YOUTH CRICKET: Fairford girls triumph in Asda Kwik Cricket county final (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fairford Primary School team to represent Gloucestershire at Exmouth

5:02pm Sunday 24th June 2012 in Sport

FAIRFORD C of E Primary School have been crowned Girls’ Asda Kwik Cricket Champions of Gloucestershire after the finals day tournament at Cheltenham College.

They will now go on to represent the county in the regional finals at Exmouth Cricket Ground on July 2.

Gloucestershire Cricket Development Manager Steve Silk said: “It was phenomenal to see so many young people from across the county playing cricket and having a great time.

“This event was the pinnacle of what has been a very busy schools coaching programme for the GCB and to see it come to a close with this kind of celebration and cricket of a high level was fantastic.”

In the final, Fairford gained revenge against Westbury-On-Trym Primary School – who had earlier beaten them in the group stages – to take the trophy. Fairford finished with a total of 269* – 43 more than their opponents. They made it into the final after overcoming Bromley Heath from South Gloucestershire in the semi final.

Joanna Herbert, Year Six teacher at Fairford, said: “This group started in year five and so have benefited from two years of coaching through the ‘Chance to Shine’ scheme which is designed to bring and sustain cricket in state primary and secondary schools and encourage school children to play the game at local cricket clubs.

“A lot of them probably wouldn’t have had the chance to play cricket if it wasn’t for that.

“Because of the success we have had at the school we have now started a women’s team at Fairford CC and we hope that eventually the girls will take it over – they are better than us already.

“It was a real team effort and they really deserved it.”

The winning players received trophies and a bat signed by the Gloucestershire CCC squad including Liam Norwell, Richard Coughtrie and Paul Muchall, who were on hand to present the prizes.

All participants were also given free tickets to watch the Gloucestershire Gladiators in a t20 match versus Northants at The County Ground in Bristol.