The boys sign off in style

The 2016 season has been, to say the least, something of anti-climax for our age group. With so many boys taking exams, fixtures began at the end of July with the predictable result that many of our games have been cancelled as families take their summer holidays.

So it was a relief that not only were we able to rearrange our U17 match against Hoddesdon, but to actually play it; and on a lovely late summer's evening too.

After losing out to Sawbridgeworth because they lost fewer wickets, and with Hoddesdon having thrashed a weakened Sawbo in their game, we needed a convincing win to unexpectedly qualify for the semi-final.

Alec won the toss, and his decision to bat first gave us the best chance of accruing the necessary bonus points. On a perfect night for batting, Matt Pike and Joe Hawkins took the game to our opponents from the first ball, and we were soon finding the boundary regularly. After Matt played on for 13, Euan Thomas came to the crease and was soon hitting Hoddesdon's spinners to all parts. At 76 for 1 in the eighth over, we seemed set for a big score, but Euan picked out a boundary fielder at deep backward square, and our momentum naturally slowed.

Will Price, who made a stylish 21, and Joe Hawkins (41 from 32 balls) kept us ticking over, but when the pair of them departed our innings spluttered to a halt. 138-7 from our 20 overs was good 30-40 fewer than we had looked like scoring at halfway. It also cost us vital bonus points.

Thankfully, our bowling and fielding picked up the slack. Hoddesdon had two accomplished opening batsmen who played some lovely strokes, but with Alec setting much more defensive fields than his counterpart we were able to restrict their scoring, and with Elliot Newman, Morgan Sewell and Olly Miles bowling economical spells, the visitors never got ahead of the rate.

Rob Houghton took his first wicket for the club in his single over, Olly Miles taking an excellent catch at long-off, and from then on we bowled superbly. Ben Warman delivered the game's only maiden, before Euan Thomas took the game by the scruff of the neck for the second time in the evening. His four over spell of 2-11 put Hoddesdon well behind the required run rate, and with Matt Pike returning to bowl tightly too, all it required was for Elliot Needham to keep his nerve and bowl his final over as he'd bowled his previous too.

Elliot was up to the task and we walked off five run winners. Alas, we didn't secure sufficient bonus points to qualify ahead of Hoddesdon, and despite effectively winning one game and tying the other, we didn't qualify from a three-team group.

Hoddesdon's batting lacked the necessary urgency on the evening and although they look like a talented side, they will need smarter field setting and more dynamism with the bat if they're to win their semi-final against Hitchin.

So with our Matchplay season having been a non-event, this game marks the end of our season. I will be recomending that the club don't enter an U17 side next season, as the summer holidays play havoc with selection and the boys all have plenty of senior cricket on their plates too. If this is to be the final game in which I manage this age group then it was fitting to go out with a win.