Eppleton’s starlets are real prize guys
JUNIOR CRICKET
EPPLETON Cricket Club held their junior presentation night after another successful season for the Dukes North East Premier Division club, writes SAM BLACKLOCK.
Durham Cricket rising star Scott Steel was on hand to present the Church Road players with awards for their hard work through the 2019 campaign.
Awards were given out to all players who had played in junior cricket through the season at the Hetton based club in addition to players who had recorded the most runs and most wickets at all age groups.
Scott Reay claimed the honours for the under-11s (172 runs) with a top score of 29 against Littletown, while the all-rounder also took the most wickets award with 15.
The accolade celebrating the under-11 with the best average who protected his wicket though the season went to Michael Scotter, who registered an impressive average of 52 at under-11 level.
A dominant season with the bat saw Adam Welch make the most runs at under-13 level with 279 – and he also picked up the award for the most wickets in the season with 17 victims.
This past summer Eppleton had two under-15 teams competing in the Durham Cricket Board Junior League Division One and Three.
For the Maroon team, Jack Metcalfe hit the most runs with 177, a top score of 50 not out coming against Seaham Park, Tyler Beston claiming the award for most wickets.
In the under-15 gold age group Jake Pratt amassed 478 runs – including four 50s and an excellent century against South Northumberland.
Rhys Brown claimed the most wickets with 21 – including a best of 3-21 in a match-winning performance against Hetton Lyons.
The under-11s’ most improved player went to promising bowler Michael Scotter, who has shown huge potential with both bat and ball. Ethan Lillie took the award at under-13 level, having scored 179 runs throughout the summer compared to just three for the under-13s in the 2018 season.
Jye Richardson was honoured at under-15 level for his improvements with the bat and ball.
His most impressive batting performance came against Sunderland with 79 not out in the Glenn Robinson Memorial Trophy.
The Overall Most Improved Player of the Season Award went to Edward Brown. He captured 41 wickets, the second highest at the club – his best spell for the under-15s coming against South North with 3-17.
Away from the under-15s, Brown enjoyed key knocks and wickets throughout the summer, including a top score of 70 against Burnopfield.
The Best Newcomer Award went to Rhys Brown for an exceptional first season at Eppleton in which he posted 679 runs for all teams and took 36 wickets.
Under-11s player of the season was Scott Reay for an all-round outstanding season.
Under-13s player of the season went to Welch, Pratt picking up the award at under-15 level.
The last honour of the night was the Ken Ferguson Memorial Trophy for Player of the Season, which went to Pratt.
The 15-year-old rattled up 805 runs throughout the season in addition to taking 33 wickets and also played for Durham Under-15s.