Howzat for a great night
EPPLETON’S YOUNGSTERS HONOURED FOR EFFORTS
EPPLETON Cricket Club held their junior presentation night after another successful season for the Dukes North East Premier Division club.
Former Eppleton junior and now Durham county cricketer Josh Coughlin was on hand to present the Church Road players with awards for their hard work throughout the 2018 campaign.
Awards were given out to all players who had played in junior cricket through the season in addition to those who had scored the most runs and most wickets at all age groups.
Scott Reay claimed the honours for the under-11s (271) with a top score of 37 against Hetton Lyons.
The all-rounder who also keeps wicket, also recorded the best batting average at under-11 level of 25.
Josh Brown bagged 16 wickets in this age group to claim the award for most wickets.
A dominant season with the bat saw Jack Metcalfe take the most runs at under-13 level with 380 runs, including a top score of 34 not out against Washington,
In the under-15 age group Jake Pratt notched 439 runs - with four 50s - to take the most runs for this age group - including a best of 60 not out against South Shields.
Edward Brown claimed the most wickets with 15 wickets in the season - his best figures 4-10 against Chester le Street.
Along with most wickets and runs, the Hetton-based club also gave special awards to players who had shone throughout the season.
Paul Lawson, Niall Gallagher, Jake Pratt and Edward Brown all claimed stand-out performance awards for outstanding matchwining contributions over the course of the summer.
The under-11s’ most improved player award went to a young promising female bowler Casey Wilson, who also excelled in the Durham girls’ team in 2018.
Niall Gallagher scooped the award at under-13 level, having amassed 100 runs in four games for the under-13s in comparison to 48 he managed throughout the 2017 season.
Josh Hutchinson claimed the honours at under-15 level for his improvements with the bat and ball as he continues to become a genuine bowling all-rounder.
The overall most improved player of the season with 271 runs at under-11 level and the leading wicket-taker for the under-13s was Scott Reay.
The best newcomer award went to Jack Metcalfe for an exceptional first season at Eppleton in which he totalled 601 runs for all teams and claimed 18 wickets - including a best of 60 against Felling Thirds.
Under-11s’ player of the season went to Reay for his all-round outstanding season across the club.
Under 13s’ player of the season honours went to Metcalfe with Brown picking up the award for the under-15s.
The last and main honour of the night was the Ken Ferguson Memorial Trophy for Player of the Season, which went to Pratt.
The 14-year-old rattled up 808 runs throughout the season in addition to taking 41 wickets.
Pratt also took 37 catches in the field.
Last summer Eppleton Under -13s won the David Stephinson Trophy in addition to being runners up in the NEPL junior competition.
The under-15s also won their group in the NEPL Plaque.
If anyone would like any information about junior cricket at Eppleton Cricket Club they should email Alan Johnson at eppletoncc11@gmail.com.