MIDDLEWICH Cricket Club celebrated a successful year for their thriving junior section on Friday night with a presentation evening.

The event was very well attended by players, friends and parents, with the four team managers giving a brief resume of the season's highlights.

Many players from the under-18s and under-15s have become regulars in the first and second elevens on a Saturday , plus the third eleven on a Sunday, making big improvements to their game.

Second XI cricketer Richard Goulding, who has run the under-11s this season, said: "For some players who have been regular senior team members for several seasons, it was a surprise to discover they were still young enough to play at junior level.

"For the under-11s and under-13s this has been the first season of their formation and they have encounterd very strong teams from the major county league sides such as Pointon, Alderley Edge and Chester Boughton Hall.

"The support of parents, particularly at this level, has been greatly appreciated by the club and a marvellous social and team spirit developed.

"This has helped sustain enthusiasm throughout the season especially since games for under 13s began at 9.30 on a Sunday morning when a lie-in might have seemed more inviting.

"And for the under 11s, this was their first season in competitive cricket and they learnt quickly the value of bowling straight and not giving their wickets away cheaply."

Season highlights included two under-11s, Tom Shennan and Phillip Nelson, who were recognised as having great promise and played for the league side against High Peak.

The club also organised two friendlies at under-10 level against Haslington and Winnington Park, winning both of them and giving the club a firm footing for the future.

Practice nights have been well attended and all at MCC are looking forward to next year.

Trophy winners were:

Under-18s best bat Gavin Tomlinson; best bowler Andy Hampshire; under-15s best bat Mathew Stanway; best bowler Chris Bennett; under-13s best bat James Prime; best bowler Phillip Nelson; under-11s best bat Andrew Betts; best bowler Tom Shennan.

Special thanks were given to Keith Prime who donated a slip cradle to the club.

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