Raby Castle CC
PLAYERS and supporters gathered in the Wheatsheaf Inn, Staindrop, for the presentation of the club’s end of season awards.
Secretary Steve Caygill said the 2022 season had been another successful one for the club both on and off the field of play.
In Darlington and District Cricket League the first team finished third and won the Sir Murrough Wilson Cup (organised by Cliffe CC) in its centenary Year and coincidently 50 years since Raby last won it.
After a quiz and an excellent buffet supper, trophies were presented to the club’s individual award winners.
This season, two players scored their first centuries for the club and received a bottle of champaign for their efforts.
Joe Dent achieved his milestone against Cliffe when he scored 106 off 118 balls in an opening partnership of 228 with brother Matthew.
Second team opening bat Robert Kirkup scored his maiden century in a match against Richmond. Rob carried his bat scoring 114 not out.
Second Team Player of the Year was 12-year-old Finlay Kirkup who turned out 21 times for the second team last season. Finlay bowled more than 140 overs, 21 of them were maidens and he took 25 wickets at an average of just under 24. His best figures of 4-54 came against Richmond in the same match his dad scored his hundred.
The second team fielding award went to vice-captain Scott Hedley.
Ryan Lee won the first team fielding award, with ten wickets, ten catches and the credit for a run out.
First team player of the year was fast bowler James Forster who took 59 wickets this season. James also scored nearly 400 runs and took five catches. His best bowling figures were 7-18 against local rivals Lands and he was also the top wicket taker in the A Division of the Darlington and District Cricket League
Wicket Keeper batsman Arran Taylor was the winner of the most improved player award.
During the season, Arran progressed from the second team to become a first team regular. Arran claimed 14 catches and five stumpings and also scored more than 500 runs this season, recording half centuries for both first and second teams
Alex Lamb and Adam Harker were the winners of the duck awards with four each for the firsts and seconds respectively.
The final presentation of the evening was a club cap to Richard Harker. In making the award secretary Steve Caygill said that the greatest honour a player can receive at Raby Castle CC is a club cap.
He said: “Richard is an example to us all – as a loyal club man he turns up every week and plays for whichever team needs him that week.
“He never complains and he never lets his team mates down by dropping out at the last minute.”
He added: “But Richard has another string to his bow – affectionately known as ‘tricky woo’ to the U9s. His enthusiasm has helped grow the number of U9 players in our junior section and they simply love having Richard as their coach.”
After a raffle chairman Paul Hedley thanked everyone who had worked throughout the evening for coming and supporting the event.
