Summer holiday time is here. Some people enjoy lying on beaches and besides pools. Some, like the junior coaches left behind, have to find 19 players to compete in two U11 fixtures. It was not easy.

We start at Southowram where our U11 Development team had a distinctly U9s look with seven of the eight taking to the field not actually having reached the age to be U11s. They were led by Jack J who wore the responsibility of leading his group of incrediball novices (five were making their competitive debut wearing pads and helmets) with pride and a usual beaming smile.

Led by James and Rob, with a support cast of parents, grandparents, family dogs and more, captain fantastic Jack won the toss and chose to lead his team into the field. Using a ball they were not used to, everyone did brilliantly with the ever-reliable Evie (0-12) opening the show followed by Nathan (1-15) taking the first wicket with his first ball. Harry (1-15) struck next in his first over and while Luke (3-10) didn’t get a wicket in his first, he took what was to prove to be a crucial three in his second over.

Wickets are what wins you games in pairs with their five off the total – and more were to follow, another for Harry, two in an over, one from a run out, for Bertie (1-13) and two more in an over, another one a run out, for Jack (1-19) to end the game. George (0-7) and Jenson (0-8) were miserly to complete what was a really strong bowling performance backed up with some incredible catches – Bertie taking another screamer and Luke completing a caught and bowled. All this was backed up by a great wicket keeping display from Jack and Nathan, the latter doing a remarkable job having never before attempted it in full kit.

Ten wickets had been taken in the 16 with 108 runs scored by Southowram’s batters – a net 258 was the total set. Next up, batting. And having spent all day trying to accumulate the pads, helmets and equipment vital for a game with a hard(ish) ball, the biggest challenge was perhaps for the support team to rotate not the strike but the protection.

Each pair kept the scoreboard moving in the right direction – Nathan and Jenson opening well, Evie and George consolidating, Harry and Bertie building and Jack and Luke getting us over the line. As has been mentioned, wickets are always key and the fact Lightcliffe only lost four was absolutely key to the run chase. 94 was the total scored, but with only 20 to take off it left the net score at the close at 274 – a 16-run victory.

A truly brilliant performance from a team which showed the incredible strength in depth at all levels and all the seven U9s were a real credit to the club, as was captain Jack who led them so well. Lightcliffe top the Cup’s Group A with what is set to be a decider for who reaches the final against Sowerby Bridge Church Institute next Monday.

It was Collinson Cup action for the hardball team at Barkisland too. After last Monday’s sensational match at Outlane, it would take something special to match the tension, drama and last over jeopardy. And I think it’s fair to say, there was little of that in what turned out to be an 87-run victory for our Villagers.

Captain George won the toss and chose to bat first and with the successful batting line-up of the week before being replicated (because, why wouldn’t you) it was the young Horne and Jonty who came our first. Jonty succumbed to the sort of great ball that could beat anyone anytime, but such is the strength of the Lightcliffe U11 batting line-up that it was a momentary blip. Dom and George then set about seeing who could retire not out first in innings when, in truth, neither looked likely to be dismissed with some cleverly crafted shots and exceptional running. Dom was first to retire with five boundaries in his 25 from 18, George quickly followed with 28 from 21, Ollie who – it’s fair to say wasn’t feeling 100% - proved that class can outshine illness by also retiring not out (25 from 30), Isaac made an important 10 from 15 and Jack C played the right shots at the right time to accumulate 24 from 22.

144/4 was the total at the end of the 20 overs. It felt like it should be enough. And that was certainly the view of the home side’s coaching team. But in this game, you never know.

As it turns out, they were right as Barkisland’s chase never really got going. To their credit, the openers managed to avoid being dismissed for five overs and defended their wicket well. But scoring was slow and when the spin of Dom was introduced in the sixth over, the dismissals began with their opener deceived by one that turned into and struck the wickets. After a solid if slow start, there followed a regular stream of batters going in and getting out, and that accelerated once the lower order was reached – wickets for Ben, Harry, Raf, Ollie, Jack and George, plus some important stops behind the stumps from Isaac, a great catch from Jonty and some important stops from Dougie and Max.

By the end of the 20, just 57 had been posted with just one wicket remaining for the home side – a win for Lightcliffe by 87 runs which takes them into the Quarter Finals next Monday.

Well done to all our 19 players, thanks to our volunteer coaches who didn’t just get two games on (after reaching plan Y) but secured two victories.