CRICKET — Inverclyde Pre-Season Training Gets Underway

Tom Watson, Frederick Smith and Paul Singh

INVERCLYDE Cricket Club recently held its annual general meeting when reports were given on the 2019 season and plans made for 2020.

Tom Watson and Paul Singh took the bowling honours while the club is pleased to see Frederick Smith developing into a first-team bowler.

The 2019 vice-captain Gareth James takes over as captain from David Thomson, with Ross Blair becoming vice-captain and Scott Campbell continuing in the important team manager role.

Inverclyde will continue to play in the Western District Cricket Union (WDCU) Division Four in 2020 and will again take part in the midweek league which in 2019 successfully allowed some of the junior players to experience senior cricket, and in general increased the opportunity to play the game.

Two games a week are scheduled from the end of April through to the end of August.

Inverclyde’s committee and coaching staff, who hold national coaching certificates, welcome newcomers to the sport at their indoor pre-season sessions which take place from 10am to noon on Sundays through to Easter at the cricket training facility at St Columba’s High School, Gourock.

Junior coaching will continue to be run by the club’s junior committee, headed again this year by Ross Blair. Sessions take place at St Columba’s from 10am to noon on Saturday and are open to anyone up to age 14.

Inverclyde junior member Elizabeth McInnes, pictured, was successful in WDCU trials recently and has been included in the Western Warriors Girls’ under-16s squad.

All cricket equipment for juniors and seniors is provided by the club. Training sessions and coaching are provided free of charge.

Inverclyde Cricket Club is introducing cricket to local youth organisations with quick and active skills games/competitions followed by indoor cricket games. Any organisations interested in inviting the club to deliver some fun sessions can get in touch with any of the Junior Committee members. — contact details are on the club website at inverclydecricket.co.uk.