And so, another page has turned on the history of the youngest team at Maghull Cricket Club. The 5th XI's fourth season was fruitful in everything except victories, with only one being achieved cleanly. The second win was by way of technical knockout, as our opponents that day were unable to field multiple sides (the demands on them for that day was a 2nd XI, a 6th XI and an U18 XI). That said, there were several drawn games, and indeed a couple of defeats, where the 5ths were on top for much of the game, but were unable to either get the last few wickets or bat in sufficient strength to secure victory.
After three years of waiting for someone to finally score a hundred for the team, 2008 saw THREE centurions. Chris Barlow, after coming close twice previously, finally got to three figures against Bootle , setting the bar at 109. Liam Gibbons, a 5th team original on loan for the day, scored the first ton of his career at Rainhill, a joyful 108*. And most unlikely of all, Nick Pearson stunned the cricketing world when he flayed Lytham to the four winds on his way to 104*, a knock all the more remarkable when one considers he came in at number 6, with the score on 48-4. Hearty and heartfelt congratulations to all three.
Jay Hornby took Gareth Barry's mantle as the main strike bowler, and finished the season with 19 wickets. This haul included four wickets against ORT at Hall Lane , the same match in which he scored his first ever 50, and a first ever Michelle away at Prestatyn. Jay deservedly took the Players Player of the Year award, and his astonishing progress has propelled him to the brink of the 2nd team, afer occasional appearances for the side throughout 2008. With regards to taking wickets, he was supporting by a cast of many, but no one else was able to break double figures. Adam Morris took 7 wickets in his first full season, the always reliable Gareth Barry chipped in with 6 and Mark Sepetowski finished with 5.
That renowned cricketing observer P.W. Mainwaring probably summed up the 5ths season best when he declared that "the batting and bowling is spot on, but I wouldn't pay to watch us bat." And it was this short fall that really hampered the 5th team in 2008. Mikey Cummins took on the role of opening batsman, but his fine work was defeated by the absence of a regular partner. Mike opened the batting on occasion with Liam, Shaun Doorbar, Jay Hornby, his brother Adam and Mark Whelan. A priority for 2008 will be to establish a solid and regular opening partnership, and allow the rest of our youngsters a chance to find their own place within the batting order.
From a personal point of view, my own contribution to the 5th team season consisted mainly of picking the team, tossing the coin and then handing over tea money. I reached double figures once, didn't take a wicket (though I bowled less often than in 2007) and most annoyingly failed to take a catch. I like to think that my captaincy was up to its usual level i.e. just the other side of eccentric, and that with a winter of hard work I can put the batting right to the point that I can return to my cherished batting spot of 5.
On the field, I owe a huge debt of thanks to my vice Captain Craig Parkinson. Craig is wise beyond his years, and is a constant help when it comes to determining bowling changes, field settings and batting orders. He is also the finest scorer in the league. I am lucky that I have the second best vice captain at the club, with only Jonesey of the 3rd team boasting a finer one (for the less informed reader, the 3rd team vice captain is one Neil J Dutton BA (Hons).) I look forward to continuing the partnership for years to come.
Off the field, my thanks to Adam Lloyd and John Miller for providing the pitches we played on, and to own dear mother for supplying the teas. In no particular order, my thanks go out to Chris Barlow, Paul Walters, Mark Jones, Shaun Doorbar, Craig Parkinson, Joe Walters, Jay Hornby, Mikey Cummins, Ally Pierce, Phil Ivens (and his wandering army of fans, thanks for watching!), Liam Gibbons, Adam Morris, Gareth Barry, Paul Mainwaring, Adam Smith, Mark Sepetowski, Mike Bullen, Paul Johnson, Nick Pearson, Adam Cummins, Kyle Murray, Olly Charles, Mike Challinor, Steve Boyle, Mark Whelan, Lawrence Ives, Liam Symes and Connor O'Brian. Thanks for everything boys. See you in 2009, and remember. The Force will be with you…always.
