Junior round-up

A win for the Amazons - and a hat trick at Ormskirk

U11s Amazons v Southport & Birkdale (Photo: Helen Jones)

Southport and Birkdale v U11s Amazons

Southport & Birkdale - Net Score 238 Rainhill - Net Score 261 Rainhill won by 23 runs Scorecard

Rainhill's U11 Amazon team travelled to Southport and Birkdale Cricket on Sunday morning for their first game of the season.

Fielding first, Rainhill bowled accurately and gave very few runs away. Olivia Clifford took a wicket with her first ball, April Jones bowled quickly at the end of the innings and Sarah Lawler (2-17) took two vital wickets to keep the overall score down. Erin Jones also deserves praise for keeping wicket very well and making sure extras were very low on the scoreboard. The plan at the beginning to backup and to support each other in the field was also evident through out the innings.

Batting second Rainhill made steady progress at the start of the innings. Annabelle overcome the disappoint of an early wicket to hit a glorious cover shot for four runs (taught to her by her dad). Isabelle and Scarlet (playing in her first game) managed to take singles and keep the score progressing throughout their 3 overs. Alf and Erin then ran between the wickets very well and contributed to a number of fours. Olivia and Joseph then positively moved the score forward with Joseph hitting a great shot for four off the fast S&B bowler. The final pair of Maddie and April showed their experience by taking positive steps in running and hitting the occasional boundary to reach a total 261 compared to Southport & Birkdale 238.

Overall, all the team contributed to a very good morning of cricket, and we move on to games on Tuesday 16th May against Southport Trinity (home) and Monday 22nd May Formby (away).

U11 Spartans v Northern Northern - Net Score 263 Rainhill - Net Score 199 Northern won by 64 runs Scorecard The Spartans put in arguably their best performance of the season with the ball but still finished on the losing side against a very good Northern team.

Northern, opting to bowl first, found it difficult against Rainhill's opening bowlers, Alistair and Nathan. Wickets fell regularly and Nathan was particularly impressive, taking 3 for 15. Alistair also took a wicket while Reggie (2-14) struck twice. Northern finished on 103 for 8 - a net score of 263, but Rainhill were pleased with the wickets they took and there were signs that fielding is improving. Rainhill weren't able to get near Northern's score, mainly because of the wickets they lost. However, everyone contributed something with the bat and tried to play positive shots. There is a good team spirit and it is only a matter of time before the Spartans get the result they deserve.

Maddie Rotheram took a hat trick at Ormskirk

Ormskirk v Rainhill u13s Rainhill 102-4

Ormskirk 103-3 Ormskirk win by 7 wickets Scorecard Rainhill exited the U13s knockout cup at Ormskirk - but the game will be remembered for a stunning hat-trick from Maddie Rotheram. Maddie bowled out three top-order Ormskirk batters with successive balls to stun the opposition and give Rainhill hope of pulling off a sensational win. Rainhill had posted a creditable total of 102 for 4 from their 20 overs, helped by solid knocks from Nathan Lawler (35) and Mattie Ambage (29). Naithan Varghese hit an unbeaten 14 at the end and Rainhill will have been reasonably happy with their batting performance. Ormskirk were moving nicely towards their target before Maddie bowled one of their openers for 22. She then bowled the next to batters with her next two balls to spark wild celebrations. Maddie had put Rainhill in a very strong position, but the remaining Ormskirk opener proved immovable and single-handedly won the game for their team, retiring on reaching 52. It was a great effort from Rainhill and Maddie's sensational hat-trick will live long in the memory of all who were at the game.

Xanthe took 2-6 v Wavertree

U11s softball festival, Northern CC A Rainhill team took part in three matches at the Northern CC softball festival on Sunday. The team - Savana, Siena, Lucy (captain), Xanthe, Heidi, Zara and Emily - were joined by three Whitefield players and played matches against Wavertree, Northern and Liverpool.

Against Wavertree runs didn't come easily and the loss of seven wickets didn't help. Rainhill posted a net score of 205. They then got off to a brilliant start as four Wavertree wickets fell in the first two overs, meaning the game was very definitely a contest. Heidi opened the bowling and did fantastically well. She conceded only one run and Rainhill managed two run outs including an impressive direct throw from Siena. In the next over Xanthe took two wickets, the second of which came courtesy of a stunning low catch from one of the Whitefield players. There were further wickets from Savana and Emily and when the game finished no-one was entirely sure what the final score was. It was very close but Wavertree had managed a net score of 215. Everyone felt they had been in a great game. The next game was against Northern and this was a more one-sided affair. All the same, Rainhill did reasonably well against strong opponents and posted 199. The final match was against Liverpool. Rainhill batted first and with the help of boundaries from Lucy and Siena were able to reach a net score of 211. Zara and Heidi bowled against the opening pair without success - which was the story of the game. Rainhill bowled very well but didn't get the rewards they deserved. Lucy did take a wicket in the penultimate over but it was not enough to prevent Liverpool securing a 45 run win. Liverpool's coaches were very complimentary about Rainhill's players, especially our left arm spinners. It was a good first tournament for Zara (playing her first cricket game of any kind) and Lucy demonstrated that she has the organisational skills to be a potentially good captain.