1stXI Ulster Schools’ Plate
By Ballyclare High School on 27 June, 2018
1stXI Ulster Schools’ Plate
Ballyclare HS won the toss and elected to bat with openers Ewan Wilson and Adam Clarke (both NCU players) accumulating 45 runs in the first 10 overs. However, Clarke was to drag on playing a sweep to R Glasgow’s 2nd ball of slow right arm off-spin. The rest of the Ballyclare batsmen had to dig deep on the relatively slow paced Hollinger Park grass wicket. With RBAI’s tight bowling; E Magee 4wks for 9, R Glasgow 2wks for 14, A Adair 2wks for 25, Ballyclare batted the allotted 25 overs for 92 runs with the loss of 9 wickets.
RBAI’s batting was immediately under pressure with the swing bowling of Dorman and Cowan, both taking a wicket apiece in the opening 6 overs with the score on 10 runs. M Hamilton’s opening over saw him clean bowl Magee and have Glasgow superbly caught by wicketkeeper S Hull. The momentum of the match swung immediately in Ballyclare’s favour. However, the hard hitting J Welshman dispatched three fours in quick succession and initiated an earlier than expected return of Cowan and Dorman, replacing Wilson and Surgeoner. Cowan’s left arm in swing displaced Welshman’s off stump and Dorman followed up with 2 more wickets in his final over. Of note was E Crawford’s hat-trick of catches at short extra cover. Wilson finished off the RBAI’s tail to dismiss RBAI for 57 runs and give Ballyclare High School a 35 run victory and the Schools’ first ever Ulster Schools’ Plate win.
Regarding junior cricket in the school the U12XI had two super wins over Coleraine Grammar and Limavady Grammar in the U12 NEBSSA tournament. The team benefited greatly from the bowling talents of their captain Finn Lutton, who has also been selected for the U13 NCU Inter-Pro team and U14 NCU tour to England.
The U14XI had a close match against Bangor Grammar in the semi-final of their Ulster Schools’ Plate but lost. Their U13 NCU player Alex Darrah unfortunately was not available.
The U13XI have made great strides this year and they will be playing Campbell College in their U13 Ulster Plate final on Wed 27th June. Prior to this final both the U13s and the U14s will be away for 2 full days of cricket playing against Coleraine Grammar and Limavady Grammar in their annual North Coast cricket tour.
A first ever cricket fund raising dinner was initiated by parents, Hillary Wightman and Christine Darrah, and the Hog Roast Event held at the Old Ballyclarians Pavillion at Ballyclare Rugby Club was a super success. Over one hundred parents and children attended a super night that also involved musical entertainment. The excellent sum raised will go towards much needed cricket equipment in the school such as, a practice bay and mobile netting for Hollinger Park as well as two new score boards to keep the growing number of parents and friends that are attending matches aware of the score.
The school cricket staff have been looking at designs of a memorial bench to note the passing of their beloved colleague and cricketer Trevor Martin just over a year ago. The Schools’ Board of Governors have kindly agreed to purchase the bench and along with the John Thompson memorial bench (former pupil and 1stXI cricket captain who passed away recently and brother of current Head of Cricket, Mr S Thompson) both will be installed at Hollinger Park within the next couple of weeks.
