Kwik Cricket - Final showdown for local rivals (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Kwik Cricket - Final showdown for local rivals

TWO Swindon schools met in the final of Wiltshire's kwik cricket competition at Devizes Cricket Club on Friday.

Both Ruskin School and Eldene School topped their groups on runs scored beating off three other teams respectively.

They met in the final after 120 teams had been whittled down through district tournaments the previous week.

The teams start on 200 runs but have only eight overs to score with five runs subtracted for each wicket they lose. Eldene managed to score 261-1 with Ruskin scoring 262-3, leaving Eldene victorious by 11 runs.

Eldene were due to go on and represent the county at the South West regional final on Monday, July 4 in Exmouth but the date clashed with their year six trip to the Isle of Wight.

Ruskin will now represent the county against teams from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Gloucestershire with the winner travelling to the national final at Nottinghamshire's Trent Bridge on July 21.

Wiltshire Youth Development Officer Richard Gulliver, who helped organise the tournament, said he was impressed with the turn out to the tournament and standard of play.

"It went extremely well. Over 120 schools across Wiltshire took part in seven different districts so it was certainly an increase in schools taking part compared to ten years ago when we had 25," he said.

"Most people I spoke to said they really enjoyed it and thought it went well."

Gulliver explained how the county had worked with the schools and given primary school teachers coaching in the sport.

He added they were a major reason behind the high standard shown over the past two weeks.

"What I was impressed with was the fielding and the catching.

"The fielding had improved which was most pleasing because the batting and the bowling is very individual. There was 50 to 100 kids there and a good dozen were highly talented at sport.

"I could pick a side from them and within ten years I could win the club Premier Division. What is important now is getting the club's involved at this level.

"There's no point running these sorts of tournaments if they are not interested.

"Judging by these youngsters the future of cricket is very rosy in Wiltshire."

Teacher at Eldene School, Daniel Crossman, said the school was disappointed it could not go to the regional tournament but was pleased it had gone so well.

Crossman, who plays for Wilcot and used to play for the county at youth level, said he had helped out with the coaching this year and was pleased to see his pupils do so well.

"They have done really well. Better than was expected," he said.

"For a lot of them it was the first time they have played cricket properly. There were players there that had played before in other teams but our teamwork was very good and we made good decisions.

"We are disappointed we cannot go to Exmouth but hopefully next year we will have a stronger team and can try to win it again."