Victors Victoria in Drax Cup qualifying tournament (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Victors Victoria in Drax Cup qualifying tournament

2:20pm Thursday 24th May 2012 in School Sports

A Keighley school have become the first team through to the West Yorkshire area final of the Drax Cup – the biggest cricket competition for under-nines in the country.

Victoria Primary School, who also qualified last year, won a four-way tournament involving schools in the Oakbank School Sports Partnership at Keighley Cricket Club.

They beat Harden Primary in a thrilling match, winning by 11 with a score of 259 runs to 248, to secure a place at the regional final at Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club on Wednesday, June 20. Harden, Nessfield and St Stephen’s primary schools all finished joint runners-up, winning one match.

Steve Bell, head of PE (external links) at the School Sports Partnership, said: “The children applauded as each player came out to bat and bowl and showed great sporting appreciation for their opponents, which is something we encourage.

“The standard of cricket was excellent, and particular congratulations go to Victoria Primary School who retained their trophy from last year by winning all three of their matches with some spectacular batting!”

More Bradford area schools began their bid to win the Drax Cup this week at Tong High School, with six teams from All Saints, Horton Park, Ryecroft, St Anthony’s, St Columbas and St Stephen’s competing.

The winners at Pudsey St Lawrence go forward to the finals at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Sunday, July 8 prior to Yorkshire v Derbyshire in the Friends Provident Twenty20 Cup.