CRICKET: Larne prepare for new season with series of indoor events

Secondary school players from both Larne Grammar School and Larne High School kicked things off with joint coaching sessions, organised in conjunction with the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) and the local council.

The youngsters were put through their paces at the Grammar school with ex-Ireland player Nigel Jones amongst the coaches helping to advise and improve the technique of the club’s young talent.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Sports Development offer Niall Curneen has helped organise the sessions and has also been involved in promoting a new indoor tournament for primary school children.

The competition will take place at Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday, March 16, with five local schools getting their first introduction to the game. Once again, the NCU will be providing coaching in advance of the event with further assistance being rolled out in advance of an outdoor tournament scheduled for Sandy Bay in June.

The senior sides have also started their pre-season training with indoor nets at the Leisure Centre on Monday nights in March from 7-9 pm.

Any new players or returning members will be warmly welcomed as the club looks to rebound from last year’s disappointing relegation from Section 2.

First XI captain Gareth Gaw confirmed that the side were looking forward to improving fortunes by promoting young players from within the club.

“Having this level of help from the NCU coaches should ensure the club can get back to where we were a few years ago and bring back the feel-good factor that we lost during last season’s difficulties,” he said.

Larne Cricket Club would also like to thank all those who attended its recent fundraising quiz. The successful event took place at Ruby’s, who will once again kindly be sponsoring the club in the upcoming season.

LCC will be fielding two senior sides and a mid-week team this year, with the club’s first match scheduled for Sandy Bay on April 30 against Monaghan.