Captains’ End of Season Thoughts
As the 2017 season comes to end, I would firstly like to thank all the supporters, volunteers and the families of all the players for all they do behind scene’s through out another year at Lowerhouse. (Lowerhouse never sleeps).
The League form this season was some what of a disappointment. To challenge for a league title you have to be consistent. After a great start in the first three games we struggled to put an unbeaten run together. We were, however in a good position to beat Todmorden and Burnley in our first couple of defeats, I think this was due to a lack of understanding of each other and the bedding in period of a new squad, new pro and captain. In the second half of the season, although we probably lost more games, I think we played better together as a team and I settled into the role. Next year I think with myself being another year wiser and the new faces will have settled in, we will look to put the better teams in the league under more pressure at the top.
Twenty20 and Worsley Cup campaigns were a huge disappointment. Anything can happen in Twenty20 cricket but we were very hit and miss and its something we will be looking to put right next year.
It was good to see Paddy Martin have his best ever season with the bat and I hope he keeps building on the confidence i’m sure he will have taken from this season. I thought Dean and Toxy did okay in their first seasons and showed glimpses of brilliance, I think they will both look to be more consistent next season. Dom Stuart and Joe Halstead struggled with availability for various reasons, but with the ball in hand I thought they picked up valuable experience, which will stand them in good stead for the future. They both in my opinion will become top Lancashire League all rounders given time. Ockert had a very good season with the bat, top of the professional ranks in runs scored speaks for itself.
Finally…
I think we deserve every credit for our LCB cup run. People may mock our sharing of the Cup but this was merely the way things had to be. Twice the game was attempted to be played but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. We were happy to share as the only other option was to go to Blackpool for a bowl out. I could not have enjoyed or celebrated winning the LCB cup in this manner.
We had our moment in the limelight at Old Trafford and I’m positive the walk out on to the field to the sound of several hundred Lowerhouse fans will stay with all associated with Lowerhouse forever!
Looking back through the competition it was a fantastic achievement to get to the final. To beat Burnley, in that fashion, in a big semi final showed how good we can actually be. Previously Burnley had been beating us in every big game the last few years. So from a captaincy point of view to change this around was very pleasing. The Clitheroe games were very frustrating! Three times I felt we were in the box seat and three times it rained! There is more to this episode but I’ll save that for another day!Put it this way, nobody could deny we weren’t worthy winners of the bowl out! Tough games against Rochdale and Farnworth all added to the journey. Joseph Hawke had a fantastic LCB cup campaign with ball. Ockert and Adam Hugill both batted superbly against Rochdale to drag us out of the s***!
No doubt in my mind we deserve to have Lowerhouse Cricket Club engraved on the LCB cup!
Until next year, UTH!
Ben
