YOUNG cricketers from Ovingham Middle School have been crowned county champions. 

The school’s U13 boys’ team won the Northumberland Chance to Compete Final at Ashington Leisure Centre. 

They finished ahead of runners-up Gosforth Central Middle, and third placed Ponteland Middle, after a round robin tournament involving five schools from across the county.

Tom Cant, Northumberland Cricket Board’s development officer for the west of the county, said: “After five rounds of cricket it was Ovingham Middle who were crowned Champions as they remained unbeaten in their four games.

“It was a fantastic tournament with teams regularly posting scores of over 100 from their eight overs. In particular the standard of catching and spin bowling was very high.”

The other schools which took part in the final were St Cuthbert’s High School, from Newcastle, and George Stephenson High School, of Killingworth. 

Ovingham’s achievement was not just about what happened at the Ashington event, on December 13.

They earned their place in the final by winning the West Northumberland Indoor U13 Cricket Competition, which took place last month at Hexham’s Wentworth Leisure Centre. 

At Wentworth, they overcame both group and knock-out stages, which included a win over Corbridge Middle to book their place in the grand final, and to represent West Northumberland. 

Northumberland Cricket Board works closely with schools in the district to promote the sport. 
It offers coaching opportunities in accordance with national programmes such as All Stars Cricket, Chance to Shine, and Chance to Compete.  

There are winter and summer competitions in different age groups. 

An indoor tournament for U13 girls is set to take place at Wentworth Leisure Centre early in the New Year.

For more information about the Northumberland Cricket Board visit https://ncb.play-cricket.com/