As the junior season draws to a close, we would like to provide a final update and celebrate the achievements, progress, and highlights from across our junior teams.

Under 11s Season Review
It has been a fantastic achievement to field an Under 11s team this season. The players have enjoyed a year full of learning, development, and success. With every player experiencing hard-ball and league cricket for the first time, the squad showed remarkable improvement throughout the season.

Across both league competitions, the team scored 587 runs and took 42 wickets in official fixtures. In the Development League, we finished 5th, winning two of our six matches. In the Summer League, the team finished 3rd, winning three of five games.

One of the biggest successes of the season has been the continued growth in junior participation. The use of 17 different players throughout the campaign demonstrates the strength and depth developing within this age group.

Progress on and off the field has been excellent, with consistently high attendance at Friday evening training sessions and the successful introduction of the Sunday Morning Breakfast Squad.

A huge thank you goes to Team Manager Luke Jones and coaches Nick Kerr and Ewan Faulkner for their commitment throughout the season. Special thanks also go to Ryan Toone for his support with match-day scoring and statistics.

We must not forget our fantastic parents, whose support has been invaluable. Their help in organising the Sunday morning BBQs and selling breakfast rolls and coffees has created a brilliant atmosphere around the club.

We will be looking for a new Team Manager and coaches for this age group next season, so please get in touch if you would be interested in getting involved.
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Under 13s Season Review
The Under 13s enjoyed another outstanding season, demonstrating excellent teamwork, skill development, and commitment throughout the year.

The team produced several impressive batting performances and consistently strong bowling displays. These performances earned a number of players their first senior cricket call-ups, with several making their adult league debuts for the 4th XI during the season.
The team finished runners-up in the league, missing out on the title by just one point.

Batting Highlights
The team scored an impressive total of 930 runs during the season. Their highest total of 203 without loss was a particularly outstanding achievement, showcasing excellent shot selection, running between the wickets, and concentration.

Bowling and Fielding
The bowling attack consistently applied pressure and frequently restricted opposition teams to modest totals. The team bowled opponents out on three occasions and claimed a total of 74 wickets throughout the campaign. The ability to regularly dismiss teams and control scoring rates proved to be one of the side's greatest strengths.

Key Strengths

Strong Batting Depth with several totals exceeding 130 runs demonstrated contributions throughout the batting order rather than reliance on just one or two players.

Consistent Bowling, opposing teams were regularly restricted to under 100 runs, allowing the team to establish control of matches from the outset.

The Under 13s can look back on a highly successful season. With seven wins from eight completed matches, dominant batting displays, and numerous impressive bowling performances, the team demonstrated significant development, commitment, and skill throughout the campaign.

The players should be extremely proud of their achievements and the progress made together as a team. These foundations will serve them well as they continue to develop and progress through the junior age groups.

Finally, thank you to Team Managers and Coaches Andy Yates and Kev Johnson for their hard work, support, and dedication throughout the season, from Friday training sessions to match days and the many administrative tasks behind the scenes.
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Under 15s Season Review
The Under 15s competed in a strong league this year, although unfortunately several matches were affected by adverse weather conditions.

While results may not fully reflect the effort shown throughout the season, the team remained competitive in most matches and demonstrated real character against strong opposition. Several games were closely contested, and the team's league victory highlighted the potential within the squad when both batting and bowling performances came together.

The players displayed great maturity and work ethic both on and off the pitch. Several individuals stepped up with bat and ball, while the entire squad demonstrated excellent sportsmanship throughout the season.

Encouragingly, many of these players have now progressed into adult cricket, gaining valuable experience and increased game time, while also becoming part of the club's Under 17s squad.

The season has provided valuable learning and development opportunities, laying a solid foundation for continued improvement and future success.

There is still an opportunity to finish the season on a high, with next week's away fixture against Byfield offering the chance to secure top spot in the Under 15s Summer League.
A huge thank you goes to Darren Tew for managing and supporting the team throughout the year.
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Under 17s Season Review
The reintroduction of an Under 17s team this season, after not fielding one last year, has been a major positive for the club.

The team finished 5th in their league, and the commitment shown by the players was especially impressive given the challenges of GCSE examinations, fixture rearrangements, and limited opportunities for training.

There were several encouraging performances during the campaign. A memorable three-wicket victory, along with a spirited batting display in pursuit of 185 runs where the team eventually fell just 30 runs short, demonstrated that the squad was capable of competing strongly.

With greater consistency and a more settled season next year, the foundations are in place for the Under 17s to become a very competitive side in 2027.

A big thank you goes to Stu Nutt and Darren Tew for bringing the team together, re-organising fixtures, and supporting the players on match days throughout the season.
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Final Word
One final MASSIVE thank you goes to Julyan Hakes for the passion, time, and support he has given to the club this season. His batting coaching sessions on Friday evenings have benefited players across all age groups and have made a significant impact on junior player development.

We should also recognise the support provided by Dave Hylands and Julyan’s son and daughter, who have often assisted. The club continues to benefit enormously from their efforts, as well as the dedication shown by all of our coaches throughout the season.

Overall, the 2026 season has been highly positive, with clear progress made both on and off the field. The foundations for future success are firmly in place, and continued focus on player development will help drive even stronger performances across both junior and senior cricket in the years ahead.
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Date for the Diary
Junior Awards Day - Sunday 13th September, from 2:00pm

Our usual format of mixed games will be taking place, with the bar open throughout the afternoon. We will also be firing up the BBQ and would love to see as many players, families, and supporters there as possible.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

All the best,
Elliot Slinn
Head of Mini & Juniors