Maghera Second XI will be hoping to get off to a winning start to the summer when they play their first league game of the season away to New Buildings this weekend.
The Second Team’s home fixtures will be played at the Rainey School in Magherafelt. Just like last season the team will be a mixture of experienced players, and some of the club’s talented youth squads.
Maghera Second XI Captain, Roger Talbot, stated that this season’s U15 cohort will be one of the strongest for some time, and they will, on occasions, get the chance to take the step up to playing in the North West Senior Qualifying leagues. The juniors will be helped, as always with the experienced cricketers in the team who provide a great balance of knowledge and skill.
Roger continued that the seconds team squad has put a lot of work at the indoor nets, Meadowbank and at the Rainey. Under the guidance of new coach Benji Cathcart, Roger hopes the hard work will bring success in the early season. As Second XI captain, my role is to encourage the development of junior and senior players in all areas of the game and to give them opportunities to showcase their hard work in training in match day situations. It is important to develop players for the future, but also ready them for opportunities that will come their way in the 1sts this season. In the Second team, some of the group, have already enjoyed that experience last year. The Second team squad has an environment of success as a team and as an individual, but also to develop a fun learning environment that the club can benefit from.
Roger stated that he is looking forward to the coming season and is excited to see all players continuing their cricketing journey.
Written by Roger Talbot