Raby Castle CC Juniors
MORE than 80 players, parents and supporters gathered in the Scarth Hall, Staindrop, for the presentation of the club’s end of season awards.
Playing in the Durham Cricket Board Junior League, (South West divisions) all the club’s junior sides performed well this season.
After welcoming everyone to the event coach Steve Caygill said the U9s had a great time on Sunday mornings.
“The games are for fun – try telling the youngsters that – and they ended up winning as many games as they lost,” he said.
In their first season, the U11s reached the final of the Roy Coates Cup and despite only losing two matches they finished mid-table in their league.
The U13s were runners-up in their league after winning five of their eight matches, which Mr Caygill said was a fantastic achievement in only their second year playing in the competition.
In their first season the U15s (Teesdale Titans) only won one match but nevertheless finished fifth in the league.
Following a few words about each of them from coach Scott Hedley, every junior was invited on to the stage to collect an engraved participation medal.
Scott then presented trophies to the individual award winners.
Under 15s: Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year Awards went to Elliott Davis, who scored 240 runs, took five wickets and four catches in seven matches.
Under 11s: Player of the Year was Harry Tellegen who has played for every junior team this year from the U11s to the U15s. William Bellas won the Most Improved Player award for his batting.
Under 13s: Alex Payne was the winner of the Most Improved Player award getting praise for his slow bowling
Following a vote by their team mates, the Players’ Player of the Year Trophy was shared between bowler Beth Poole and batsman/wicketkeeper Jake Spence.
The Player of the Year award went to wicketkeeper Bertie Morris who scored 158 runs, took seven stumpings, three catches, a run out and even a wicket when he was called on to bowl.
The final trophy of the evening was presented by club stalwart Bernard Poole.
Bernard ran the junior section at Raby Castle CC for many years and is responsible for producing many of the players in the current first team. After a few words about the vital importance of having a junior set up to the health of a club, Bernard praised Mr Hedley and Mr Caygill for their hard work at the club in recent years and the parents for giving up their time to bring their children to the club. He then presented The Poole Family Trophy for Junior of the Year 2021 to Bertie Morris.
Following the raffle, Mr Caygill thanked all those who had worked throughout the presentation evening to raise funds for the club and he thanked everyone for coming and supporting the event.
