Cricket

County cricket at Northern in 2005.

Lancashire 1st X1 Inter-Squad practice matches
Wed 30-Thur 31 March 2005 10.45am start.
Two day, two innings game.
Fri 1 April 2005 11am start.
One day, 45 overs (TSL rules).

Lancashire 2nd X1 vs Durham 2nd X1
Tue-Thu 26/27/28 July 2005 11am start.

Lancashire Under 17s vs Northants Under 17s
Wed-Thu 5/7 July 2005 11am start.

Click for Lancs Archive ... previous 2nd.XI matches at Northern.

ECB Premier League 2005

Photo Call for Northern U15's. (Aug. 2005)
Northern's Under 15 starlets take a bow, before their recent match against Wavertree. The visitors were dismissed for 137, but rain intervened with Northern in control at 71 for 2.

Northern retain Simon Bell Trophy. (Aug.2005)
A high-scoring match saw Northern overcome Camels in an exciting last-ball finish. Camels had set a challenging total of 232, led by a monster 141 century from the aptly named John Wildman (pictured left).
In reply, Carl Hey set up the home side with a stylishly brutal ton of his own (who needs Kevin Pietersen, hey Em?), leaving Tony Morrissey to dispatch the final delivery for the winning boundary.
Simon's father Chris Bell umpired the match (in conjunction with Northern legend Roddy), and was on hand to present the trophy to victorious Northern skipper Mark Garcia.

Sunday team's bag of tricks. (Jul.2005)
Diminutive paceman Lewis Saunders recorded a hat-trick in Northern's Sunday victory over Rainhill. His elusive third victim succumbed as keeper Hooper skilfully pouched a sharp bottom-edge in the flap of his pad. Earlier Northern were denied the rare feat of a second hat-trick in the same match, as Ray Roberts saw his hat-trick delivery cannon to short mid off, where alas the chance shot to ground.

Captain Cole of Lancs. (Jul.2005)
Congratulations to Steve Cole, who has been appointed captain of Lancashire's Under 16 team.

Marshy flies out. (Jul.2005)
With New Zealand's controversial tour of Zimbabwe looking set to go ahead, James Marshall makes his final league appearance for Northern this Saturday 23rd July at home to Fleetwood Hesketh, before flying out on international duty.
Marshy's official send-off is at the Ship Inn on Wednesday evening 20th. Same format as last year, which was a great night. Coach is laid on, all welcome, sign up in the club.
We hope to have James' New Zealand colleague Ian Butler installed as our overseas player in time for the following Saturday at Hightown.

Postcard from Mark and Anna. (Jul. 2005)
Well after six months I thought it was appropriate to let folks back home know how things are going over here. It has been an incredible six months - and life is very good for us. Work is tough and the hours are long - but as an experience we have no regrets!

Anna, Beth and I live in an area of Hong Kong called Pokfulam which is a county park area and has lots of nice beaches and walks nearby. it is very different from the traditional view of Hong Kong - skyscrapers etc - but it only takes us 10 minutes to get to that.

We have made lots of friends from a wide area of people - some work connected, some cricket/football club and most from the Baby Group that Anna attends with Beth. Most weekends are spent up at the cricket club - lounging by the pool, in the restaurants/ bar (nothing's changed!) or at friends' houses enjoying a barbeque etc. Hard life when it's around 32 degrees and 90 percent humidity (to put that into context it feels like being on one of the twinnies' sunbeds - in a sauna!)

We have been very fortunate to have had so many family guests from home visit us - plus plenty of Crosby mates including Kev (6th team (cos there is no 7ths)) Healy - and we have not had a lot if time to miss home at all. We have also travelled to Singapore for a long weekend and have trips to Shanghai (to play in their Cricket 6's tournament) - and to Bangkok to see Everton, coming up soon.

In the winter Anna and I were able to keep up with the football as we have all the Premier League games over here! Most of my Everton mates are hoping that I stay here for much longer given the success we have had. I also got to watch the Champions League final at 2.30 in the morning - which was fantastic - until half time!! All the ashes cricket, lions rugby (yes Marshy I know), golf and tennis has been on. we even have BBC Prime - ok if you like the Weakest Link and Changing Rooms!

So what about the cricket? Well I was fortunate enough to pass the trial (crap in the nets but a decent lad in the bar apparently) and am a member of the Scorpions X1. Cricket is played on both Saturdays and Sundays - with Scorpions playing in the "better standard" 50 overs league on Sundays, with all games are played on grass wickets. Hong Kong cricket is surprisingly good having a lot of Aussies here and a large Indian community. My team had a mixed year - finishing 7 / 12 in the league, but got to the semis of the cup. (But as I only arrived late, I only played a handful of games so - it wasn’t all my fault!).

I didn’t own up to being a crap keeper when I arrived - so fortunately I have been stationed at gully and in the deep (as someone noticed I can catch) and have scored the usual couple of decent 20's/30's before being too knackered to carry on!!!

In my team we have the "Pro" who is the opening bowler for Ireland (back home at present in the ICC tournament) Ryan Eagleson, the captain of Hong Kong Tim Smart, a former junior Wimbledon winner Mark Kratzman, a former Aussie under 21 Ian Duncombe and the captian Martin Lever (no relation to CL) played for Neston in the early 90's. So its pretty good stuff. I would say it is probably between Premier and 1st Division cricket.

Have a look at the website - the facilities are amazing! : http://www.hkcc.org/

We keep a very keen eye on all the teams at Northern through the club website and the LDCC site. It's great to see the first team doing so well and am really looking forward to heckling them from the boundary for a few weekends in August. Snoopy keeps me updated and I have had the odd email chat with Carl and Pazzer. I also hear a lot from Suggs, Moose and Jack so know how Formby are getting on.

Also - great to see so many cricketers were at the Summer Ball - not only a great nite I'm sure, but a reflection of all the hard work Bish has put in!! (not just the usual p*ss heads of Sloan, Davies, Martin etc!! - we really missed that nite!!).

We had our own end of season ball recently and as you can tell by the photos - a good nite was had!

Anyway - Anna and Beth are really well and they will probably see you all before I do as they landed this morning in Heathrow - and I have to spend some more time travelling in China and Asia before they will let me come back.

Look forward to seeing you all soon!!
Mark, Anna and Beth
17th July
click pictures to expand ..
ps. Two piccies ... one of Elbos, one of Jacquesy. Met up with them both in Sydney when I was out there on biz.

Parrot is caged. (Jul.2005)
The Parrot's feathers were ruffled in an incident towards the end of Northern's 4th.XI fixture with Caldy. The Parrot was heard to be squawking uncharacteristically loudly, but Hawk-eye did not come to his rescue. His flight path became somewhat wayward, until he was eventually coaxed back to the pavilion. Minutes later the Parrot was again spotted circling the pitch in a predatory manner. Later that evening, however, things had returned to normal as the Parrot resumed his normal perch in the bar. But, after an appearance before the Beak, the Parrot has had his wings clipped, and is grounded for two weeks.

Under 9's represent Sefton in MYC finals. (Jun.2005)
Well done to the Northern Under 9's, who won the local Kwik Cricket play-offs, and went forward to represent Sefton in the Merseyside finals, winning 2 of their matches.
The Northern team is pictured with coach Paul Wills.
Congratulations also to Upton, Wirral's representatives, who won the finals tournament, which was once again hosted at Northern.

Summer Ball bowls them over. (Jun.2005)
Mike Bishop fronted a strong contingent (above) of cricketers past and present, spanning 5 decades of cricket at the club, who attended the Summer Ball as part of marquee week.

Northern achieve Cricket Clubmark status. (Jun.2005)
After a lot of hard work Northern Club were awarded ECB and Sport England Cricket Clubmark status on 20th June.
The Club has always had an extremely active Junior Section, but it is only since the Clubmark criteria were introduced that the key elements of safety, qualified coaches, etc have been fully recognised. Northern now run Friday night coaching sessions for children from 8 years up, and teams at under 9, 11, 13 and 15 level, as well as integrating younger players into the 5 Saturday league sides that are run.
Our coaches are currently engaged in an ongoing programme with local primary schools and we regularly host matches and competitions on behalf of both Sefton area and the LCB, with regional under 9 and 11 festivals due to be held in the next few weeks.
The management and running of the Cricket section has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years, and this is in no small way due to the directions asked for by the Clubmark criteria with which we are happy to comply,

4ths and 5ths in top-of-table clash. (Jun.2005)
The 5th team led the 1st Division table, going into the first league clash of the season with the second-placed 4th team. But the 5ths batting line-up struggled against the bowling of John 'Caddick' Mooney, who finished with 5 wickets as the 5ths were bowled out for 59. Andy Sturmey and Jack Boardman took 2 each.
The 4th team reply got off to a bad start, as the Vicar played an unholy swipe (above) off the bowling of Mark Lees, and keeper Dooley made the collection.
Chris Sharrott helped put the 4ths on course to victory, before mistiming this driven return off Mike Lees.
It was left to 13 year old startlet Jack Boardman to lead the 4ths to the brink of a 7 wicket win, which sees them take over at the top.

Jonesie makes first team debut. (Jun.2005)

Sports Award for Alan Majestic. (Jun.2005)
The cricket section's scorer, roving reporter and fixtures secretary Alan Majewska collected a richly deserved Senior Commitment award at the Sefton Sports Achievement Awards Dinner, held at the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport.
Having been voted Sefton Sports Club of the Year on the previous two occasions, this time Northern were highly commended in the Club of the Year category. The squash section's Alan Hendry was voted Sefton's Coach of the Year, and Heather Tweedle was highly commended in the Female Athlete of the Year category.
Pictured are Heather Tweedle, Alan Majewska, vice president Paul Davies, Alan Hendry and president Mike Bishop. Our congratulations go to all concerned.

Northern U13's take Tatlock Trophy. (May. 2005)
Well Done to the Northern under 13 team which won the prestigious MYC Eric Tatlock Trophy on bank holiday Sunday. This means Northern move on to represent Merseyside in a Lancashire area quarter final.
The Eric Tatlock final was played at St Helens Recs CC against Rainford. Batting first Northern scored 85 - 8 in their 20 overs with Jack Boardman top scoring with 31 retired. All the bowlers then bowled extremely well and Rainford were never really in the hunt closing some 18 runs short. Special mention in the bowling department must go to the pacey Phil Lees and skipper James Morrissey.
The previous week Northern had come back from the dead to beat Old Xaverians in the semi final after poor batting had left the last pair to score 18 for victory. Thanks to some extremely cool batting from Simon Kennedy and Stephen Hesketh this was achieved. Without these two Northern would not have even made the final never mind win it.
Back L-R: Dave Cole (manager), Ben Lindsay, Phil Lees, Simon Kennedy, Stephen Hesketh, Patrick Reade, Mike Bishop (coach). Front: Graham Cunningham, Myles Martin, James Morrissey (captain), Jack Boardman, Joe Reade and Matty Thompson