Match Report by Tom Fletcher

Coach Alex put the directions to Moorlands on the WhatsApp group hours before the meet time – which was beautifully sarcastic given it seems like we play them every week at the moment (our U11s take them on this Sunday!). But as the Fletcher family returned from Filey especially for Nico to make his glorious return to the side, I had sand in my toes, hope in my heart and the prospect of topping up my not insubstantial holiday intake of lemonades.

There is one thing guaranteed when you make the journey to Mirfield (whether from Filey or Lightcliffe) and that’s a very good standard of cricket, and this U13s fixture didn’t disappoint with a much-improved performance from Lightcliffe’s team, many of whom were playing their third game in as many evenings.

Having made George Deighton run from boundary rope to boundary rope as umpire on Wednesday, he flatly refused to take up the offer of making it a hat-trick in the role meaning that Mr Tait had to actually earn his huge coaching fee (zero pounds, zero pence).

The lynch pin of the Under 13s, Brodie Tait, opened the batting and took on their opener pace bowlers with ease, cutting and driving all over the shop. He retired after 15 balls with 7 boundaries pounded.

It was then up to his opposite number George Horne to steady the ship and see out their best pair of bowlers, defending the wicket superbly whilst picking up 5 crucial runs for the tally.

Nico swapped in for Brodie and added some confidence to the attack clipping balls off his toes to rack up 21 runs. Lightcliffe had started well.

But, sadly, a couple of tricky spinners saw both dismissed - step up Henners and Ollie Wood. It's been a tough week for Henry Powe but he stood tall and faced some very good bowling doing his job perfectly, helping Ollie rack up 18 runs from 19 balls – given this was Ollie’s third game of cricket that day as he played for West Yorkshire, he batted like he was fresh out the wash.

Nico’s departure after his impressive knock brought Dom to the crease at 65/3. He would bat out the innings, hitting boundaries for fun when he had the strike, making 27 from 23 balls – an impressive tally. His partnership with Ollie – adding 36 runs was vital in setting a decent total to defend.

Freddie was next up with the score just passing triple figures. He was solid with the bat and difficult to break down, leading to 117/4 being the final total set.

In reply, Moorlands batted well. As they always do. But those who had been at the previous two night’s matches were impressed by the improvement in Lightcliffe’s fielding performance in particular – some good stops on the boundary restricted the early flow with the ever-impressive Brodie (0-11) and Charlie (0-10) restricting them early on. But then the game got away as the hosts openers both retired not out.

The ball was thrown to Dom in the 17th over with Moorlands needing just three to win. Could he keep the game going – well, yes, and thanks to his teaming up with George Horne in the field in a partnership which has evolved from playing toy trains together aged 0 to being among our most reliable young Villagers. It was classic line and length offspin from Dom which meant the batter could only generate enough power to send it high up towards the boundary where a drooling George (but unlike when he was 0, no longer wearing dribble bibs) sat waiting under it, plucking it out of the air. 1 run from the over. 1 wicket from the over. Solid, as ever.

The match only lasted one more ball though as a boundary was struck and, with 17 balls to spare, Moorlands got over the line. It’ll go down as a defeat (because it was) but it’ll also go down as progress. Worth the 80 mile trip from the beaches and beer gardens of Filey? Answers on an inappropriate, mildly sexist postcard please.