The 2024 season of the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League, sponsored by Kettlewell Fuels, has produced excellent results and concludes with the end-of-season presentation.
19th October 2024: Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League End-of-Season Presentation.
On Saturday, October 19 2024, Knaresborough Cricket Club hosted a memorable presentation event for the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League. The day was filled with excitement and pride as players, families and supporters gathered to celebrate the achievements of the League’s young cricketers.
Awards for the Under 18, Under 15 and Under 13 age groups were presented by their respective managers: Rich Perham, Debbie Hooks and Kat Moorcroft. These awards recognised the hard work and dedication of the players throughout the season. The Under 9 and 11 teams were honoured to receive their awards from Ken Coad, the League Chairman.
The League would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Kettlewell Fuels for the continued support and generous sponsorship, which have been instrumental to the success of the League.
U13 Pairs winners – Burton Leonard
U18 Winners – Harrogate
U13 Winners
Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League 2024 Results
Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their outstanding performances. We look forward to another fantastic season in 2025.
15th September 2024: Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League Finals
The junior cricket season ended on Sunday, 15th of September, with the Under 11 pairs and Under 13 11 a-side finals being held at Studley Royal Cricket Club.
First up was Knaresborough playing Harrogate Panthers in the Under 11 pairs league decider.
This competition had 28 teams playing throughout the season, so both teams battled long and hard to reach the final. The outcome, with Harrogate Panthers emerging as the winners, is a testament to their dedication and hard work this season. Both teams should be very proud of their achievements.
Knaresborough won the toss and elected to bat.
In this format, each team starts with 200 runs, and each pair of batters faces four overs, with 6 runs being deducted for each time a wicket falls. The Knaresborough batters made steady progress, with Conor Steward scoring a very creditable 18, Harry Godfrey 12 and Henry Kenton 10; all the other batters chipped in with the final score (after deductions for 8 wickets) was 245.
All the Harrogate team bowled with Henry Yallup and Milo Lawrence, each claiming 2 wickets apiece.
Harrogate Panthers batted next with impressive scores from Henry Yallup 15, Fletcher Knight 14, and Henry Smith 19 and the outstanding knock of the day came from Jishnu Kant, who hit the day’s highest total, a massive 43. Harrogate amassed 311 runs and only lost 3 wickets in their innings. Knaresborough bowlers Orla Braithwaite-Pexton and Harry Godfrey were the only Knaresborough bowlers to take a wicket each.
So with the final net scores of Knaresborough 245 and Harrogate Panthers 311, Harrogate was crowned Under 11 Pairs league champions 2024.
The League would like to thank Keith Brown and John Thompson for umpiring the game.
Next was the Under 13 – 11, a side contest between Bilton and Knaresborough (pictured).
Bilton won the toss and elected to bat. Bilton’s innings did not start well, with Sras Pahwa being bowled by an unplayable ball from Tom Garton on the first ball of the innings. Despite this initial setback, Bilton got on with their task and moved the score on steadily, with James Barraclough reaching 35, which included 6 fours. A score of 35, in this format, means a retirement. The Bilton score pushed on at a rapid pace, with all of the Bilton top-order getting starts – Aidan Robinson impressed with 32 from 19 balls before being caught by Jamie O’Rourke off the bowling of Sam Stalker. Jonny Higgins 10, Joseph Holliday 12 and Jake Cannings 10 also contributed.
The Bilton team’s efforts were commendable, and they should be proud of their performance. The Bilton innings concluded with a score of 127 for 8, with Jayden Morgan and Daniel Pears undefeated on 6 and 4 runs each. Tom Garton, Sam Stalker and Dexter Ward were Knaresborough’s best bowlers, taking 2 wickets each. Set 128 to win, the Knaresborough innings initially faltered when Jake Cannings caught Dexter Ward from the Bowling of James Barraclough with the score at 0. However, the Knaresborough team, with their unwavering determination, managed to turn the game around.
The determined batting from Bertie Mittra, 29 and Holly Garton, 40 not out (including 6 fours and 2 sixes, retired) steadied the Knaresborough ship with the next wicket falling with the score on 66. Sam Stalker then continued the Knaresborough chase with a score of 37 retired (which included 4 fours and 2 sixes). The Bilton total was now within sight; Riley Hirst and Jamie O’Rourke steered the Knaresborough total to 130 with 2.2 over to spare.
Knaresborough were therefore crowned Under 13 – 11 a side champion for 2024.
Both teams played the game in a competitive yet sportsmanlike manner, showcasing the true spirit of the Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League.
Stuart Illingworth, Managing Director of Kettlewell Fuels, concluded, “It has been a fantastic season for all the teams in the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League. Supporting the league is a privilege for Kettlewell Fuels. We are proud to be associated with an organisation that fosters sportsmanship and teamwork among young cricketers in the region.”
September 2024: John Barrett Trophy Final Played in Memory of Cricket Stalwart
On a dismal autumnal evening, Pannal Express played Harrogate Hawks at Pannal Cricket Club for the John Barrett Trophy.
Pannal won the toss and elected to field.
Harrogate got off to a brisk start with the openers Barney Crossland and George Lamb putting on a stand of 44 until Barney Crossland was bowled by Olly Laycock. From this platform, runs continued at a fast pace, with George Lamb being next to be dismissed with the score on 51, caught by Toby Wilkins and bowled by Olly Laycock.
The fall of the wicket did not halt the flow of runs, with both Harrish Mani (34 no) and Lucas Hill (36 Retired) pushing the score to a very creditable 130 from their allotted 16 overs. The pick of the Pannal bowlers was Olly Laycock, with 3 overs and 2 wickets for 16 runs.
The Pannal innings got off to a slow start with the fall of Olly Laycock in the first over with the score on 0. Wickets continued to fall at a regular rate as the Harrogate bowlers took the upper hand.
Some stubborn resistance from Rory Smith (17) and Jacob Tiller (15) were the highlights of the Pannal innings which was always behind the required run rate. The Pannal resistance continued until the final over when, with the score on 70 the final wicket fell, Milo Spearing being stumped by George Lamb off the bowling of Ewan Rhodes.
The start performer with the ball for Harrogate was Mahin Patel with incredible figures of 3 overs, 5 wickets for a meagre 7 runs.
Kat Moorcroft, the Under 13 age group manager, presided over the presentation of trophies. James Barrett presented the runners-up and winners with their medals, and Harrogate received the John Barrett Trophy.
August 2024: Kettlewell Fuels proudly supports the coaches of North Stainley Cricket Club!
Kettlewell Fuels not only serves as the headline sponsor of the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League but also extends its support to 11 local North Yorkshire cricket teams, underlining the company’s dedication to fostering a vibrant sports community.
Our local junior teams rely on volunteers and coaches to cultivate the cricket stars of tomorrow, and it is an honour to provide our support to the North Stainley Cricket Club junior team.
12th July 2024: Harrogate CC U15 Boys Triumph in Bob Mellor final
Reinforcing Harrogate Cricket Club’s Under 15 boys’ success in the 2025 Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League, the team has made it a double by winning the Bob Mellor Cup.
Held at Knaresborough Forest CC on Friday 12th of July, the Harrogate U15s played Ripley U15s in an exciting final. In a match reduced to 16 overs, the winners were Harrogate CC by a strong 43 runs. The game was played with great spirit.
Stuart Illingworth, Kettlewell Fuels Managing Director said: “This is a fantastic result for Harrogate. The town is certainly producing some talented junior players right now. Congratulations to both teams though for making it through to the cup final.
“It’s great to see junior cricket thriving in the North Yorkshire area and we’re so pleased to be able to support the NJCL, the league is going from strength to strength with more teams getting involved each year.”
Match Result:
Harrogate – 135-6
Ripley – 92-5
Pictured: Winning Harrogate team (L-R)
- A KING
- S PATEL
- Z BARTON
- T CROSSLAND
- O THEAKSTON
- J KINNEAR
- B WALKER (wk)
- J REGNIER (cpt)
- S CRABTREE
- B ANDERSON
- A SCULTHORP
- H SCHOFIELD
14 July 2024: Young cricketers outshine the gloomy weather at Studley Royal CC
On a damp and gloomy Sunday at Studley Royal Cricket Club (14th July), 64 young cricketers defied the elements to enjoy an outstanding day of cricket.
The Under 7 players displayed extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment with Harrogate Hawks winning the 11th Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League tournament yet again.
While parents and coaches felt the effects of the cold and wet weather, the junior cricketers’ spirits remained high, resulting in some wonderfully enthusiastic play on the field. The event featured eight teams, each with eight players. These teams were split into two divisions of four. Throughout the day, each team bowled one over each, and each batter faced two overs per pair. The format allowed everyone to participate fully and showcase their skills.
Commenting on the close-fought final, as sponsor of the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League, Kettlewell Fuels Managing Director Stuart Illingworth said: “Once again Harrogate Hawks proved worthy winners and the event not only highlighted the talent and dedication of these young players but also the importance of teamwork from an early age.
“The supportive presence of parents and coaches played a crucial role, too, in making the day memorable for all involved. The day’s success promises a bright future for these budding cricketers and is a testament to the vibrant community spirit surrounding junior cricket in North Yorkshire.”
10 May 2024: Harrogate Hawks under 9s hold on to 15th Coad Cup
Junior cricket in the North Yorkshire region is thriving with 32 teams taking part in the 2024 Kettlewell Fuels Nidderdale Junior Cricket League (KFNJCL) Under 9s Coad Cup –
– a 30% increase in the number of teams taking part compared to last year – with the Harrogate Hawks team taking the trophy home once more.
A record number of teams gathered on 10 May 2024 at Studley Royal Cricket Club for this knockout competition, which is now in its 15th year. Remarkably, good weather graced the day yet again, despite rain either side of the weekend and what a day it was.
The unstoppable Harrogate Hawks team played some fantastic cricket winning big in the final by 131 runs against Knaresborough Forest. Largely due to the many wickets the Harrogate team took costing Knaresborough 4 runs per wicket lost. However, Knaresborough Forest’s, Oscar Scarborough, who top-scored in both the quarter and semi-final matches is most definitely worthy of a mention.
Yorkshire’s leading Championship wicket-taker in 2023, Ben Coad, presented the winners’ trophy and medals as well as the runner-up, third and fourth-place team medals.
Ken Coad, the Nidderdale League Junior Chairman, commented on the day’s events: “It was an excellent day of junior cricket, which was dominated by some superb play by the Harrogate team, resulting in them finishing as convincing winners for the 8th time in 15 years.”
Sponsor of the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League, Kettlewell Fuels managing director, Stuart Illingworth said: “What an amazing achievement – well done to the Harrogate Hawks team from all of us at Kettlewell Fuels. “It’s so good to see the number of teams entering has increased in recent years, too, which is a testament to the hard work of all the NJCL organisers and everyone involved in supporting these local teams.
“Kettlewell Fuels continues its commitment to supporting local sporting and community events. As well as being the headline sponsor of the Nidderdale Junior Cricket League, we also support on an individual basis 11 local cricket team and this year, we are a ‘Red Carpet’ sponsor at the Ripon Theatre Festival, which takes place from July 2nd to July 7th, 2024.”
The 2024 Coad Cup – Results
Quarter-Finals:
Kirk Deighton 297 v Ripley 272
Knaresborough Forest 299 v TABS 259
Harrogate Hawks v Harrogate Dragons (Dragons conceded)
Knaresborough 307 v Bilton 283
Semi-Finals:
Knaresborough Forest 280 v Kirk Deighton 255
Harrogate Hawks 357 v Knaresborough 212
3rd 4th Play-Off
Kirk Deighton 320 v Knaresborough 291
COAD CUP FINAL
Harrogate Hawks 363 v Knaresborough Forest 232