Tamworth Cricket the winner as Rawlett U15 Cricket Team Finish Runners Up in the Prestigious Bill Jones Cup It seems a long time ago, back in sunny July that the cream of Rawlett cricket narrowly overcame Netherstowe to book their place in the Bill Jones Cup Final. It is the 8th year that the Bill Jones Cup has been competed for by the best players at U15 level from the Tamworth and Lichfield schools. The Cup is organised by Mick Jones from Tamworth CC, who hosted the final on a glorious sunny afternoon with Mrs Jones, widow of Tamworth sporting stalwart Bill there to present the impressive piece of silverware. The Rawlett team were well aware of their opponents from LFATA as most of the players play for the club, giving the game that extra spice. LFATA won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket that looked full of runs and outfield that was manicured so perfectly that even the lightest touch by a canny batsman might see the ball race away for four runs. LFATA made hay with their batsman running well between the wickets and smiting the ball to the boundary if any width was offered by the Rawlett bowlers. Captain Mcentee picked up the first of his three wickets early on but this did not slow the run rate. LFATA boast a set of cricketing triplets, the Patrick brothers. One followed the other scoring quickly and providing the scorer with a headache trying to work out which brother was facing ! The eldest Patrick, Craig stayed the course scoring an impressive 51 not out. Mcentee Senior was the pick of the bowlers picking up wickets when the team was desperate. The pacy Edgar was miserly with his 4 overs, only conceding 12 runs. Rather impressive when LFATA finished on 152 - 5 off their 20 overs. A huge task lay ahead of the Rawlett team. A score of 150 + is a massive total and it required 2 or 3 batsmen playing superbly to get anywhere near the target. Unfortunately being reduced to 20 for 2 off the first 5 overs does not constitute a great start and 150 certainly seemed a long way away. Mcentee senior strode to the wicket and laid anchor as the his team came in and went rather quickly. Non cricketers, but all round good lads, Mills, Green, Medlicott and Wood all crashed a couple of boundaries and raised the hopes of the expectant crowd only to be undone by continued quality bowling. Usually in games of this ilk, good batsmen await the fourth of fifth bowlers and plunder the generous fodder they deliver mercilessly. However one has to give credit to LFATA, they had 3 good seamers and then 2 wily spinners whose flight and guile bamboozled the Rawlett lower order. Rawlett managed a creditable 101 for 9 off their allotted 20 overs with Mcentee finishing with 26 not out. LFATA were deserved victors. However most pleasing for the town was that the final was contested by 2 Tamworth schools after being dominated by King Edwards Lichfield in the past 5 years. Credit must go to Tamworth CC who have developed the players on show in this final. Their youth policy is excellent and continues to produce high quality cricketers. An first-rate competition played at a lovely ground with excellent facilities, credit to LFATA and Tamworth Cricket Club ! LFATA 152 - 5 Innings closed (Mcentee Snr 3 for 20, Edgar 1 for 12, Moore 1 - 37) Rawlett 102 - 9 Innings closed ( Mcentee Snr 26 not out)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:42:43 +0000
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