Derriaghy Cricket Club hold their awards night

Derriaghy Cricket Club held their Annual Awards Evening recently with plenty of silverware on show and many congratulations handed out for what was a successful season for the Queensway club.
Club President Graham Kenny along with Craig Lewis (winner of 1st XI batting and All rounder of the Year) and Ross Bailey (winner of Most Improver Young Player of the Year). Both players also scored centuries in League 1.Club President Graham Kenny along with Craig Lewis (winner of 1st XI batting and All rounder of the Year) and Ross Bailey (winner of Most Improver Young Player of the Year). Both players also scored centuries in League 1.
Club President Graham Kenny along with Craig Lewis (winner of 1st XI batting and All rounder of the Year) and Ross Bailey (winner of Most Improver Young Player of the Year). Both players also scored centuries in League 1.

The highlight for the club was their appearance in the Irish National cup final at Downpatrick where they came up against a strong Malahide team and although defeated by 46 runs put up a very commendable performance.

Their Indian professional Yogesh Takawale hit 1 of his 4 centuries in the final but it was local players Craig Lewis and Ross Bailey who received the plaudits on the night for their centuries in Ulster Bank league 1 games during the season.

Awards were also made to Matthew Ballantyne for his 2nd XI century, Robert Cumins for his 3rd XI century and Peter Bell who recorded 104 not out for the Colts team. John Torrans was the notable winner for the bowlers taking a hat trick for the 2nd XI in a cup game at Downpatrick.

Craig Lewis once again proved he was the best all rounder at the club scoring 745 runs and taking 34 wickets which gave him the Andrew Kenny Memorial trophy while the vastly improving 1st XI opening batsman Ross Bailey lifted the Bill Whitley award for Most Improved Young Player of the Year.

While the 1st XI had a successful season so too did the Seconds gaining promotion back to Junior League 2 while the Thirds finished a creditable 3rd in their league.

It was, however, on the youth side that NCU silverware was won with the Under 11s and 13s both winning their league sections. It was therefore very fitting that the Timothy Hewitt Memorial Clubman of the Year trophy went jointly to two of the club’s youth coaches, namely Scott Hughes and Wayne Hughes for their efforts in developing the players for the future.

The full list of award winners are as follows:

1st XI - best batting average - Craig Lewis; best bowling average – Mark Stinson. 2nd XI – best batting – Colin Crookshanks; best bowling Kingsley Beckett. 3rd XI – best batting - Rodney Hughes; best bowling – Ryan Stewart.

Andrew Kenny Memorial trophy for All rounder of the Year – Craig Lewis. Bill Whitley trophy for Most Improved Young Player – Ross Bailey.

Timothy Hewitt Memorial Cup for Clubman of the Year – won jointly by Scott Hughes and Wayne Hughes.

Derriaghy Cricket Club capped a tremendous season for their youth teams last weekend when their Under 11 side won the Junior Team of the Year award for Clubs while the Under 13 side finished third in the Sport Lisburn 2013 Sports Awards sponsored by Draynes Farm.

The Under 11s won their Northern Cricket Union league without losing a game, beating Ballymena and Lisburn before lifting the title.

The Under 13s were also undefeated in winning their NCU league with convincing victories against Saintfield and Armagh on the way.

These awards are reward for the many hours of work put in by the club’s volunteer coaches over the year. Many congratulations to all concerned.