On an overcast Sunday morning, as preparations began at Till Carr Lane for the Village Gala, there was the very familiar trip to Moorlands for many of our U11s.

Choosing to bat first, George and Jonty led the way at the crease and made a solid start with 29 on the board before the first wicket fell.

Dom was next in at three and came with intent. Together with Jonty, they played some beautiful shots, accompanied by clever but sensible running, and they formed a partnership that was to be the backbone of the innings, adding around 60 before Jonty retired not out on a brilliant 30 from 45.

Max then took up the mantle with some more big hits to keep the scoreboard moving and once Dom was gone for a crucial 29 from 32, Jacob, George and Harry had brief but important contributions at the crease in the final few overs.

Together, a healthy target of 128 from the 20 overs had been set. Moorlands, though, are always formidable opposition - and so it proved once more.

The opening over definitely went the way of the young Villagers - Max dismissing their number 2 on ball number 4. But then there were a flurry of runs.

They came fast and they threatened to overwhelm Lightcliffe’s U11s. But overwhelmed they were not, with calmness and a plan. Moorland’s opener retired not out but then the end of over 9 and start of over 10 saw three balls that changed the game.

The two bowlers, the pair who’d been so influential with the bat - Jonty and Dom.

First up Jonty, two wickets in two balls to end one over. Then Dom started the next by spinning it into the stumps - it was the start of a wicket maiden over after which the hosts were well behind the rate and reeling from being 64-2 to being 64-4.

Not job done by any means, but you’ve only got to look at the worm to see its impact - the rate was matching Lightcliffe’s… and then it wasn’t.

Wickets kept falling with some tight bowling from Jack J (1-5) and Jacob (1-9). George H behind the stumps did brilliantly. As did all the team as the overs ticked by, the score kept ticking up but simply not by enough.

In the end, Moorlands had been stifled by Harry’s 0-7, George S’s 0-8, Joey’s 0-16, Dougie’s 0-8 and Hugo’s 0-8.

It was an excellent win against a tough side to beat with many of the younger U11s involved and making vital contributions.

Thank you, as ever, to James for coaching the team and for all the Sunday morning support from parents, siblings, family and friends.

Onto the Semi-Final - at home against Batley on Sunday 2nd August.