Under-14s are really on a roll this season! (From Barry And District News)

Under-14s are really on a roll this season!

Cardiff and Vale Junior Cricket

THE Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan U-14 team have had a very successful season to date.

Ably led by captain Will Jones, the campaign started with a nine-wicket success against West Glamorgan, with Jamie Pursey taking five wickets for 13 and Elliot Swallow and Chris Butlin sharing the runs.

Pembrokeshire were defeated by 48 runs, Chris Butlin hitting 96 with the bowling honours going to Aamir Brohi and Jack Davies.

Carmarthenshire came next with a resounding 91 run victory. All the batsmen got runs with significant contributions from Huw Morris (66 not out) Vandy Forbes and Mark Maddocks. Jamie Pursey (6-39) and Lloyd Bishop (3-18) were the pick of the bowlers.

Next came Gwent - a match to decide the southern region champions - and a narrow victory by three wickets followed.

Tight opening bowling by Gareth Moorcroft and Lloyd Bishop helped restrict Gwent to 149 runs from 45 overs and good batting by Aamir Brohi (60 not out) and Will Jones saw Cardiff and the Vale home.

The final game against Mid Glamorgan was played at a very damp Porthcawl and a win by one wicket reflected a very tight game, with all players contributing.

Some players have also participated in the Lords Taverners U-14 inner cities tournament. Wins against Swansea (by six wickets) and Bristol (by four wickets) mean the Cardiff team have qualified for a four-day festival in Arundel, Sussex.

U-12

The U-12s have played a practice game against Cardiff, and witnessed a good contribution from the bat by Huw Moorcraft (38) and a superb spin bowling performance by Daniel Davies.

U-10s

Cardiff & Vale U-10s played Herefordshire at Penarth recently on an excellent track. The home opening pair of Thomas Morgan and Jeremy Lawlor played cautiously against the accurate opening bowlers before showing an excellent range of shots and some very well judged singles.

The pair put on 70 runs before Lawlor lost his wicket for 14. The score was kept moving by the following batsmen, however, wickets also fell at regular intervals.

With the score on 100, opening bat Morgan was caught and bowled for an excellent 35. With overs running out Rufus Lakin (9no) and Josef Conway (13no) pushed the score on to 163 at the end of the 35 overs bowled.

Herefordshire made a flying start against the opening bowlers, but after Jeremy Lawlor had made the initial breakthrough, captain Will Antoni introduced spin to the attack bringing the run chase back under control.

With Scott Matthews and Rufus Lakin bowling in tandem the wickets started to tumble. Tight fielding and accurate bowling created pressure which resulted in some rash strokes and a five wicket haul to Scott.

Needing 17 runs off the last three overs, three excellent boundaries by the Herefordshire number nine bat sealed victory in the penultimate over.

There was just one U-10 game this week. On a very warm but breezy afternoon at Penarth, Mid Glamorgan were the opposition.

Having won the toss, skipper Will Antoni elected to bat on a good-looking track. Despite losing an early wicket to a brilliant run out by the Mid Glam fielders, Jeremy Lawlor and James Norton-Brown put together an excellent partnership of 35.

The introduction of spin brought a clatter of wickets. With the innings teetering at 60 for five, there was a need for a steadying of the ship. This was done in fine style by Gareth Lennon and Rufus Lakin who ran between the wickets well and put the bad ball away for four.

Having taken the score onto 120, the partnership was broken by a good catch by the Mid Glam fielders. Gareth Wetherall came to the wicket and stroked his way to a stylish 12no and Gareth Lennon remained unbeaten on 27 at the end of the 35 overs. The total of 132 seemed to be competitive but with the quick outfield it was difficult to call.

Once again Matthew Freeman from Mid Glam showed that he had a range of shots to worry the home attack, and an early wicket did not slow the rate of scoring as Matthew hit some crisp fours.

However, skipper Antoni brought spin on early with the introduction of Nick Fowler, whose off spin brought the prized wicket of Freeman in his third over. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals to all the bowlers but the run rate continued to keep pace with the target.

Two excellent catches in the field reduced the visitors to nine wickets down, and despite ringing the changes with the bowling, Cardiff and the Vale failed to break the last wicket partnership between Sheerer and James.

The final pair took the score on to 113 at the close of the Mid Glam Innings, the result being a 19-run victory for the home team.