Under 11's Retain Colin Simpson Trophy in Cup Final vs Menston!

Under 11's Retain Colin Simpson Trophy in Cup Final vs Menston

On a dark wet Monday evening, Ilkley U11s played Menston in the Colin Simpson U11 cup final looking to retain the trophy they had won just 12 months earlier.

With both teams having gone through the season unbeaten in their respective leagues, all were confident of a tense close encounter.

Menston won the toss and elected to bat first however were potentially regretting this decision when their opener was run out 2nd ball of the innings following some good fielding by Mack Hall.

Mack ran round, picking the ball up cleanly before throwing back to the bowler’s end where Max Chaplin had managed to get back to the stumps, catching the throw cleanly and taking the bails off with the batsman stranded.

After a number of tight overs, Oscar Webster was introduced to the attack and immediately took 2 wicket in his first over, clean bowling both to leave Menston reeling on 36-4.

Menston’s batsmen then started a recovery and took the score up to 65 before William Patterson made the breakthrough with a superb delivery, clean bowling Menston’s number 3 for 28.

Unfortunately for Menston and after a slight delay due to rain, their innings fell away as Thomas Rowell and Max Chaplin were introduced back into the attack with both taking 2 wickets apiece and bowling Menston out for 81.

Pick of the Ilkley bowlers were Thomas Rowell with 4-1-6-2, Max Chaplin with 4-1-11-2 and Oscar Webster with 4-0-13-2

With the darkness closing in and storms all around, the players had a quick turnaround and Robbie Murray strolled out with Harry Temperton to open the Ilkley innings.

It was tough work against Menston’s pacey opening attack but the pair took the score to 25 before Harry was bowled for 8. Robbie and Max Chaplin then saw off the opening attack with both showing technique and bravery after taking hits off the skiddy bouncy wicket.

Unfortunately for Ilkley, the change of bowlers worked for Menston as Robbie fell for 5 with the score on 44 however that was the final bit of success for Menston as Max and his new partner Alex Quaife both showed old heads on extremely young shoulders as the 2 best friends saw the side to an 8 wicket victory, firstly calming the nerves before taking the game back to Menston with some clean hitting and excellent running.

Max finished with 16no and Alex, an entertaining 32no.

This was an extremely good game played by 2 excellent sides in a very good spirit, however the Ilkley lads just had too much strength throughout the side for their opposition on the night and were deserved winners in the end to retain the Colin Simpson U11 Trophy.

A great effort by the Ilkley boys and a fantastic finish to what has been an excellent season.