Goole Under 13s played Tickhill in the Doncaster District Plate Final on Sunday at Brodsworth and although they went into the fixture as slight underdogs, they pushed a very strong Tickhill team and very nearly came home as victors.

Having lost the toss, Thomas Franks's team bowled first, but after a heavy shower and a rain delay, this was not something that they were worried about as Franks would have fielded had the coin fallen the other way. Opening up Goole got off to an excellent start as Tickhill fell to 44-4 as Harry Falkingham removed one opener and the number 3 in successive balls and then very nearly completed his hat-trick as Ted Ruston skyed a high catch to square leg where a difficult catch was narrowly missed by Lennon Wilson. Thomas Franks and Callum Woodcock both bowled Napier and Godfrey in the next two overs, which left Goole on top of the early exchanges. Ruston went on to make Goole pay for the drop as he smashed the ball to all parts to bring up his 25 in 16 balls, which led to his retirement and Millinton's 19 took Tickhill to 91-5 to take back the initiative. Goole kept plugging away and took wickets to slow the scoring rate of Tickhill. Ciaran Smith had Millington brilliantly caught at cover by Harry Falkingham after he drove in the air and Smith followed this up by running out Oldham for 15 as Goole got on top. A wicket from Henry Appleby in his first outing since breaking his ankle in May was good to see for Goole and another run out, this time by Sam Whittall left Tickhill on 113-9. The innings was finished again by Appleby as he had Arwar caught by Franks for 8 to finish the innings and leave Tickhill 3 overs short of their allotted 20, but on a decent total of 116.

In reply Goole lost Falkingham early, but Callum Woodcock (14) and Ollie Sugden (23), consolidated to take Goole to 31-2 with some lovely cover drives for four. Woodcock was bowled and had to depart, but skipper Franks steadied the ship with Sugden to take the score to 79-2 as Franks retired for 28. In the 14th over, Goole were looking slight favorites, but 3 wickets in 11 balls tipped the match back to Tickhill as Goole lost Smith for 1, Sugden for 23 and Leon Murphy for 4. At 86-5 in the 16th over Sam Whittall and Lennon Wilson knew that they had to score quickly and the pair did just that as 14 came off the next 10 balls to take Goole to 100-5, but Wilson played one shot two many and was stumped off a wide ball by Ruston for a very well played 10 from 7 balls. It was a shame for Wilson who has been one of the stand out players in 2019, mainly with the ball and in the field, but his batting is improving and he should be pleased with his efforts on Sunday as they very nearly got Goole over the line. 100-6 soon became 104-7 as Goole chased 12 from the last 12 deliveries. Whittall tried as well as he could to hit the boundaries that were needed, but good bowling and fielding meant he and Ashton Smith could not get Goole over the line and although they tried their hardest to score the 12 needed from the last 10 balls, Tickhill had just enough to hang on and take the silverware by 7 runs.

The Under 13's should be very proud of the match and season that they have completed and with a few more bits of luck in both this match and the league campaign could have reaped some more rewards. They have developed immensely as individuals this year with over 75% of the team representing the club at either 3rd or 2nd XI level and Thomas Franks also going on to represent Doncaster District in the final of the Yorkshire Junior Cricket Festival. The club is proud of how they have played this season and it all bodes well for 2019 under 15 campaign as 9 of the 11 that played in this team will go up to the 15s for next season, to bolster that team and give coach Simon Franks somewhat of a selection issue as there are so many good cricketers in his squad to pick from and they are only going to improve as their experience grows with matches such as this.