First winners of the year!

Well done to Queen Elizabeth's, Wimborne, who triumphed in the Final round of the Lady Taverner's Schools Indoor Under 15 competition. They took first place on runs scored ahead of old adversaries Gillingham, who had also won 2 and lost 1 at the Cricket Centre. QE had to get past 78 to secure the overall win and did so emphatically. The standard of play is now reaching a high standard and there were many matches to admire, with some fine individual performances , as well as team ones.

Scores on the day:-

Lytchett Minster 91/4 bt Twynham 75/2

QE 81/5 lost to Gillingham 99/3

Twynham 83/4 lost to QE 86/2

Gillingham 77/1 bt Lytchett Minster 47a.o.

Twynham 114/4 bt Gillingham 73/1

Lytchett Minster 58 a.o. lost to QE 99/1

Under 13 Champions -  fabulous, frenetic Ferndown, full of passion and competitiveness - and possibly the new record holders of the highest decibel level in the Cricket Centre. Obviously with this age group there is a long way to go in terms of cricket development. However, all schools which had won through were as keen as mustard. The majority of scoring shots were pulls to square leg or deft flicks to third man. Seldom was there a straight drive. Bowling overarm proved to be a real challenge to several, but it was good to see everyone trying hard. Diminutive Yr 5 bowler Mia from Branksome Heath took 3 wickets in an over, which cheered her up after she had been run out before facing a ball. Good calling is essential in such a confined area! Generally fielding and backing up was impressive. In a highly enjoyable day, Bournemouth School for Girls, tasting real cricket for the first time, reached the final from the morning session, following 2 very good wins. In the afternoon, Ferndown came straight out of the traps to demolish a shell shocked Woodroffe, who did well to recover and win their next game. Irrepresssible Ferndown then swept Branksome Heath aside before meeting Bournemouth in the final. The inexperience of Bournemouth when batting was exploited pretty well, although intelligent bowling and fielding caused Ferndown a few slip ups on their way to what eventually was a convincing victory. Now for the Regionals at Exeter University!

Scores are below the photo.

Scores:

Bournemouth School for Girls 78/4 beat Parkstone Grammar 58/5

St Mary's RC Combined Middle 93/3 lost to Bournemouth School for Girls 109/5

Parkstone Grammar 81/3 beat St Mary's RC Combined Middle 73/4

Woodroffe 43 ao lost to Ferndown Middle 75/3

Branksome Heath 60/0 lost to Woodroffe 85/2

Branksome Heath 20 ao lost to Ferndown Middle 88/4

Final - BSG 69ao lost to Ferndown Middle 95/3

Under 11 Champions - powerful Lockyers lead the field.

In the last of the age group finals, played at the Cricket Centre, Hurn, on Tuesday, March 20th, Lockyers playing with gusto and a spring in their heels on the official first day of a new season, waited until the pressure was really on in the final match to unleash some formidable straight hitting, which pleased coach Mr Clark a great deal. The whole day was threatened by the chaotic traffic conditions due to the crash on the A31. Both St Michael's and Lockyer's took over an hour to go their short distances and poor Conifers Primary took 3 hours to fight their way through from Weymouth. It took 2 hours from Blandford - and there was nothing about it on the national traffic reports. Christchurch Junior were fortunate in living just around the corner, so to speak. Conifers arrived at 11.05 - worn out by the trip, but made themselves ready in double quick time to take on and beat Lockyer's in a very close match. That was as good as it got for them, although they nearly beat Christchurch. St Michael's ruthlessly despatched Conifers, who were probably thinking about the horrors awaiting them on the trip home, but lost the other 2. So, rather neatly, the 2 teams with the best record played each other in the final round. Lockyer's batted first against Christchurch and scorched to 38 from the first 2 overs. It was a tremendous display and eventually they ended up with a formidable 91/2. Poor Christchurch needed to pick themselves up from the floor immediately, but the challenge was too much. Lockyer's bowled and fielded brilliantly to take the Under 11 Indoor Dorset Schools title. Tim Hill, Chairman of DSCA, thanked Rob Newton profusely for all the work he has done to make this series of indoor competitions so successful, before presenting the very astute skipper of Lockyer's with the impressive cup.

Scores:

St Michael's Middle 55/3 lost to Lockyer's Middle 76/6

Christchurch Junior 84/3 beat St Michael's Middle 56/5

Lockyer's Middle 61ao lost to Conifers 69/4

Conifers 71/4 lost to Christchurch Junior 78/2

Conifers 26/6 lost to St Michael's Middle 51/6

Christchurch Junior 32/6 lost to Lockyer's Middle 91/2

/5tEntry form and letter below

Dear Colleague

We are writing to inform you of the Schools Indoor Girls 6-a-side Cricket Competitions.

The competitions themselves will be split into 3 age groups, U11, U13 & U15.

Dates for the matches are as follows:

Due to the continuing success of the indoor competitions we will start with an area round first and then lead onto the County Finals. The location of the area games will be decided once entries are received.

 If we do not receive enough entries from the schools to hold an area round, then the area games will be cancelled and the County Finals will be held on the dates indicated above and will be hosted at the Dorset Cricket Centre.

The winning school teams from the Lady Taverners U13 and U15 County Finals will have the opportunity to represent the County at the South West Regional Finals that are being held the week commencing 23/04/2012 and then on to National Finals on the week commencing 14/05/2012.

Please fill in the school entry form/s below and return to Rob Newton by

9^th December 2011. Please return the forms to:

Rob Newton, Cricket Development Office, The Leaze, Wimborne CC, Kings Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1DY or via email to rob.newton@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk

Yours sincerely,

Rob Newton Cricket Development Officer

Please fill in the school entry form/s below and return to Rob Newton by 9^th December 2011. Please return the forms to Rob Newton, Cricket Development Office, The Leaze, Wimborne CC, Kings Street, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1DY or via email to rob.newton@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk