Oakham hosts U13 finals

South Northumberland U13s © www.photosunlimited.org.uk

Eight teams from across the country have qualified to compete in the finals of the MCC Spirit of Cricket Under-13 national club championship, which begins on August 7 at Oakham School, Rutland.

The four-day finals mark the end of the summer’s championship, which this year saw over 1,600 teams enter.

Competitions were held in each of the ECB’s 38 counties, with the winners going through to the regional finals and then playing off for the right to qualify for the national finals.

The competing teams are: Bath (South West region); South Northumberland (North East & Scotland); Wolverhampton (North West); Scholes, Holmfirth (Yorkshire); Countesthorpe (North Midlands); Northop (West Midlands); Hastings and St Leonard’s Priory (South & South East); and Chesham (East).

MCC head of cricket John Stephenson said: “This is the fifth year that MCC has supported the Under-13 national club championships and each year it goes from strength to strength, with more children taking part and enjoying their cricket. Each of the eight clubs here this week deserves huge credit and recognition for making it this far.”

Stephenson continued: “It’s heartening to see the quality of players coming through the competition and we hope that they continue to play the game and play in the right way.

"Year-on-year the clubs continue to the participate in the best possible spirit, a message that MCC is keen to reinforce through its involvement in the National Finals, and I hope that this year is no exception. I’m looking forward to a week of good spirited, competitive cricket.”

The Finals are played over four days, with each team playing each other at least once before the winner is named on August 10. The winners will be presented with the Ken Barrington Cup, by Ann, Ken’s widow, for the twenty-seventh consecutive year.

In line with the competition sponsors, the club who display the best on-pitch attitude throughout the week will receive a special MCC Spirit of Cricket award.