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Poloc's juniors - the "Mini-Mighty"!
Poloc runs junior cricket teams at seven age-group levels: Under 10, 11, 13, 13B, 15, 15B and 18 and compete in West District Junior Cricket Union - as well as Cricket Scotland - competitions. Under 10 players compete in "Kwik Cricket" competitions, the others hard-ball. But competitive play is only one, small, aspect of Poloc's junior work and this page will tell you more about what's going on at the club for the 80 or so youngsters registered with it.
The club's coaching staff are all qualified and appropriately Disclosure Scotland and/or Police checked. Poloc's Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy can be viewed online and is also available from our Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Officer, Keith Young, whose contact details can be found below and on the Contact us page of the website.
Junior news and match reports
Please note that match reports are written with the primary purpose of [hopefully] entertaining club members and no offence, intentional or otherwise, is intended to third parties.
Frank Smith jinx continues... [posted 04/09/10] The club's Frank Smith Trophy jinx continues! Today saw the 18s lose out yet again, this time on Finals Day. However, as at New Williamfield last Sunday in the national Under 18 club championship Finals Day, the boys should have no complaints as the defeat to West of Scotland was down to their own poor performance. Bowling first they likely let West post a few too many as 126 was scored, but even then this should've been a comfortable enough run-chase, except of course if a second-week-in-a-row top-order batting collapse occurred. And it did. Again only Pasty made runs of the top six, with Josh scoring a cameo 21 in the middle order at more than a run-a-ball to show others what was possible if bat was put on ball as opposed to wafted in its general direction. West ran out winners by around 30 runs. It's just a pity the form of the rest of the season deserted the 'Locster 18s in the last seven days of their season.
League title secured! [posted 31/08/10] It was good to put yesterday's national club championship disappointment behind them as the 18s ran out winners at the Henry Thow Oval, and with the win down on the Ayrshire coast secured the Under 18 league title. A good achievement, and another unbeaten league campaign. Great stuff. And how fitting that Max Costello - in his final match for a junior 'Loc side before heading to Edinburgh Uni' on Thursday - secured the league title, hitting the winning boundary as the boys chased 100 to win in a match reduced to sixteen overs-a-side. In the end less than thirteen overs were needed, and the margin of victory was nine wickets. At the other end when the winning runs were scored was skipper Pasty, unbeaten on 41. He'd opened with Bilal, who's 45 was erroneously applauded as a half century after diddy scorer Quartz mis-counted his own writing! Oops.
With a number of players unavailable because of work commitments, others declaring themselves unavailable for selection after yesterday's match, and Umer being a late call off,
Well done to the 18s. And thanks to Fraser and Carl who were both down at Prestwick to share the win with the boys!
13s run into Greenock juggernaut,.....a big one! [posted 31/08/10] In their second-last league match - there's a rescheduled game with Drumpellier to come - the 13s ran into a very strong Greenock side at Shawholm tonight. The Glenpark side were pretty impressive, and whilst your scribe can at times attribute fault to 'Locsters' sides when they lose, it's also the case that when our boys are well-and-truly beaten by a better side we say so. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we were well-and-truly beaten by a better side. The Greenock boys batted first and posted 130. For 4. Two batters were retired, and in truth if the game hadn't been a T20 affair there'd likely have been more. The home side bowlers didn't bowl badly I would add, and in general the fielding was pretty good. The Glenpark batters were just too good on the night. In fact mention of the 'Locsters' fielding begs mention of Roberto who had a good night in this department. A good catch to dismiss a Greenock batter, and a sharp pick-up-and-throw to all-but run out another. Good standards young man! Kess also held on to a sharp caught-and-bowled chance, again worthy of mention. There were other chances created along the way too: Lewis was unlucky with one aerial shot looping just over his head, and another - catch'able one - getting lost in the low sun. So nothing much to rant about, about the performance in the field, just up against a good side. 131 to win.
With Rosco off with the 18s who were short a few because of work commitments and players declaring themselves not available for selection, the 13s were short a man. This then became two as Hasan Ahmad didn't rock up. What's up with some people?!? A call to tip off the coach, and tell their team-mates, would be nice. Some might even say it's the right thing to do. Or maybe your scribe's just old-fashioned that way?!? Back to the cric',..... In reply Akhil and Kess looked comfortable against the Greenock opening attack. But when Akhil mis-pulled a full toss straight to square leg the rot set in. Runs were hard to come by, and wickets fell at alarmingly regular intervals. Two run outs didn't help either. Pity. 43 was all the guys could muster. Again no real criticism. Geenock's bowling, though not as strong as their batting on this performance, was still pretty good. And like their batting it seems the whole bloomin' lot of 'em bowl! Well done to them on the win, and the 13s have Thursday's match to look forward to finish their league campaign on a high.
Close, but not close enough [posted 29/08/10] The Under 18s' unbeaten season ended today with a narrow 8-run defeat to Grange in the semi-final of the Cricket Scotland Under 18 club championship at New Williamfield. Winning the toss on a bright, sunny but bitterly cold and very windy day, Pasty invited opposition skipper Henry Edwards' side to have a bat. Grange opened with James Hearn and Mullins. Eight balls in and it was 5 for 1, Hearn miss-timing a Umer Aziz delivery to be well caught by Dani' Chaudhry. 5 for 1 then became 36 for 2 as Hari' cleaned up Mullins. Mullins had looked dangerous scoring 18 from just fourteen balls and getting rid of him and getting - arguably - the last of Grange's front-line batters in early was good. Edwards, the skipper, was in at three, and he was now joined by Charlie Tresidder. One of these getting out would be critical perhaps to restricting the Raeburn Place youngsters. And the 'Locsters were sure they'd achieved their aim when a Bil'y Chaudhry delivery seemed to nick Edwards' bat as it went through into Scotty's gloves. Umpire Sandy Scotland turned down the 18s' appeals though and Edwards survived. And how. When the final ball of the Grange twenty-over allotment had been slog-swept into the trees for a maximum off Dani', Edwards walked off to a standing ovation from his side, 71 not out. I guess that's called taking your chance. Well batted, but maybe a case of what might've been. At the other end Tresidder gave able support to his captain. His unbeaten 46 came from just 39 as he, too, was brutal on any poor bowling. It's interesting when comparing the two innings that the number of dot balls in each was pretty much the same (48 in Grange's innings, 43 in Poloc's), the difference was that the 'Locsters' bad balls were really bad. They were caned. Thirteen 4s and three 6s scored by Grange, just five 4s and a single 6 scored by Poloc. And the bowlers' inability - as a unit - to hit consistent lengths, and lines, resulted in a field that had to be pretty evenly dispersed making crossing the boundary that much easier. A final component is, of course, that when a team's losing wickets and there are no batters who are really in, the ability to hit boundaries is that much harder. So 152 for 2 it was at halftime - no grumbling by the 'Locsters though, sometimes big decisions go for you, sometimes not.
The second half started with the 'Locsters offering Grange a sub' fielder as they'd only rocked up with ten. Grange thanked the guys for the offer, but continued with just their ten. Despite this they'd go on to win, so credit their ten guys for covering the acreage at New Williamfield as well as they did. For the 'Locsters only Bil'y (4-0-15-0) and Trophy Head (4-0-22-0) had returned respectable bowling figures, the others used costing lots. For Grange then the question was would their bowlers bowl any better? The final analysis suggests not really. Only one of the Grange bowlers - Mullins - went at less than sixes, but the difference was they managed to take wickets. The 'Loc got off to the perfect start as Hearn sprayed the ball around, and Pasty and NJ put on 27 in the first three overs. Then Nicky inside edged a Munro delivery to become the first of wicket-keeper Angelini's five (yes, 5!) victims. The young 'keeper grabbed three stumpings, and pouched two catches. And the wickets were spread around the bowlers: Munro also dismissed Joshy who'd scored a run-a-ball 7 near the end; Edwards took a "3-for"; and there was one each for Tresidder and Mullins. Pasty continued with Dani' after Nicky's departure and these two put on 57 for the third wicket. 87 for 2 after twelve overs was the scoreboard read-out when Dani' departed, miss-timing a pull shot off a shocker of a half-tracker from Mullins, out for 13 from twenty balls. It was then 91 for 3 as Pasty departed for 50 (off 46 balls), the first of Angelini's stumping victims. From here the win was still on though. At the end of the over Pasty departed - over thirteen - the 'Locsters were 94 for 3, comparing to Grange's 95 for 2 at the same stage. After sixteen overs the same comparison showed the 'Locsters were just 2 runs back. But there'd be no similarly big finish from the 18s. Unlike Grange who went into the last few overs with batters set, the 'Loc just couldn't find a pair to stay together. Batters came and went and the run-rate remained decent - but just not enough to see the win secured. 144 for 8 come the end, and defeat by 8 runs.
Well done to Grange, but the universal feeling was that the guys had let this one get away. Better bowling from the bowlers as a unit, maybe a little better speed around the paddock and improved mobility in the field might've saved a few runs, another batter or two "getting in", a big over or two at the right time, a big decision going your way, etc, etc. But that's cricket, and no complaints - Grange's Tresidder and Edwards batted well. Well done again, to them and their side. For the 18s they've to pick themselves up and try and secure a league title, and there's still the Frank Smith Trophy to try and win. West, in the latter, will prove stiff oppo's in the semi-, and Clydesdale await in the final. Two big hurdles to overcome.
Under 11s lose out at the death [posted 27/08/10] 28 runs smacked by Helensburgh's number ten, Chambers, in the space of seven of the last twelve balls of tonight's league clash at Shawholm put paid to hopes of a home win. This was the 11s' second-last league match of the 2010 season, and after defeat to the Dark Side last week the hope was to get back on the rails and see if a "winning season" could be recorded. But, again, it wasn't to be. Batting first the boys had done well enough - this despite the usual weaknesses being cruelly exposed again - when will hacks across the line to bolt-straight balls be eliminated from our youngsters' armoury of shots??? Ayooooooooobbb!!! And other batters have to remember not to wander idly out of their creases before a ball's called dead! But still, losing only four wickets was pretty good, and Ahmed-Raza managed to record his top score of the season. Well done that [small] man! The net 66 could also have been much more had it not been for some genuinely good - and brave - ground fielding from the visitors from down the Clyde. More than one Helensburgh player showed they knew how to dive and stop hard-hit balls, and return good throws. Well done to them. Net 66 it was then.
And the second innings started well enough. Helensburgh were restricted to net 28 after ten overs, and just net 47 after fifteen. And even with just twelve balls to go they still needed 9 to win, knowing of course a wicket falling added 5 to any remaining total of runs still required. Enter Master Chambers. His knock has started inauspiciously enough: wide, dot, wide, out. Then, carnage! 4, dot, 4, 4, 4, dot, 4, 4, 4. 28 from nine balls and what looked like a tight finish turned into a stroll down a street called "Easy". What a performance! And it was dark, very dark. 8.45pm finish time and Chambers pulling, driving and cutting like it was 12noon and he was playing on a road. Quite astonishing. And the result? A win for his side.
So the 11s have a last remaining chance to finish their season on a high - Thursday coming sees their final league match, the rescheduled game with Drumps.
Re-arranged fixtures [posted 26/08/10] Two more junior matches have been re-arranged: the Under 11s' and Under 13s' matches against Drumpellier will both be played on Thursday the 2nd of September.
Game off [posted 24/08/10]
Game off [posted 23/08/10]
Belated well done [posted 22/08/10] Five of the club's Under 13s were playing today for the South Glasgow Under 13s in that rep' side's latest Inter-Area championship match. At Whitehaugh - home of Kelburne - the five, Akhil Ahmed, Kess Sajjad, Hasan Ahmad, Ross Armour and Lewis James, were up against Clyde Sharks, the area side pulling its players from the Greenock, Inverclyde, Ferguslie, Renfrew and Kelburne clubs. Well done to the guys on their selections.
BIG defeat at Toytown [posted 20/08/10] Your author considered writing a serious piece of incisive sports journalism recounting the 'Locster 15s' heavy defeat at Titwood tonight,.....but then thought what's the point! But as ever in determining to go down my chosen angle on the game it's important not to pretend not to have seen what actually happened in the contest. We - that is the Mighty - got thrashed. In fact, as has been oft' summarised before in these pages after such results: it was a pants-round-your-ankles, bare-bottomed spanking! Ouchay! This Clydesdale:Glasgow Accies Under 15 select is a very strong side. They've a lot of batting, and some decent bowling. They're physically bigger than most oppo's and bunt and bludgeon their way past all but the very best of their contempraries without much of a problem. The 'Locsters were never really in this one. Right that deals with the bones of the match, and its outcome. Not to the ridiculous.....
Someone will have to convince this writer of the point,.....nay any point in playing Under 15 cricket on a pitch that is quite literally too small for Under 11s. What is the point in every fielder - on both sides (bar one in the case of Clydesdale's Hill) - starting the opposition innings by fielding on the boundary,.....saving 1? What is the point in miss-hits routinely - note, not occasionally - going for 4 or 6? What does it teach bowlers when chipped mis-hits go for 6 and aren't catches? Do 28 4s, and nine 6s in an Under 15 match suggest to anyone else that maybe, just maybe, the boundaries have produced a farce? Or four lost balls? And why play an Under 15 match on the end of the square, on a wicket that's so bad as to be embarrassing? Does having to apply four loads of sawdust on separate occasions in the match suggest an unsuitable wicket? Or does batters taking lumps out of the surface when playing shots? Or do balls jumping off a length? Again, what good does this do young players? Is "protecting" the 1st XI wicket so important??? We joke about Toytown cricket, but tonight wasn't funny, just a little, in fact quite a big bit, it was farcical.
To the detail - and as noted on the Home page the scores have all been halved to make sense of them. Clydesdale won the toss and batted. Openers Popeye and Haris Chaudhry got off to a quick start and added 37.5 for the first wicket, Chaudhry being bowled by Saif Sajjad for 15. He'd done his job though and the run-rate was a healthy 4+. Popeye was joined by a player in Scotland kit [Ed: does the Titwood club not sell a range of Clydesdale-monikored kit?]. The player in the Scotland kit struggled to get bat on ball as Saif bowled a tight line and length, and then just as the über Führer himself appeared and said "If Scott had been here all year he'd have played for Scotland", Popeye's bunting ended suddenly as he swung and missed one time too many; bowled by Haider. Karma? But then Elliott took a bit of stick in his one over - going for 11 - to relieve even the beginnings of any sense of pressure building with two new batters at the crease, Ali and the player in the Scotland kit getting the runs flowing again. But then, again, with the über Führer having just said "Looks like Lyle's going to get another 94 in 27 balls", the player in the Scotland kit tamely chipped a catch to Saify. Out for 16.5. Karma? It was now two batters with names starting with "A" at crease: Ali being joined by Awan. These continued the bunting and runs continued to flow, none of the 'Locster bowlers seemingly able to hit the right length to restrain them. A couple of catches were grassed into the bargain which didn't help matters: both by Husnain at long (?)-on. Ali was eventually stumped for 13.5, allowing Selby to come and go for 5, and Suhaib Siddiqui to score a quick 2 not out. Awan, too, was not out, in his case having made 17. 97 for 5 was final damage. Not bad on a tricky deck. Just under 5-an-over. Haider had been the main wicket-taker for the 'Locsters with a "3-for".
The run-chase needed a decent start given 5-an-over on such a difficult wicket wasn't ever going to be easy. So losing Saify to a ball that popped in the first over to Glasgow Accies' Keshav Kanabar wasn't exactly the ideal start. Rosco then went fourth ball, bowled by Kanabar. As said, hardly ideal reader. Elliott continued however and added 14 with Hasan before nicking off to Hashim. 17 for 3. Hmmmm. And from here it was really a case of seeing how long the 'Locsters could bat. It'd be good to see out their twenty overs. Something they nearly achieved. But with Saad being a no-show there were only ten batters and the ninth wicket fell in the final over,.....on the last ball in fact; Haider caught by Siddiqui off Popeye's bowling. For the 'Dale there were two wickets a-piece for Kanabar and the player in the Scotland kit. Popeye and Haris Chaudhry only bowled three overs though being - of course - too good for the 'Locsters, and only bowling off a few paces "just in case" when they did come on. Why thank you. The 'Locsters' final total was but 40. Not so good. None of the batters really got to grips with the surface, and none looked particular "in charge" against the home bowling attack.
A heavy defeat then. Clydesdale will likely win the division if they can get their remaining games played, and are the strongest side in terms of depth in the Under 15s league. The 'Locsters will learn from the defeat it's hoped too though. Learn that there's a slightly different length to bowl on every wicket and in different conditions, and it's important to find this out each time. They'll also have to learn to find ways to score even in difficult conditions against good bowlers: maybe where to stand, or where to look to score, or even which bowlers to "target". But learn this they'll have to. Positives on the night were,.....were,.....it didn't rain.
Maxi' defeat to mini-Dark Side [posted 20/08/10] Friday started pretty dark and wet, and certainly ended the former. But the rains abated long for a wicket of sorts to be prepared for the 11s' hosting of near-neighbours Clydesdale in the Under 11 league. Batting first on a still-damp deck the 'Locsters managed to post net 43, losing seven wickets along the way. Slugger and Lewis had opened and as a partnership notched up net 23 - good start. Slugger hit two 4s in his gross 12, Lewis was more watchful in scoring 5. Second pairing Ahmed-Raza and Joe hit less of the bat, but also were only dismissed once, Joe remaining not out. But tight bowling meant just the 7 runs were added in the second five overs. The run rate accelerated again in quarter three however with 24 being put on by Aliyan and Sameer, the majority it's fair to say in extras. Sameer, like Joe however, carried his bat successfully. This left the Kessler and Ayoooooob - the side's tail-gunners were each dismissed once, but 34 runs were added in gross terms. Net 43 it was then at the break.
The second half saw steady progress by the visitors with wickets being at a premium. The first wicket didn't fall until over five, and the second not until over twelve. Good - and sensible - batting then by the 'Dale boys. And at the midway point of the visitors' innings the 'board showed net 54. A winning position. In fact this news had made its way back to the Death Star itself where it was passed on to your reporter by a returning 'Dale supporter as "We were winning easy so I left". Certainly looked that way, and of course always good to be told in such a sensitive manner.
Next week the 11s host Helensburgh in the final scheduled league match.
It happens every so often..... [posted 18/08/10] What does? A side performing really well we mean - and whilst no side ever puts in the perfect performance, it's still pleasing when one does all the component parts well. Starting with getting to the meeting point on time! Then - lo, and behold - we arrive early at the venue with time to look around and get familiarised. Then what happens is the skipper wins the toss and - as tonight, assessing the oppo', comp' and venue - decides to chase. Game on. Part A needs decent bowling, good fielding (including smart field setting and bowler selection) and the taking of chances when they present themselves. Then, having restricted the oppo' to a respectable target Part B, the run-chase, starts positively, a base is built, the run-rate increases, wickets are kept in hand, the stroke players and hitters take centre stage, and the win's secured. Tick, tick, tick, tick,.....and tick! And all the more pleasing when the oppo' are a more-than-decent outfit like the Feegie Under 18s. With "Overseas Amateur" Paramanik, Scotland age-group players English, Tahir and Darroch, West Regional Academy players Rutnagur, Kennedy, Preston-Jones, etc, etc. all in their ranks, the Meikleriggs side was a strong one, making the 'Locsters' performance on the night coming together as it did all the more pleasing. Nice.
The details of the match were that Ferguslie 18s batted first and posted 114 for 3, a total the 'Locsters chased inside nineteen overs. For Feegie Stuart Darroch top-scored with 52 from 51 balls, and Priyatosh Paramanik gave good support with 27 from 32 balls. Skipper Josh Rutnagur finished not out 22, but - if we're looking to be particularly critical - the 35 balls he took to accumulate these were likely one of the reasons his side were restricted to less than a-run-a-ball. Another observation might be that one of Paramanik or Darroch might have "gone earlier" as neither, really, got going despite batting well. The 'Locsters would have banked only 52 from Stuby if - before the game - they'd known he'd bat for a ball short of nineteen overs. Bar Darroch's and Paramanik's wickets (both caught, by Scotty and Muscles respectively), the other wicket to fall was Michael English, trapped LBW in the first over by Bil'y. The home side batters likely could've pressurised the 18s in the field better too: though credit to the field placement, and groundwork done by the guys from the off. The tone was set really early on when Joshy set the standard with a top-notch stop of 4 over-throws when Scotty tried to run out Paramanik. Great stuff, and set the tone as regards intensity in the field. In concluding on the first half it also has to be said that the Ferguslie batters found fielders on a regular basis with good shots - the bit of luck that is often needed in matches, tonight going the 'Locsters' way.
115 to win. A good start needed: importantly getting the scoreboard ticking over, whilst trying not to lose wickets, thereby creating a base for a successful run-chase. Muscles and Pasty gave the guys the start that was needed as they went at a-run-a-ball from the off. Tahir and Ahmed opened the bowling for Ferguslie, and neither bowled badly, but both were picked off with sufficient regularity that little real pressure was applied. Tahir in particular suffered a bit as a deep-set field was moved as leg-side singles were pinched early on, only for Pasty to then go over the top as mid-on and mid-off tried to "save the 1". 45 were added for the first wicket, Muscles (13) bowled by Tahir in the eighth over. Dani' joined Pasty but the latter went shortly afterwards, trapped LBW by English and a ball that kept low - 26 from 25 balls. Dani' and partners kept things moving tho': first Hari', then Nicky and lastly Scotty. The run-rate was always at-or-around 6 an over. Until that is Dean Kennedy's third over which leaked a couple of 4s and big 6. Dani' was batting fluently and he and his partners were successfully rotating the strike, finding the boundary with enough regularity to - again - any real pressure building. And the target was reached in the eighteenth over with - sigh - a Dilshan scoop by Scotty off Rutnagur. Village,.....tho' we like the swagger. A bit like T-bags hitting a 6 last night, right-handed, it was one of those moments that, however it ended up, would produce a smile. Dani' finished 38 not out, Scotty 7 not out - Dani' having made Feegie suffer for Maplebeck dropping him off English's bowling. Ouchay!
Well done to the guys. A genuinely good performance, against a strong side. And, as all good performances do, it saw everyone contribute, be that with bat, ball or in the field.
More disappointment as 15s slump to defeat at Langloan [posted 17/08/10] Oddly your author doesn't feel quite so bad about the 15s' latest league defeat as he did - see below - about that game at Hamilton Crescent. Maybe I'm just getting used to the disappointment? Let's start with some bare facts: we scored 83 for 4 batting first (in eighteen overs), they - Drumps - scored 87 for 1 with more than three overs still to be bowled. It's also factually accurate we think to assert that Man of the Match was home side all-rounder Abdul Sabri who bunted 54 from 51 balls after bowling 5-1-9-1 in the 'Locster innings. He was ably supported by Nick Pyne who made an unbeaten 29. For the 15s only Elliott probably did himself justice with 40 from 54 deliveries. But his knock wasn't enough for his side to post a defendable total. Unless that is the Drumps' top order failed. In particular their talisman, the mercurial Mr Sabri Snr.
And so it was that the match win-points would depend on whether the guys could eke out Sabri Snr. [Ed: Sabri Jnr. - a.k.a. Humza - opened and was bowled first ball by Ollie]. The plan for Abdul Sabri's always the same: bowl full-and-straight, but keep a cow corner/long on out because he'll hit one there sooner-rather-than-later. And in Ollie's third over Abdul obliged. A swoosh of the CA club and the ball was airborne. Elliott was under it at long on, with a pair of the safest hands in the club on the end of his arms. Here's the game people. The plan's fruition. Grassed. And 4.
Top-drawer bowling wasn't, however, in the 'Locsters' plans, unfortunately. That is with the exception of Ollie who bowled exactly as required. Full. Straight. In-swinging deliveries that made scoring tricky. And he was rewarded with the only wicket to fall: Humza Sabri, first ball. But the other bowlers all took some tap. All bowled variable lengths; many variable lines. To repeat for the zillionth time guys: that's why we practice - so that when we're in tense - closer - matches we can actually bowl five or six balls in the right place. As was said in the Hamilton Crescent rant,....sorry report, our frailties are only really exposed against the better sides, and better players. And tonight - again - against two decent bats, our bowlers' frailties - the inability to bowl to a field, and bowl consistently - was cruelly re-exposed.
The defeat sees even sharing the league title with another side disappear - all that's left is the chance to make sure - on Friday - it's not the Toytown boys who win the championship outright!
Junior membership
The coaching provided by the club for juniors is free-of-charge, and young people attending do not have to become club members unless they want to. The club, however, welcomes new junior members. The related application and consent forms can be downloaded for completion direct from the website.
Club-based junior coaching
"Open-to-all" coaching
Outdoor junior coaching Under the umbrella of the "Community Coaching Initiative", this takes place on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the club between late April and early September. Monday coaching sessions at Shawholm are for Under 11s (as at 1 September in the previous year) between 6pm and 7.30pm, with Under 13s and 15s coming between 6pm and 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Under 18s on Thursdays, again between 6pm and 7.30pm.
The club's registered juniors number more than 80 and receive regular correspondence updating them as to what's going on for them at the club and encouraging them to get along to these outdoor practices.
As with senior practice, sessions, whenever practical, involve "nets" although teaching of the basics of the game is given a high priority. as such, genuine "beginners" are welcome along on any of the juniors evenings with children of both sexes, and as young as seven years old, taking part. the use of "Kwik Cricket" facilitates safe play for even the youngest children.
Indoor junior coaching After the end of the traditional summer playing season, coaching moves indoor with the facilities of Hutchesons' Grammar School Sports Hall being utilised. Indoor coaching sessions are advertised here on the website and are normally on weekends.
Junior coaching is co-ordinated by Junior Convenor Keith Young with the assistance of David James and Matt Coyle, all registered coaches. The club's Coaching Professional and other overseas player/coaches also play a central role in junior coaching.
Interested parents and/or children can find out more about junior coaching by contacting Keith Young and/or the club directly. the club's contact details can be found on the Contact us section of the website, Keith Young can be contacted directly on 07802-951913, or by email.
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Bil'y took the applause then immediately holed out to cover point! Ouchay. But it was the big man's night as his 45 had added to his "4-for" in the Prestwick innings. 
Rosco was drafted in from the Under 13s and, along with back-in-the-country Nick Black, staked his claim for a place in Saturday's Frank Smith Trophy semi-final line-up with a good performance behind the timbers, including taking a neat catch - one of Bil'y's "4-for" - to dismiss Ross Patterson. In fact Prestwick's top order had been virtually dismantled single-handedly by Bilal who clean-bowled McDougall, Scott and Rodger, and got Patterson. Great bowling. In support, Hari' found a bit better rhythm than on Sunday, and Dani' and Pasty turned their arms over to variable success. All the bowlers picked up at least one wicket, Prestwick finishing seven down. 99 for 7, Jake Stafford bunting a cameo 32 in those pads! He was particularly brutal on a couple of short balls from Pasty that were despatched for maximums. But Pasty would get his revenge as he led his side from the front in the successful run-chase. But Maximillian stole the show with a cameo of his own: his unbeaten 11, coming in when Bilal departed, included him being the one to hit the league-winning runs. Ideal. Sometimes the good guy gets the girl,.....so to speak! Good luck to Max as he heads east to Edinburgh Uni' later this week - hope to see him back at the 'Loc soon. For the others it's onwards towards Saturday's Frank Smith Trophy semi-final. Another tough assignment, the opposition being West of Scotland. Here's hoping there's no resting on any laurels.
The second half of the second half - if you're with me reader - saw 48 runs scored, but also six wickets fall. This sequence of events produced the end net 72 score appearing on the 'card. A good win by Clydesdale, with meaningful individual performances by Owain Taylor (16 not out), and Siddique (14 not out) who batted together in the second pair. Taylor also took 2 for 8 in his four overs, and Farid 3 for 8 in his. Best for the 'Locsters with the ball was Lewis Macdonald with 2 for 16 in his three-over spell. 
Abdul'd got his life. And he capitalised on the 15s' grace by bludgeoning his way thereafter to his match-winning 54. He'd have two more lives tho' along the way. The last ball of Ollie's fifth, and the innings' ninth, over beat Sabri's bat with him going for a walk down the mossy track, and with Rosco standing up the stumping was on. Ball grassed. Chance gone. Then there was the third ball of Haider's first over: full delivery, cross-bat hack from Abdul, missed, ball lands on toe bang in front of middle stick - no appeal! You what?!? Bizarre. Life #3. Maybe it was just Abdul's night. And we'd like to repeat he played well, really well. His bowling in the first innings was top-drawer.
