Carrick youth teams reach league finals

The Under 13s, having won their regional Group A unbeaten, with victories over all the other clubs in the Co Antrim area, faced a strong Lisburn team who won Group D in the semi-final at Middle Road.

Carrick batted first and scored 80 for 5 in their 20 overs, with Jack Burton (22), Kyle Hutton (18), Lee Murdock (15) and Aaron Richards (10no) the main contributors. Some excellent bowling from Carrick saw Lisburn falling further behind the required run rate and they were eventually all out for 67. Kyle Hutton was the most successful bowler with three wickets, with Aaron Richards, Owen Macleod and Samuel Osborne picking up two wickets each and Jack Burton one.

Carrick again batted first in the final against Instonians at Shaw’s Bridge and slumped to 19 for 4 after 9 overs. However, opener Jack Burton remained and he and Samuel Osborne transformed the innings. During the course of the remaining 11 overs, they added a further 70 runs to give Carrick a competitive total of 89 for 5 at the end of their 20 overs.

Burton scored a superb unbeaten 52 which was scored off 58 balls and contained seven boundaries, while Osborne gave him excellent support with 21. With Inst 47 for 3 after 13 overs, with Kyle Hutton picking up two wickets, Carrick looked favourites but the home side’s fourth wicket pair eventually saw them home to a narrow victory in the 19th over.

Carrick Under 11s progressed to the final having topped their group and then beaten Saintfield and Holywood on the way.

In the final, Instonians proved too strong for a very young Carrick side. Inst batted first and a super 50from McNamara enabled them to score 94 for 5 in their 20 overs. Kofi Balmer picked up three wickets for Carrick, including one with the first delivery of the innings, with Aaron Douglas also taking a wicket.

Despite a good innings of 20, which contained a huge six from Kofi Balmer, Carrick could only manage a total of 48, with Hopkins taking 5 for 3 for Instonians.

The Carrick club is very proud of the boys in reaching two finals, and congratulates Ross Gelderbloem who coaches the Under 13’s and Mikey Taiaroa the Under 11’s coach and their assistants Jamie Holmes and Stephen Grant, on this success which is the culmination of all the hard work they have put in at the club and in local schools during the season.