U12s Fall at Final Hurdle

A fantastic run in the U12 Festival ends in defeat.

Well, I don't think this was ever destined to be our day. An 8 wicket defeat sounds comprehensive, but if the luck had gone our way, it could easily have gone the other way. It started with Luke stranded at Pease Pottage services in a broken-down car. The ground wasn't at the postcode supplied. Couldn't find the entrance. Never mind, we got everyone there well in time for the start.

Arundel won the toss and put us in. Neutral Umpires. Proper game.

We opened with Joey and Joe D as at Bexhill, and Joey glided one down to fine leg for the first four to get us going. Joe D faced up the first ball of the second over and pushed a nice shot into the covers. He called for a run that wasn't really there and was sadly run out when Joey sent him back. Our running between the wickets would turn out to be costly today.......

In comes Hugo after his great knock at Bexhill, and again played sensibly early on. Joey got into his rhythm with some lovely boundaries and the scoreboard started ticking nicely over with Hugo also in good form. At 62 for one , two balls before the end of the 12th over and the first drinks break, it was looking good. However Hugo was bowled by one that kept very low and gave Arundel a boost at a very important time. Joey was joined by Tarun, but his heroics in the previous games, he got a top edge to a ball that seemed to move across him and the keeper took a smart catch.

Scott came in and looked his usual composed self, but got a good ball done the hill that beat his defensive stroke. Connor next. First ball pulled to fine leg for a great four. However, shortly after he was adjudged LBW and soon after it was Joey on his way, also given out LBW for an excellent 45. He played as he usually does, with strong defence and a great range of attacking strokes. Charlie and Joe K were at the crease now and it was great to see Charlie learning the lesson of looking after his wicket early on and playing straight balls with a straight bat and hitting one very good four.

However, the next avoidable run out saw Joe K heading back to the pavilion before he really got his innings going. Two batsmen stationary in the middle of the pitch can only ever end one way. Luke was bowled by a full fast one down the hill and Charlie departed to yet another silly run out. It's been a feature throughout the season and we clearly need to work on it!

Felix offered some spirited and skillful resistance, striking two excellent fours down the hill before becoming the last man out, bowled by one that bounced, leaving Alfie as the unfortunate stranded batsman and a total of 118 on the board.

Tea wasn't ready after our early demise, and we marched out determined to make early in-roads. The pitch wasn't great and had offered plenty assistance to the bowlers in the first innings, so it was up to us to put the ball in the right places and put Arundel under pressure.

Tarun and Scott opened, but Arundel moved to 17 without too much difficulty.Tarun then got the first wicket LBW and Scott, bowling fast and fairly straight but too short down the hill, got the other opener with another shortish ball that the opener could only fend off into the air to be taken comfortably by Joey at short cover. 22 for 2 and 118 still a long way off. Another quick one from Scott down the hill and the ball ballooned up in the air to square leg, but unfortunately, the young lad that Arundel lent us following Tarun leaving the pitch couldn't cling on, despite a brave effort.

Tea was taken and we were still well in it.

After the break however, things didn't go our way. There was plenty of testing bowling. Connor bowled a good spell down the hill after the break, and Joey bowled his overs straight through up the hill. Lots of oohs and aahs from the fielders when our boys just missed the stumps, Tarun dived forward to attempt a catch off Joey, but the umpires couldn't be sure if he took it cleanly or not, and a very close run out that went Arundel's way late in the game, and that was it. Great credit to the Arundel batsmen who played with great determination and good shot selection to get their team over the line.

A disappointing end for us, obviously, but a great tournament overall, and I'm delighted with the effort and commitment of the boys over the week. There's no doubt in my mind that they've learnt more from this week than in the rest of the season, and they'll come back next season better for the experience.

The thing that really struck me over the week was the great spirit all the games were played in and the final was no exception. It was nice that the Arundel supporters were so respectful right through the game. No whooping and hollering from them as their team approached victory. Not something that always happens I have to say.

Thanks to all the parents who were there on Sunday to support the boys, I know they appreciated it and so did I.

Hopefully we'll see as many of you as possible at the Colts barbecue on Wednesday 10th August to celebrate such a fantastic effort by the boys