawson cup and winning medals from Ex England and Yorkshire player Arnie Sidebottom.

Attachments:

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[Team Photo]

878 Kb

A key match for the U13 side for them to defend their position at the top of the table. Birkby Rose Hill were unbeaten up to this point in the season but had suffered two abandoned matches.

Birkby won the toss and chose to bat. An early wicket for Alex Robinson and tight bowling from Ben Garrard didn't stop the momentum from building and a very strong batting performance with a number of players retiring. Bowling performance and fielding was not up to normal Holmfirth standards, leaving a target of 155.

Once again Harry Bisset and Alex Robinson started strongly but both lost their wickets before fully establishing an innings. Omar Shaffique put on runs very quikly and retired on 25 following a strong partnership with Eliot Taylor who was bowled lbw for 19. A reasonable batting performance from the side could not match the Birkby run rate and Holmfirth finished on 106 for 5 after 20 overs.

The U13 team held on to their joint-top positin in the league with a good win over Broad Oak. We won the toss and elected to chase with a strong bowling side. Opening overs by Alex Robinson and Ben Garrard saw Broad Oak fail to score off the first three overs. The team bowled well overall with a few too many extras been given away but with wickets regularly falling. Maisy Taylor managed to follow her three wicket haul from last week by taking another three wickets, one of which was caught and bowled. Broad Oak set a target of 66 runs.

Despite setting out to establish their innings Alex Robinson and Harry Bisset both lost their wickets early. Eliot Taylor and Ben Garrard then came in and effectively closed out the match with Taylor retiring on 25 runs and Garrard staying at 24 not out.