CRICKETERS from Mowden Hall School have qualified for a national competition next year.

For the school's U12 team lifted the Northumberland Schools County Cricket tournament, defeating Valley Gardens with a convincing performance.

Having beat Ovingham Middle School and Newcastle's Royal Grammar School in previous rounds, they went into the final at South Northumberland full of confidence.

With captain Arthur Sutherland winning the toss and electing to field, all six Mowden bowlers claimed wickets to remove Valley for 59 runs in the 18t over.

As he had done in the semi-finals, opener Blake Vassallo top scored for Mowden as his school found the required runs in the 13th over to gain selection to the national competition at U13 level next year.