Appraoching the halfway stage of the season, AC Guitars Kingholm are starting to hit the right notes, but RWS Forestry St Michael’s continue to struggle…
See Match Reports for latest details.
Sposorship Continues
St Michael’s Cricket Club is extremely pleased to announce that they have secured continued sponsorship for their junior section with local financial adviser Iain Dalling.
Saints will use Iain’s support to continue to build and develop the youth section of the club, which currently has nine Under 17s and 14 U13s taking part in training every week, and representing the club in various sides throughout the cricket season.
Iain said “It’s a pleasure to continue to support St. Michael’s. The youngsters who attend all have a great time; get excellent coaching and are always on the lookout for new members. I hope my sponsorship continues to help the youngsters and the club develop.”
Saints junior head coach Davey Fallas added “On behalf of the club and especially the many juniors we have here at Saints, I’d like to thank Iain for this valued support. Without sponsorship like this from Iain Dalling – True Potential Wealth Partner, many local sports clubs would struggle to make ends meet.
“This sponsorship will be used to continue to develop our successful youth programme, which we estimate will see five home grown players in the 1st X1 and six home grown players in the 2nd X1 side this season.”
Saints Launch Junior Academy
As a proactive and progressive club, St Michael’s Cricket Club is renowned for promoting youth cricket in Dumfries and Galloway as can be seen by two thirds of the players representing both senior sides last weekend, having come through the club’s own junior programme.
And, following the success of RWS Forestry Xl junior side in the 2016 campaign, the club were delighted to introduce a second junior team into the local T20 league for the 2017 season, playing under the name St. Michael’s Junior Academy.
Captained by another player to come through the ranks, Kieran Moore, it is the ambition of the club to play a minimum of six Under 13 aged youngsters in the Junior Academy side every week in this hard ball T20 format.
Unsure of how results would go for this very young side against predominantly adult sides, everyone connected with Saints was over the moon when the side won their second ever game, beating Shipwrecks by three wickets last Thursday in week 2 of the season.
Notable performances so far have been the batting of Fergus Bainbridge, Callum Begg and Ronan Wilson, the bowling of Rory McLeod, Joel Hall and Mikey Turner – and for sheer enthusiasm of the game Keyran McNinch has excelled.
St. Michael’s Cricket Club would also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the Postcode Community Trust and their Community Sports Programme for supporting this new side. The Postcode Community Trust awarded our St Michael’s Junior Academy side a vast array of equipment and clothing to support them during their fledgling season. Everyone at the club; and especially these youngsters are extremely grateful.
To further support the development of the youngsters at the club, Saints are delighted to announce the recent arrival of Juan Henri from Durban, South Africa who will be our overseas amateur for the 2017 season.
Juan will not only play for the club during the season, but will also fulfil an active coaching role in several local schools and at weekly club sessions utilising both his experience and credentials (CSA Level 1 coaching certificate) to give the youngsters this year, the best guidance and enjoyment possible.
A right handed opening seam bowler and middle order bat, Juan has played club cricket in Durban since the age of seven.
Juan represented Durban High School 1st XI since Grade 11, amassing 45 Caps. The school holds the record for the most number of South African international players coming through the ranks of the school by any high school in South Africa, such as current ICC number eight ranked batsman Hashim Amla and former luminaries Barry Richards and Lance Klusenar.
Juan made his mark when breaking into the DHS first XI with back to back fifties in his first ywo games against Maritzburg College and St David’s making 52 and 67 respectively. He was the second leading run scorer with 368 runs behind current provincial and ex-South African U19 captain Sibonelo Makhanya.
Just before arriving in Scotland, Juan helped his winter league Scorchers side to a Semi Final with valuable contributions with both with bat and ball. He scored 55 not out and took 3-21 against Capital Air Warriors as well as scoring 42 off 21 against Haspak Bandits. Juan also took his first ever hat trick against Malls Tiles where he bowled his side to victory with figures of 3-12.
Everyone at Saints is delighted to welcome Juan to the club, and is sure that he will have a positive impact both on and off the park, and hope that he enjoys his time in Dumfries.
Saints Horror Weekend
A major shortage of players last weekend effectively condemned both sides to heavy defeats. You can see the (somewhat brief) match reports for RWS Forestry St Michael’s and AC Guitars Kingholm in our History section.
At least the games took place and penalty points deductions were avoided!
Saints Welcome Overseas Player/Coach
St Michael’s Cricket Club are delighted to announce the signing of their first overseas player / coach for the 2017 season.
Tom Jackson (Australia) has already arrived in Dumfries ahead of the cricket season and will play for the club during the 2017 season and fulfil a proactive coaching role in several local schools and at weekly club sessions. The club will not only benefit from Tom’s vast experience of playing but also his abaility to coach youngsters to a high level. Having secured the required level of coaching certificates (ACB Level 1 and Bakers Level 1 respectively) he is ideally placed to give the youngsters in the schools we visit and at club junior sessions this year, the best guidance and enjoyment possible.
Tom was introduced to the club through contacts of Nathan McCracken who played for Saints back in the 1990’s. A right handed opening batsman and keeper, Tom has played club cricket in Sydney, Australia since the age of seven.
He progressed through the junior ranks and played district representative cricket from age 10 through to 17 for St George CC and was involved in the emerging New South Wales development squad for under 13-14s.
Playing for Burwood Briars Cricket Club for the last 3 seasons, he won the best new player in his first season (2014/15) and then made his First Grade debut the following season (2015/16).
Tom has scored multiple centuries in his time at Burwood with the most recent coming earlier this Australian season. Despite not having played as much cricket as he would have liked this past season – due to finishing his Master’s Degrees in Exercise Physiology and Exercise and Sports’ Science at the University of Sydney – he is looking forward to playing a full season with Saints and experiencing life in bonny Scotland together with his partner Katie.
Everyone at Saints is delighted to welcome both Tom and Katie to the club and hope that they enjoy their time in Dumfries.
Friendly Action Starts
Both our 1st X1 and 2nd X1 sides are in action this weekend, playing final pre-season games in preparation of the new season proper which kicks off on Saturday 29th April.
This Saturday, our 2nd X1 welcome Galloway to Kingholm Park, whilst on Sunday both sides are on their travels with the 1st X1 away to Carlisle CC and the 2nds away to Langholm CC.
Race Night
Our annual Race Night takes place this year on Saturday 15th April at the McLeod Pavilion.
The first race will commence at 8.00 p.m.
All are welcome including juniors and parents. Please come along and support our first fundraising event of the season.
Guitar Auction
We are currently running an Ebay Auction for a fantastic bass guitar kindly sponsored by Alan Cringean of A C Guitars All net proceeds will be going to our club:
Please see http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132086676333
Indoor Practice Sessions 2017
The club has arranged some indoor pre-season practice sessions as follows:
Senior Cricket (1st X1, 2nd X1, Midweek Teams) – hardball
Tuesday 7th March – Tuesday 27th March, 6.45 – 8.45 p.m.
Dumfries Academy Gym Hall
£5 a session (pay £20 up front and receive a free 2017 playing shirt!) + (first session free for “new to club”)
Junior Cricket (Under 15’s, U12’s and Beginners) – softbal
l
Tuesday 28th February – Tuesday 4th April 6.00 – 7.00 p.m.
David Keswick Centre Gym Hall
£2 a session (first session free for “new to club”)
Latest News
St Michael’s Cricket Club Continue To Play Their Part In Our Community
St Michael’s Cricket Club proudly completed their 2016 free schools coaching programme recently with the valued support of Dumfries & Galloway Council Active Schools.
Throughout this summer Saints qualified Australian Coaches Ethan Lulham and Kyle Jordan have delivered 27 free sessions to over 400 boys and girls throughout our community. Ethan and Kyle from Narara, New South Wales have run fun sessions that support the health and wellbeing of the pupils – and at the same time introduce the great game of cricket to a new audience / generation – in the following schools:
- Calside Primary School
- Collin Primary School
- Caerlaverock Primary School
- Georgetown Primary School
- Heathhall Primary School
- St Andrew’s Primary School
- Troqueer Primary School
Describing the experience of coming to a new country and trying to promote and develop his nations sport of cricket in Dumfries, Ethan Lulham said “The coaching programme that Kyle and I have been involved with, on behalf of St Michaels Cricket Club was thoroughly enjoyable these past six months.
Kwik Cricket Session at Georgetown Primary School
“The kids from the various schools around Dumfries have been actively engaging in the drills that we’ve run and have made significant personal developments. Coming from coaching in a country where cricket is the paramount sport, to Dumfries where everyone asks ‘It’s like rounders right?’ has posed obvious challenges.
But once the kids learned the basics of the game, acquiring enthusiasm for the game, it then comes as second nature for the kids. It’s always a rewarding experience to spread the game you love, whilst seeing smiling kids enjoying themselves.
“The assistance from John Alison from the Active Schools programme has been invaluable. His personal skills have made the transition between schools much smoother, and have made our jobs as coaches that much easier. I’ve got no doubts that next year when Kyle comes back next year, he with the assistance of John Alison, will continue to develop this programme from strength to strength.
“This year we’ve already seen a large number of school children come down to Kingholm Park on a Monday night – where we run our St Michael’s junior training session. All good cricket clubs focus on their grassroots development, and I’m pleased to see that St. Michael’s realise this, and are setting themselves up for a long promising future in Scottish cricket.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to represent St Michael’s as both a player and a coach. Thanks to all at St. Michael’s for giving Kyle and I such an opportunity.”
The club would like to first of all thank the schools involved in this year’s programme for their hospitality, and especially the boys and girls involved in the sessions for their enthusiasm and effort. Thanks must also go to our supporters such as The Holywood Trust as without their support our programme would not take place.
The success of this year’s programme can be seen from the 12 new junior Saints members who enjoyed club sessions every Monday night 6.00 – 8. 00 p.m. at Kingholm Park, having been introduced to cricket first at their school sessions by Ethan and Kyle.
John Allison from Active Schools describing the benefits of the joined up approach between Active Schools and St. Michael’s that has now been running for several years said “St Michaels Cricket Club have continued to provide safe, fun and progressive curricular and extra-curricular cricket sessions to 8 primary schools within Nithsdale.
“The club has worked closely with the Active Schools team to try and establish direct links to individual schools; this has helped to provide a pathway for participants to continue playing within the club setting”.
Next year’s programme template is already at an advanced stage, and the club are delighted to announce that Kyle is planning to return to these parts in 2017.
“It is also great news that we have secured grant funding from The Youthbank Trust, so we will be running winter indoor sessions / games for U16, U12 and U10 age groups from February 2017.”
Any schools who are interested in taking part in the 2017 programme should contact John Allison on 07725 065443, and any parents or youngsters wanting to know more about joining Saints’ junior section should contact Chairman Sandy McNay (and 2016 Nithsdale Sports Council award winner for Services to Local Sport!!) on 01387 710713 or 07842 013884.
07/10/16
St Michael's Cricket Club 