COMP HAILS THE COUNTY INTER LEAGUE PROGRAMME AS A WINNER

Date: 17th October 2021

Players in all age groups have gained a huge benefit with the 13s and 15s having some success.

In all, 15 games of cricket were played across 4 age groups during the month of August, featuring 67 Liverpool Competition youngsters.

The U11’s were 0 from 3 in their group but all those that played have benefitted greatly from the experience with some of the players remaining in the age group next year.

The U13s after losing their first game at Edgeworth, won the next three, including the final game at Morecambe against the Westmorland League, to finish Joint top of the group with the GMCL and Westmorland, all winning 3 out 4.

The U15s were Group 1 Champions after being unbeaten in their four Group Stage games before losing to the Lancashire League (Group 2 Champions) on a splendid day at Lytham Cricket Club in September.

The U18’s, with selections slightly restricted, were 0 from 4 in their matches but there is a story to tell. Two of the losses were by 1 wicket (v GMCL) and 2 runs (Wigan Junior League) with the squad all performing with huge credit.

Significantly two players were identified by Lancashire County Age Group officials and added to their squads during the season itself. James Stirling (Sefton Park) an Under 14, stepped in at the outset to keep wicket for us in the 18s and was very quickly added to the County U14 squad in 2021. Jonny Browne (Northern) improved as the series went on and his 118 in the final game earned him a call up to the County U18s where he scored 40 on his debut against Yorkshire.

A number of players from our inter league teams, as well as the Wigan Junior League, have been selected for and undergone County assessments under the new County trialling assessment system during October.

Thanks are due to the Managers/Coaches who gave their time to make all the above happen Lee Brown, Jack Cliff, Chris Nutton, Jim Davies, Greg Pennington and John Williams.

In addition every player representing the Liverpool Competition in the 2021 Inter League Competition will receive free coaching in the revised winter coaching programme to be delivered between January and March 2022 at St Bede's Sports Centre on Saturday afternoons. This scheme replaces the longstanding Comp Player Development Programme and subject to discussion will include some of the players representing the Wigan Junior League in the same competition.

This does not replace the Lancashire Foundation Development Centre initiative but is additional to it.

John Williams Liverpool Competition Inter League Lead.

(Picture features the Liverpool Competition U15 Team)