A statement from Stan & Junior and Senior Match Reports

LOWERHOUSE CC JUNIOR MATCH REPORTS SPONSORED BY H.RIGG PROPERTIES

2XI RESULTS

BURNLEY 2 XI 184-8                                                   LHCC 2XI 159-all out

Jordan Page 5-54                                                  Will Norcross 31

Tom Bridge 3-47                                                  Harry Halstead 31

Dec Stansfield 26

Owen Deakin – Pickard 15

Jordan Page 10

3XI RESULTS

LHCC 3XI 38 all out                                   Bacup 3XI 39-3

Jack Simm 13                                                Alex Claridge – Ingham 2-13

Nelson 3XI   170-9                                LHCC 3XI 84-all out

Danny Simm 3-31                                  James Wheatcroft 39                                                                                                             James Wheatcroft  3-42                         Tom Halstead 13

Robson Elliott 2-25                                Caleb Greenhalgh 12

 

Cricket matters 

The following comments are made under my prerogative as Cricket Chairman.

As if defeat to local rivals Burnley wasn’t bad enough, the aftermath is likely to be equally difficult to accept. Although we have written to the league on behavioural issues, we understand that the league will wish to speak to us on player and spectator behaviour.

What I am about to say, although in the public domain, is for the information of Lowerhouse players, members and supporters and is written with the intention of ensuring that the good name of Lowerhouse Cricket club is not jeopardised. I do not intend that it becomes the subject of the twitterati and those keyboard warriors who seem to revel in social media nonsense.

The first and second eleven fixtures against Burnley increasingly seem to be played against a backdrop of unpleasantness. Whether as Lowerhouse players or supporters we regard this as fair or unfair, intensity or intimidation, banter or abuse, matters not. The point is that we lost these fixtures and it is us who appear to be in the dock.

This is exemplified in all too clear terms by the circumstance of the disciplining of a Lowerhouse 2XI player by the club following a incident that came to my attention via Twitter. This player when spoken to detailed abuse and intimidation that he and his team-mates received. He and his team mates believed the umpires were intimidated and that we were on the receiving end of injustices. Whilst in no way does this excuse his subsequent indiscretion, in frustration he punched an hole in the Burnley changing room wall. We have of course apologised to Burnley CC for this.

The bottom line in all this is that he now receives a 2 match club imposed ban and a repair bill.

The incidents in the first team game are well known to most people. It was a similar pattern to the 2XI. We believe that we are on the receiving end of abuse and intimidation. We believe that the umpires are intimidated and we receive injustices. As players and no doubt spectators, we are adversely affected by this.

Whether or not all of the above is fact or perception is of no significance to the reality of the end result. In both these fixtures we lost both games. We have a player on discipline and we understand that spectator behaviour will be questioned.

In simple terms whilst we are hoping to seek assistance from the League Executive, we must rely on ourselves and deal with this in house. We take no pleasure in disciplining players or spectators, but we will not flinch from preserving the name of Lowerhouse CC.

Those who love this club do not wish to see our players on discipline, our spectators in the dock, our name blackened in the wider world. In recent years we have seen 2 spurious and erroneous twitter explosions where the club name was wrongly called into question on damage and racist matters. Whist we received a retraction and full apology in both instances, the harm to the club name was already done. If this can happen when we are entirely blameless it must make us even more determined to behave in a manner that cannot give others the opportunity to complain or criticise. Especially when we know that this will be emblazoned all over social media , rather than dealt with via the quiet phone call.

Failing to cope with real or perceived intimidation has brought the club into question. We must learn from this, and learn quickly.

In closing can I thank our supporters for their continued support. It was a bumper crowd. We know how passionately you feel about the club and we all had the same feelings on Sunday. However it is probably timely to remind spectators that the game is a family environment and that the umpires should not be openly questioned and definitely not approached as they leave the field. Umpires have a terribly difficult job – as we saw on Sunday. We should show them due respect and support them. As with opposition players, if we don’t like what they do just turn the other cheek.

Rally Lowerhouse, Rally!      

Off – field news

Well done to the Monday morning squad for the tidying of the ground after the Burnley match. No mean feat I have to say as 5 industrial wheelie bins and 3 bottle bins were filled. Thanks to Maureen Stansfield, Bob Spencer, Steve Krupinski and Dave Waddington. I suspect you may be needed this Saturday morning if available please.

Many supporters have commented on how smart the ground looks and much of this is due to Sue Martin who mows the grass surrounds. Sue has now done this for many a year and our thanks are long overdue. Sue is occasionally assisted by son Joe who will offer encouragement from time to time.

Will Norcross

The club says goodbye , or is it au revoir, to Will Norcross who leaves the club for Spanish pastures as he goes to work abroad. Will was the top scorer for the 2s on Sunday in what may prove to be his final game . Will began at the club an under 10 and couldn’t immediately break into the team . It is of great credit to him that he has therefore risen through the ranks to become a second team regular and indeed has played for the first team . Will is a great lad and will be sorely missed . Will’s mum, Mel and regular spectator – dad, Martin have been very supportive parents and we hope to see them around still .

Best of luck Will in your new adventure and you know that you will always be welcome back should you get fed up of the sunshine, warmth, sea, sand, San Miguel, senoritas and social life in Spain. Sort of a Rosegrove abroad really.

Lowerhouse players in Representative matches

Congratulations to Alex Sutcliffe who is representing the LCB u15 Eastern Festival team and scored 27* in their recent win .

Yousaf Nadeem and Aman Singh are representing the Eastern u13 festival teams

Joe Halstead and Dominic Stuart are also representing at the u17 age group

Darwen u15 72-4                                   LHCC u15 Dolphins 73-3

Kheiro Chir 2-9                                       Jack Simm 25

Kheiro Chir 19

Georgie Holt 10*

Haslingden u15 82-4                                 LHCC u15 Dolphins  84-0                   

 

James Wearden 50*

Yanis Chir 28*

LHCC u13 Lions 305-0                                           Darwen u13 227-7

 

Aman Singh 20*                                                       Aman Singh 4-8

Yousaf Nadeem 16*                                                 Ibrahim Rehman 2-20

James Bridge 13*

Annabelle Uttley 13*

Jack Spence 11*

LHCC u13 Tigers 246-3                            Church u13 209-3

Liberty Heap 13

Henri Cottam 11*

Rory Cormack 16                                       Aden Mohammed 14

Oliver Spendlove 16                                  Michael Barker 14

Keagan de Vries 15*

Oliver Williams 12

East Lancs u11 (2) 284 – 3               LHCC u11 Koalas 186- 8                         

LHCC u9 217-4                        Clitheroe  u9 246– 4

LHCC  u9 215 -2                      Haslingden u9 230-11

Joe Masson 3-3                          Adil Imran 12*

Myles Carr – Oddie 3-9