Under 9s

Manager – Darren Cunliffe (07738 892468)

Coach – Steve Davies

Practice – Monday 6-8

First Practice Session – 30th April 2012

Match Nights – Tues/Thursday (Please note only 2 games will be played on Tuesdays the rest will be Thursday.

First Match –10th May

Fixtures 2012

Warm up games
10	Heywood	H
17	Norden	A
24	Radcliffe	H
29	Bury	A
League games
June 5	Middleton	A
14	Norden	H
21	Radcliffe	A
28	Bury	H
July 5	Crompton	A
12	Milnrow	H
19	Royton	A
26	Heywood	A
Aug 2	Littleborough	H

U9s PRIZE WINNERS 2011

Managers Player: Daniel Ainscough

Most Improved Player: Charlie Cook

Sportsman Award: Leah Greenhalgh

Under 9s end of season report 2011

Clifton’s season continued past the halfway point of the league with the team completing the double over Radcliffe, Royton, Middleton and Milnrow, keeping them firmly in the running for the title.

Then followed an away game at Crompton that swung one way, then the other, eventually resulting in a tie! Crompton batted first and some good tight bowling from Tom Rawding (2 wickets), Leah Greenhalgh and Ben Gratrix restricted the hosts to a competitive looking net total of 250 runs. Clifton had the early jitters losing a wicket in the second over but some very composed batting from Callum Doyle, Tom Wilde, Charlie Cook and Ben Stevenson put Clifton firmly back in the driving seat, reaching 247 with 3 overs left. The final pair suffered an early setback losing a wicket to their second ball and another wicket in the next over made the task look difficult. However a crucial boundary from Harry Golland tied the scores and with Clifton needing 1 to win off the last ball left the batsmen with a difficult decision. In a pulsating climax (or so I’m told …… I was actually lying on a beach in fairer climes at the time!) they decided not to risk losing a wicket by running and settled for the tie – a fair result on the balance of things.

The penultimate game of the season at home to Littleborough saw Clifton’s league aspirations fade as the visitors ran out comfortable winners. Clifton’s total of 233 was never going to be enough and the Littleborough team showed improved form from their earlier season exploits to register 257 runs, taking all four points.

The last game of the season, billed earlier on as the “potential title decider” proved to be a bridge too far for Clifton as a very strong Bury side recorded their 13^th league win, securing the “Clifton Cup” league title in the process. There were positives to take from the game however as Clifton’s bowling and fielding was very disciplined, restricting Bury to 256 runs, their lowest net total of the season. Clifton set off in their run chase well with a couple of early boundaries, but 7 wickets followed throughout the innings meaning there were constant setbacks to any progress made. The final total of 208 was 48 runs short, leaving Bury as unbeaten league winners, repeating a feat that Clifton achieved last year. The Clifton players and parents were gracious in defeat and stayed at Bury to watch the children receive the trophy from their Chairman.

Congratulations to Bury CC on becoming the second winners of the Clifton Cup! .…. and congratulations to all who represented Clifton U9s in 2011 for finishing runners up.

Under 9 Final League Table
2011

	Played	Win	Draw	Ties	Loss	Points
Bury	14	13	1	0	0	54
Clifton	14	9	1	1	3	41
Crompton	14	9	1	1	3	41
Littleborough	14	5	4	0	5	28
Royton	14	4	3	0	7	22
Milnrow	14	4	0	0	10	16
Middleton	14	3	2	0	9	16
Radcliffe	14	1	2	0	11	8

..... and finally ……

Some of this year’s very youngest under 9s cricketers who have trained with the squad all year finally got a chance “on the big stage” in an end of season friendly match against Swinton Moorside CC played at Clifton on 15^th August. There were Clifton debuts for Levi Arden, Jemson Appleton, Tobias Wroe and Zac Flaxman, and they were joined by a number of other inexperienced youngsters in a match that will equip them well for next season.

Swinton Moorside batted first and Levi showed immense promise in opening the bowling by taking a wicket in his second over. There were also wickets for Tobias, Jemson, and Tom Rawding, which restricted the visitors to 242 off their 20 overs.

Harry Golland then set about the Swinton attack, hitting two fours and a huge six. There were also boundary hits for Tom Rawding, Dan Ainscough and five year old Fenton Davies but the most pleasing aspect of the innings was that only four wickets were lost in 20 overs. The final total of 261 runs was enough to see the home side triumph, meaning a winning start for what we hope to be the nucleus of next year’s team.

Under 10s update – August 2011

In a bid to retain the Under 10s Salford Cricket Development Group trophy won in 2010, this year’s crop of Clifton CC under 10s followed up earlier victories against Swinton Moorside CC and Winton CC with a win against Irlam CC on 15^th June.

The team then travelled away to Monton & Weaste CC where they won the toss and put the hosts into bat. Accurate bowling and tight fielding restricted Monton to 255 net runs off their 16 overs. Clifton suffered some early setbacks, the first pair losing three wickets but some confident middle order batting put them back on track and set up a thrilling climax. With the score on 250 after 14 overs, Clifton looked favourites to remain unbeaten in the competition, despite the gathering gloom and persistent rain. However, crucial wickets then fell in each of the last two overs leaving the visitors 7 runs short of their target. It was a great game of cricket and although arguably the conditions did not favour Clifton at the end of the match, the team will have learned a lot from the experience.

The final match of the year saw Clifton (eventually!) travel to Roe Green CC on 19^th August. The match had been rescheduled a number of times due to holidays, and both teams were somewhat depleted. It did however give an opportunity for Clifton to field three U10s debutants who performed admirably against a strong unbeaten Roe Green side. The hosts batted first and accumulated 268 runs in their 16 overs. Clifton started the run chase well, but Roe Green had saved their strongest bowlers for the latter stages and ran out winners by a comfortable 22 runs.

Congratulations to Roe Green CC on remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, thus lifting the SCDG cup in 2011.

Finally thanks must go to Nigel Warne for once again arranging a very successful competition which will hopefully provide players for next year’s Salford Schools Under 11s squad.

Match results and notable performances:-

15^th June 2011

Clifton CC – net 295 runs (Sam Dorsey 30, Dan Ainscough 18, Robert Lord 12)

Irlam CC – net 266 runs (Max Mulligan 1 wicket for 4 runs, Tom Forbes-Leith 1 wicket for 6 runs)

20^th June 2011

Monton & Weaste CC – net 255 runs (Tom Wilde 1 wicket for 4 runs, Dan Ainscough 1 wicket for 9 runs)

Clifton CC – net 248 runs (Sam Dorsey 22, Dan Ainscough 20)

19^th August 2011

Roe Green CC – net 268 runs (1 wicket each for Dan Ainscough, Charlie Cook, Tom Forbes-Leith, Sam Dorsey, Tom Wilde and Robert Lord)

Clifton CC – net 244 runs (Bradley Paul 24 runs, Sam Dorsey 20 runs)

Photo from 19^th August:-

Back row l-r Robert Lord, Sam Dorsey, Bradley Paul, Tom Rawding

Front row l-r Molly (team mascot!), Dan Ainscough, Callum Doyle, Tom Forbes-Leith, Charlie Cook

Jim Ainscough

Under 9s & 10s manager.

Pictured (Back row l-r) Harry Golland, Lucas Sackfield, Daniel Ainscough, Tom Rawding, Jim Ainscough (manager)

(Front Row l-r) Max (team mascot), Tom Wilde, Callum Doyle, Charlie Cook, Hayden Sackfield, Max Mulligan (inset)

U9s PRIZE WINNERS 2010

Managers Player: Robert Lord

Most Improved Player: Harry Golland

Sportsman Award: Sam Dorsey