Devon Cricket Board - South Devon Cricket League Report 2009

South Devon Cricket League Report 2009

THE Island Sports South Devon Youth Cricket League celebrated its 10th anniversary at its annual awards evening at the Grand Hotel in Torquay.

   From its early beginnings in 2000 as a senior colts league with just a handful of teams involved, it has grown into a thriving multi-age affair with 17 affiliated clubs and 57 age-group sides competing in seven different divisions that span the complete age range from U11 to U17.

   It has produced a steady crop of county youth cricketers, including former Paignton player Chris Read who went on to enjoy a professional career that has taken him to international selection for England and the captaincy of Nottinghamshire.

   South Devon’s Chris Metters burst on to the Minor Counties scene last season, Paignton's Seb Benton (now at Cardiff University but eyed by Warwickshire), Barton's Jack Porter (Devon U21 Captain) and Torquay's Justin Yau (Devon U21 wicketkeeper) are other fine examples.

   More than 200 youth matches regularly take place each summer and at a conservative estimate, close to a 1000 youngsters are participating in competitive cricket each year under the league’s umbrella.

   Sponsored by the Herald Express for the previous five seasons, during which time the profile of the league grew considerably, as it rapidly expanded, the league captured a new sponsor this season in the form of Island Sports, the cricket clothing and equipment suppliers from Tiverton.

   Of the 17 clubs who participated this season, 14 were represented at the annual awards Evening, either for finishing champions or runners-up, or by way of collecting an individual award.

   Ipplepen took pride of place, finishing as U17 Champions for the first time, a triumph for their strong youth policy and community involvement.

   Captain Luke Tuckett (Devon U17s) was rewarded for his contribution to his team's success by scooping the Herald Express U17 young player of the season award. Most of his players have played for the club right through from being young children, coached by veteran clubmen Simon Tuckett, Keith Wakeham and Alan Boon. Ipplepen, who were one of the first clubs locally to gain the ECB Club Mark status, also celebrated finishing as runners-up in the U15 Collingwood division.

   Another club with plenty to celebrate were Bovey Tracey, who underlined their ascendancy in junior cricket by completing an U11 and U13 Flintoff championship double. Bovey is another club with a strong youth set-up and a tradition of producing quality youth cricketers, a quality underlined by the fact that both sides went through the season undefeated. Two clubs whose steady progress is starting to show in their results are Shaldon and Stoke Gabriel. Shaldon capped a fine all- round season by achieving a double of their own, finishing as U13 Pietersen and U15 Collingwood champions. Stoke marked their successful season by carrying off the U15 Bell title whilst finishing runners-up of the U17 Cook division, pipped to the post by just four points by a fine Kingsbridge side. Paignton, who two years ago very nearly completed a clean sweep of all age groups, had to be content with the runners-up spot in the U13 Flintoff and U17 Strauss divisions. Torquay, who did not enjoy the best of seasons, still had something to cheer about as their U11s finished as gallant runners-up to Bovey in the U11 league following a successful campaign in which they lost only twice.

   Chudleigh finished as runners-up in the U15 Bell division whilst the final honours went to relative newcomers Harberton, who gave Shaldon a run for their money in the U13 Pietersen division, ultimately finishing as runners-up.

   The Award for Services to Youth Cricket went to Torquay Cricket Club's Edward Thompson, who for the last six years has filled the role of Fixtures/Results Secretary and Press Officer - he received his award from Martin Webb, Secretary of the Devon Cricket Board and Chairman of Devon Youth. The evening was a great success, and the league can look forward with optimism to the next 10 years although one very clear message was presented to all clubs present that spelled an element of concern. With the resignation of Thompson, and also Secretary Jack Buckner who has had to step down due to taking a new job that takes him further afield, the future of the league and its continued development very much rests in the hands of the member clubs, and in particular by way of supplying committee members to contribute to the running of the league.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773