Junior cricket at Reepham & Salle Cricket Club

Monday, April 21, 2025 - 14:49

Everyone at Reepham & Salle Cricket Club is proud of what our junior section has become of over the past few years after a worrying drop off in numbers post-Covid.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to build interest in junior cricket with the lack of sport on offer at schools and the exposure of the game in everyday life becoming less and less, but we feel we’ve somewhat bucked the trend for small cricket clubs in Norfolk, which is testament to the commitment of all our volunteers.

Last year we had lots of success on and off the field with numbers increasing gradually, and the level of cricket being played gave great encouragement to all involved.

We started a new U11s hardball team last summer and they were brilliant, finishing second in the league, losing only once; had they played all their games could have won their league. The U13s finished top of their league and the U15s came second with the whole team being under 14, which gives us great confidence in the season to come.

 

Under 15s after defeating Great Witchingham last summer. Photo: Reepham & Salle Cricket Club

 

We have also started to reap the benefits of the hardball cricket being played, seeing several juniors feature in our 2nd XI. Also the demand for cricket saw us reform a Sunday team playing friendlies with the newly formed Development XI skippered by Bruce Bailey.

Last year also saw growth in our cricket community with lots of parents getting involved and helping to fundraise. Led by Sarah Smith and Tammy Digby they’ve managed to raise more than £1,500 through a raffle at the end-of-season presentation day and also the recent quiz night, so a massive thank you to those two and all the parents that helped out. Hopefully, this year we can raise enough money to give the nets a new lease of life.

On a personal level, I am also immensely proud to have been presented the Growing the Game Award at the Norfolk Cricket Board’s Grassroots Cricket Awards in November, something that would not have happened without the commitment and attitude of the juniors and parents at RSCC.

Since last summer we haven’t stopped. The U14s girls competed in an indoor competition at Langley School before Christmas and competed against some strong teams, Swardeston, Great Melton and Bradenham to name a few.

The U14s took part in the North Norfolk Indoor League at North Walsham and had some great battles with Greshams, Ashmanhaugh and Acle. Then we had our winter training programme at Langley School with six sessions that were well attended by a range of ages.

 

Above: Indoor winter training at Langley Prep School. Below: Girls indoor league team. Photos: Reepham & Salle Cricket Club

 

Looking forward to 2025, it’s with great sadness that Toby Armiger will no longer be involved in the junior setup. He was a crucial part of our previous success and a big hit with the children and parents alike. We wish Toby well in his new venture as a personal trainer and know that through his commitment years to our youth cricket over the past few he’s going to do really well in this field.

This year our youth coaching team has grown with Adam Meek partaking in his core coach qualification, Ali Cubbit completing his foundation coach qualification, and Jack Austin and Bruce Bailey also taking on their foundation coach course, which they’ll be doing throughout the early part of the season.

We’re really passionate about the coaching we’ll deliver on a Monday evening and we want to structure our sessions to be slightly more skill-based and try and work on as many aspects of the game as possible.

Again this year we will have hardball teams competing in the Alliance Tier 2 Competitions at U11s, U13s and U15s, as well as our newly formed U17s team. We also have softball teams at U9s, U11s and U13s and are hoping to compete in girls-only softball tournaments; we’ll try to get some girls-only hardball fixtures later in the season.

Lastly, a big thank you goes to Andrew Lee at ASL Electrical, who has kindly sponsored the junior section at Reepham & Salle Cricket Club and has subsidised training tops, which will be made available to all junior members at just £10, as well as a contribution towards some junior equipment.

Now it’s time for the hard work in the nets to be put into practise as we look to embark on a great season. I want to wish all the girls and boys the best of luck and hope they score lots of runs and take lots of wickets in the summer sun.

If anyone is interested in getting involved, junior training is on Monday evenings: softball 5.30–6.30 pm (school years 3–6) and open-aged girls session hardball 6.30–8 pm (school years 5–12).

If anyone would like to support youth cricket financially there are many sponsorship opportunities that can be explored.

George Wright, Head of Youth Cricket, Reepham & Salle Cricket Club
Tel: 07841 641589 or email: rsccyouthcricket@aol.com

Women’s football season starts

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 - 18:41

Red Rose Football Club (Women and Girls) has started its season with teams playing at Cawston Church of England Primary Academy, Aylsham Road, Cawston, and Reepham High School, Whitwell Road, Reepham

The women have home games at Reepham on Sunday afternoons on 22 September, 6 October and 20 October, kick-off 2 pm.

The under 12s are at Cawston on Saturday mornings on 28 September, 5 October, 19 October and 2 November, and the under 11s are at Reepham on Saturday morning on 21 September, kick-off 10 am.

Come and support the women and girls.

Tom Dack

Women’s football team aims to end the season on a high

Monday, May 20, 2024 - 17:48

Red Rose FC Ladies recently entertained Freethorpe and came away with a good 3-0 win, controlling most of the game. The ladies were able to play some good flowing football and could easily have scored more, but luck wasn’t with them and they had to make do with goals for Katy, Connie and Jo.

The following week they welcomed mid-table Horsford Harriers and again controlled the game from start to finish. Katy scored with a header to give Red Rose the lead but as numerous chances came and went, luck was not with them as the ball just would not go in the net. With their only attack in first-half injury time, Horsford equalised with a speculative long-range effort that looped past the goalkeeper.

The second half continued with Red Rose pressing forward but being foiled by some last-ditch defending and bad luck until a goal-mouth scramble from a corner saw Kat force the ball home. The ladies saw out the game 2-1 without conceding much possession.

With these two comfortable home wins under their belt, Red Rose ladies were due to travel to Freethorpe last Sunday with high expectations of continuing their good form before the final game of the season at home to Horsford Hurricanes at Reepham High School on Sunday 26 May, kick off at 2 pm. Supporters are invited to join them afterwards at Whitwell Station.

Tom Dack

Cawston girls’ cup exploits end in medals

Monday, March 25, 2024 - 18:33

The Cawston-based Red Rose girls’ football team played brilliantly through a total of four matches in successive weeks from mid-January in the preliminary rounds of the cup.

They won through to set up a quarter-final clash with Harford Belles, which they won with the last kick of the game to set up a semi-final match the following Saturday against unbeaten cup favourites Wymondham, who are top of the league.

The match proved a step too far for Red Rose who, despite battling for the full duration of the match, ended up losing 4-0. This left the team facing a Thetford side for a third-place play-off on Saturday 23 March.

The match was an even affair with the Red Rose girls having the better of the first half and going ahead after pressuring the opponents into a mistake after 20 minutes through an own-goal.

Despite having most of the attacking play the Cawston girls could not increase the lead, with the half time score 1-0.

The second half swung in favour of Thetford, who maintained most of the pressure and scored twice to win the match 2-1 and take the bronze medal.

Overall, the Cawston Red Rose girls were pleased to finish fourth in the trophy competition and record a successful season.

With a few league matches still to play, the Cawston-based team would be happy for any Year 6 girls to come along and train with the team, ready for the new season that starts in a few months.

Paul Willmott, Cawston Red Rose FC

Girls’ football cup success

Monday, March 11, 2024 - 09:04

Red Rose FC welcomed Heartsease for a knockout match on Saturday 2 March, with the Red Rose girls starting at a frenetic pace, pressuring the visitors’ goal with a dominating grip on the game.

This soon resulted in the first goal for Red Rose after a great challenge from Marcie to win the ball just outside the penalty area and slip it through neatly for Natalia to side foot accurately past the goalkeeper to establish an early lead.

Red Rose continued to dominate the half forcing corner after corner. Eventually, in a textbook training ground practice routine, from one of the many corners the ball was delivered to the penalty spot area as Jessica arrived with a late run to side foot the ball neatly past the keeper to put Red Rose 2-0 ahead – a lead which they held comfortably until half time.

In the second half the opposition came out with real determination and briefly dominated possession. The result was a brief loss of concentration which allowed Heartsease to get a goal back to 2-1.

However, usual service was resumed with Red Rose players Bea and Marcie able to smash in shots which the goalkeeper either managed to save or were just off target –one effort being deflected onto the post and another shot trickling along the goal line, then more point-blank saves from the keeper.

An “illegal” throw-in surprised the Red Rose defenders and put a Heartsease striker straight onto the goal to score a surprise equaliser and level the match at 2-2.

More pressure from Red Rose followed but still failed to break the deadlock, until in the last seconds of the match a forward run by Bea beat three players and drew others towards her.

She then laid the ball across the goal to an unmarked Natalia who side-footed the ball past the stranded goalkeeper for the winning goal with literally no time left to restart the match. Final score: Red Rose 3, Heartsease 2.

The opposition choice for Red Rose Player of the match was Bea; the referee’s choice for player of the match was Evie.

Red Rose FC encourages girls in school years 5 and 6 to try girls-only football. For further information, contact Paul Willmott 07926 004994.

Paul Willmott

All players’ names are changed to comply with FA rules.

Cup success for Red Rose FC girls’ football team. Photo: Red Rose FC

End-to-end match for U11 girls football team

Monday, March 4, 2024 - 09:17

In their home match on Saturday 2 March, the Red Rose FC U11 girls took the game to Euston with a lightning start, pressuring the team from Suffolk. However, despite the pressure, a quick counter break from Euston resulted in the first goal of the game.

The home team kept up the pressure, which eventually resulted in an equaliser just before half time: a corner expertly delivered by Jessica landed in the middle of the goal for Natalia to smash into the net. Half time: 1–1

The second half was a more even affair with both teams giving players a rest and substitutes coming on as replacements, as Red Rose continued the policy of giving all players playing time for each game.

With the match now going from one end to the other, Red Rose struck again through Bea with a great piece of skill in the opposition penalty area, dribbling around two defenders to open up a gap to slot the ball into the goal past the stranded goalkeeper.

With Red Rose taking a 2–1 lead, the match continued to and fro and Euston managed to score an equaliser to make the final score 2–2, which matched the score at the away game a few weeks ago.

Reaching a significant milestone was Red Rose player Darcie (pictured), who made her 25th league appearance and received a bronze award certificate to recognise the achievement.

If you are in school years 5 or 6 and would like to play at a girls-only football club, please contact Red Rose coach Paul Willmott on 07926 004994.

Paul Willmott

Red Rose FC Ladies fixtures

Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 16:24

This month’s results so far for the Red Rose FC Ladies’ football team have been a win away to Yarmouth and a 10-0 home win over Martham.

Upcoming fixtures are:

  • 25 February: Home v. Munford
  • 10 March: Home v Waveney
  • 17 March: Home v. Shrublands
  • 24 March: Away v. Stalham
  • 31 March: Home v. Lingwood
     

These will be tough games against good sides and will be hard tests for the women, so come along and give them your support.

All games kick off at 2 pm and home matches are played at Reepham High School, Whitwell Road, Reepham.

Thomas Dack

Cawston girls back to winning ways

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - 17:10

The Cawston Red Rose FC girls played away at Open Academy, Norwich, on Saturday 20 January with a scratch team owing to two players being injured and a further two unwell.

With no substitutes available and the team shuffled around to fill the gaps, each player knew they would have to be at their very best to get any result.

The first half was dominated by the Red Rose girls restricting the Academy to shots from well outside the penalty area and conceding only one corner in the half.

Goalkeeper Betty did not have to make a single save during the half while the Academy keeper was kept busy and made several saves to keep the score to 0-0 at half-time.

Red Rose changed their goalkeeper for the second half and the match continued in the same vein, with defenders Evie and Amanda comfortably dealing with any forward runs by the Academy.

New keeper Daisy had to make only one save during the half as Red Rose again dominated, with the Academy keeper making save after save to keep them in the game.

Finally, mid-way through the half, Bea slotted the ball in for the first goal of the match, with further excellent strikes by Jessica, Bea, Della and Betty, all saved.

At the final whistle the Red Rose girls had at least got their well-deserved three points for a win in a match absolutely bossed, despite the single goal scoreline. Final score: Open Academy 0, Red Rose 1.

Left to right: Opposition choice for player of the match, goal scorer and referee’s choice for player of the match. Photo: Red Rose FC

Red Rose are looking for some extra junior school-age players to be in the squad for next season. You don’t have to be a great footballer yet (although we don’t mind if you are).

If you think you would like to take part please contact us. You will train with the all-girls team to improve your skills until you are confident to play with us; next season you could be part of the team.

For further information, contact Paul Willmott on 07926 004994.

Women’s football at Reepham High School in February

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - 17:12

The Red Rose FC ladies’ football team have three home games at Reepham High School, Whitwell Road, in February:

  • Saturday 4 February v. Martham
  • Saturday 18 February v. Horsford Hurricanes
  • Saturday 25 February v. Mundford
     

All kick-off times are 2 pm. Come along and support the ladies.

If you are interested in joining, ask any of the coaches or players, or contact Tom Dack on 07889 369732.

Girls’ football team returns to competitive action

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 - 10:08

Cawston Red Rose girls’ football team finally managed to play a match on Saturday 16 December after an enforced five-week break, which included a blank week and two rained-off Saturdays as well as one with players not available.

The team made the long journey into Suffolk for the last match of 2023 against Brandon, with all the girls keen to get back to proper football after weeks of training only.

In an even match with both sides giving 100% effort and showing much skill, the only goal of the first half gave Brandon a 1-0 lead.

The second half commenced with Red Rose a bit more dominant, forcing several corners, which eventually resulted in a defender giving away a handball and penalty to Red Rose.

Having had three different players all miss the three penalties awarded to the team so far this season, it was a brave team captain, Jessica, that stepped up to take the kick and dispatch it brilliantly to level the scores at 1-1.

An unfortunate slip-up in defence saw Brandon again take the lead but the Red Rose girls took control of the match once more and began to dominate.

Eventually, from another of their many corners, the ball dropped perfectly to Natallia to smash into the net and level the scores at 2-2.

Red Rose looked the more likely team to score any further goals but at the final whistle it still remained 2-2, so it was an away draw and a point for the girls, which pleased the players after such a long break from competitive matches.

Player of the match: Natallia; referee’s player choice: Amelia.

Cawston Red Rose FC are looking for new players in school years 5 and 6 to come along and give girls’ football a try.

Training is on Thursday evenings at Cawston Church of England Primary Academy, Aylsham Road, Cawston.

For more information, telephone 07926 004994.

Paul Willmott

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