Junior cricket: Champion effort by Pickering ‘A’ (From Gazette & Herald)

Junior cricket: Champion effort by Pickering ‘A’

3:03pm Wednesday 25th July 2012 in Junior Sport

Pickering ‘A’ became Greenwood Hire Derwent Valley Under-11s Junior League champions when beating Wykeham by 23 runs in a quality play-off final at Forge Valley.

Zone one winners Pickering scored 260-2, with Dan Ward (8), Tommy Wright (8) and Owen Cowton (7) making useful runs against some accurate Wykeham bowling.

Toby Dennis took 2-17 for zone two winners Wykeham but his side could only make 237-7 in reply. Adam Eustace (13) and Aaron Fox got them off to a good start but halfway through their overs Pickering’s bowlers took the game away from them as wickets from Ward (2-9), Tom Dawson (2-6) and Matt Shepherd (1-9) secured the title, despite runs from Cameron Brown (7) and Josh Bagshaw (7).

Pickering, coached by Neil Cowton, have only lost one match all season.

Pickering U13s ‘A’ had no such luck in the final of the U15s Division ‘C’ KO final as they lost by seven wickets to Bridlington U15s ‘B’.

The Pikes lost two early wickets and, although Ryan Taylor, aided by Kieran Edmond (12), held the middle order together, when he retired on 27, the total was kept in check to 81-7.

Brid lost two quick wickets to Kieran Boyes and Johnny Bayes but man-of-the-match Harry Burnhill (25 ret) and Jay Welch (22no) put together a match-winning stand.

Pickering U13s also lost their U13s KO Cup final by 10 wickets to Bridlington U13s.

Pickering were soon in trouble against excellent bowling by Burnhill (2-8) and Frankie Refford (1-3), with Bayes (9) the only batsman to make any impact. Brid took regular wickets including four run-outs as Pickering were all out for 41, and Brid openers Welch (22no) and Burnhill (11no) knocked off the runs.

Pickering and Bridlington were to meet again at Snainton last night (Tuesday) in a league title play-off.