13th August - U14’s V Worcester Nomads U14 County league Semi Final
On the Friday evening we received a phone call from the Worc League that Penn U14’s had won the league and were to play Worc Nomads in the U14’s County Semi Final. We hastily arranged the fixture as to miss the bad weather coming during the week. Nomads had two county players in their squad one being A Curtis son of Tim Curtis ex Worc and England fame. Penn again won the toss and as always decided to bat first. Mike Hingley and Olli Slimm opened Olli lost his wicket in the 3^rd over to a great catch in the covers. Mike Hingley and Sunil Patel then took the attack to Nomads with Sunil scoring quick fire 29 and Mike scoring 44 not out. Their was also a tremendous cameo from Josh Lane scoring 14 off 6 balls. We finished on 115 for 4. A good score on a good wicket but I think we could have been 10 runs short, which if we had got would have put pressure on them a little more.
Nomads went for it from the start with A Curtis taking the attack to Penn. Only excellent bowling from Sunil Patel and Mitch Jefferies ensured that we kept some sort of pressure on them. Twice we had chances to remove A Curtis but both times lady luck turned the other cheek. Rich Drew then took the helm for the bowling and with gentle medium pace once again built up some pressure. The fact that his leg was hanging off showed great commitment to cause. Steadily the approached their target but we were taking the odd wicket just to keep it interesting. Enter the mighty George Nock who bowled exactly right for the conditions and for the period the game had now reached. He bowled straight up to the bat and quickly took 3 wickets putting the momentum back into our attack. The problem was that we had still not removed A Curtis who like Mike Hingley had timed the innings well. Two overs to go and they were on 103. Tim Howard came on to bowl and I think in the circumstances he faced bowled his best over ever. Nomads only took 3 runs from it leaving them to score 13 runs from the last over. Enter Captain Marvel again Sunil Patel who had one over left. First ball he removed A Curtis for 48. The door was now wide open and Penn drove straight through to victory. Nomads finished on 107 for 6. Only two of their players reached double figures A Curtis 48 and A Hunt 24. This was an excellent result against a very good team. Penn now play Evesham in the County final in early September. They have five U14 County players so we should have an excellent game. All the support we can muster please for this. I will let everyone know the fixture once we have it.   

19th July - U14’s V Beacon
A rare evening with the sun shining saw the U14’s play a re-arranged fixture against local rivals Beacon. Penn won the toss and Captain Marvel Sunil Patel elected to bat, a strategy that had served us well throughout the season. The track was not good and the outfield had not been cut making batting difficult from the first ball. Olli Slimm and Mike Hingley opened both scoring 16 before losing our first wicket in the 6^th over. Enter Jimmy Howell who had no mercy for the Beacon attack. His approach was just what was needed on this type of pitch and he quickly amassed 51 retired ably supported by George Nock who excellently rotated the strike. We finished on 132 for 4 an excellent score considering the wicket and outfield. The Beacon reply was met with excellent bowling from Eddy Slimm and Jordan Nixon. Their opening spell was excellent and applied real pressure. Then came a spell from Mitch Jefferies that removed the complete Beacon middle order. Their figures were E Slimm 3-2-9-1, J Nixon 3-1-4-2 and Mitch with 4-2-2-4 wickets. Beacon finished on 33 all out. Great victory.

21st June - U14s v. Old Hill (CUP)
We finally got this fixture on as the weather kept postponing it for some weeks. Penn again won the toss and batted against an Old Hill side missing three players who were on route from a school match. As the kind guy’s we are, we loaned them Oliver Zaki and Nathan Howell, both I have to say were their best fielders!!! After a steady start against some reasonable bowling the sky darkened, flashes appeared and enter Captain Marvell. Sunil Patel came into bat at 6 with Penn looking at posting a score of about 100. Sunil after eating three Wetabix and the spoon then knocked an unbeaten 51 of very little balls. In fact he lost three balls in the school grounds. This saw Penn reach 131 for 6 off the 20 overs. Now in the last few match reports I have stated that we suffered from some indifferent bowling which saw teams reach totals they should not have or get close our scores while chasing. Well enter Captain Marvell’s little Marvelet’s. The Penn bowling attack was outstanding; we bowled 11.1 overs and bowled Old Hill out for 15. we started with a fantastic run out from Mike Hingley in the first over. Then excellent bowling from Mitchell Jefferies (4-0-6-2) and Ed Slimm (4-1-6-2) just broke the Old Hill team in two. Their players had turned up by now one a county player the other a district player but none of them could cope with the excellent field and bowling attack. There final score was 15 all out off 11.1 overs 13 off the bat and two extras.
Penn Win now in the semi finals of the Cup against Oldswinford. (Time for revenge)

13th June - U14s v. Himley
With 26 runs from the first three overs Penn were cantering along against local rivals Himley. Unfortunately the loss of three quick wickets saw us slump to 46 for three from nine overs. A stand of 75 between Richard Drew 36 and Liam Clamp 20 saw Penn to what should be a match winning total of 125. Penn  then started well with Edward Slimm bowling 3 overs, 2 for 6 but following that the bowling and fielding became wayward and lethargic and it was left to Jimmy Howell  4.0.16.3 and Tim Howard 2. 0. 6 .1 that saw Penn home by 5 runs.

6th June - U14s v. Enville
Two days after the defeat to Oldswinford the under 14s were in action again this time hitting 141 for 5 in the 20 overs alloted. Jimmy Howell smarting from a controversial dismissal in the previous game hit an undefeated 51 Mike Hingley 30 and captain Sunil Patel a quick fire 36 including  3 sixes and 4  fours. In reply Enville reached 110 for 4 with Jordan Nixon taking 2 for 19 and Mitchell Jeffries 1 for 17

4th June - U14s v. Oldswinford
Oldswinford were allowed to reach a total of 119 for 2  with only Russell Norton taking wickets 2.0.17.2.The score should have been well within the reach of the Penn batting line up but at 15 for 3 after 5 overs Penn were struggling . A spirited stand between George Nock 33 and the ever improving Liam Clamp 25 took Penn close but wickets fell in the chase and Penn finished on 106  for 8, 13 runs short.

21st May - U14s cup v. Coombs Wood

7th May U15s away v. Cannock & Rugeley (South Staffordshire Youth League)

3rd May U14s away v. Coombs Wood
Penn won the toss and decided to bat. Opening pair were G Nock and M Hingley who put on 77 for the wicket before M Hingley got a ball that pitched half way down the track and then rolled to the stumps in the 17^th over. Enter Captain Scarlet Sunil Patel who hit a quick fire 10 and finally Alex Haynes who kept George Nock (41 not out) company to the end of Penn’s innings. Penn finished on 105 for 2 off the 20 overs.
In reply Coombs wood attacked from the start but excellent bowling from M Jeffries and D Malhotra kept there batsman controlled. M Jefferies taking our first wicket in the 3^rd over. After the opening pair of bowlers there was excellent support from O Zaki, A Haynes, T Howard, O Coburn , A Jiva and M Hingley to keep the opposition relatively quite. They had one batsman who to his credit tried to maintain some sort of momentum. It finally cam down to the last over with Coombs Wood requiring 9 to win from the last over. Enter the mighty G Nock who bowled one over for 3 runs and so winning the match.
Great result for the U14’s first game and considering that we only had 5 U14’s playing it showed the depth of youth that we have. It was also Sunil Patel’s first game as Capt and he was outstanding in controlling his field and changing his attack.
Man of the Match had to be George Nock for his all round contribution.