For the Under 11s and Under 13s this season has been a steep learning curve.  Our two junior sides have entered the Salisbury & District Cricket League and have found themselves coming up against teams that have been playing together – and at a competitive level – for a lot longer than we have.

And yet as the league season draws to a close there are signs of very real progress amongst our juniors.  The Under 13s are in the League semi-final, while our Under 11s, in an inter-Club match last Sunday showed that the coaching and their willingness to learn this summer is finally beginning to pay off.  There were a number of eye-catching performances.  Matthew Roberts bowled outstandingly well for his four wickets, while Ned Holland took two and showed that he has a long future with the Club ahead of him – he is still not quite nine years old, after all.  Kieran Hayes continues to show signs of real talent with both bat and ball, while Jacob Chalk played a number of deft shots and demonstrated a growing maturity with his batting – and, for that matter, his wicket0-keeping.  Liam Perry took a fine wicket and held onto two superb catches, and also hit the highest score of any Under 11 player this season.  His batting is coming on leaps and bounds.  Patrick Bates continues to lead the way with his athletic fielding, whilst also making important contributions with bat and ball.  Adam Cuff is proving to be a chip off the old block and at this rate will soon be taking the spin bowling mantle from his father, Mark.  There were many other encouraging performances: both Tessa and Lara Mayhew continue to progress with both their batting and bowling, as does younger brother, Tom, who is also developing his wicket-keeping skills, as is Henry Maurer.  Sam Wharmby proved he has the technically soundest forward defensive of any Under 11 player, while Toby Randerson continues to show flashes of the very real talent that lurks within him – as a sudden lovely shot or rapid yorker testifies.  Bailey Scougal-McCorry also put in a much-improved performance while it was good to see Tom Ponsonby back amongst us after a long lay-off with a torn Achilles.  Another chip off the block is Harry Warman, who is also producing much-improved cricket and who is second-to-none in terms of enthusiasm and commitment.

It was also wonderful to see both Harry, as captain of the Lions, and Liam Perry, as skipper of the Panthers, showing just how far they are developing as thinking captains.  Cricket, possibly above all other sports, is a mental game, in which its many nuances and subtleties offer myriad opportunities to the master tactician. Both Harry and Liam, on separate occasions, noticed how the batsmen were playing, and moved fielders accordingly.  Both decisions immediately led to wickets.  As a coach, this was brilliant to see.

And what gives us even greater cause for cheer is that most of this year’s Under 11s will be young enough to play again next year, while that those who will be moving up will bolster the equally improving Under 13s.  Chalke Valley’s next generation of players is starting to take shape.