Under-15 cricketers at Ripon Grammar School have been crowned Yorkshire champions following county finals at Ampleforth.
They now progress, along with runners-up Penistone, to represent the whole of Yorkshire in the North Regional Finals at the Riverside Stadium in Durham in July.
The team, captained by Isabella Simpson, won in a bowl out in the U15 Girls Chance to Compete competition after the weather turned.
RGS’s Under-13s team, captained by Isobelle Forsythe, also progressed to the Yorkshire finals, where they were in a tough group with the eventual winners, with whom they had a close game, sadly missing out on the chance to play in the regional finals.
Tom Bates, club & community cricket development manager for North Yorkshire praised the high standard of cricket from both RGS teams.
Five schools North Yorkshire Schools came through the qualifying rounds to compete, he said:
“Having come through the Harrogate & Nidderdale qualifier - hosted at Queen Ethelburga’s for the U13s and Ripon Grammar School for the U15s, Ripon qualified in first and second place - triumphing over St Aidan’s, QE and Harrogate Grammar School in what was a fantastic standard for an area qualifier.
“We hope, with this being the first time for this competition a qualifying round took place, we can continue the momentum and encourage more schools in the Harrogate & Nidderdale area to enter.”
At the North Yorkshire Finals at Ampleforth, the top two teams won the chance to progress to the Yorkshire Finals, competing against the top two schools in West, South and East Yorkshire.
Mr Bates said:
“The standard throughout the day was amazing at both competitions, with all teams improving every single game. The teamwork, encouragement and ability was clear to see with all teams being closely contested.
“The girls at Ripon Grammar were a credit to the school, narrowly missing out to winners Acklam Grange in the U13 but still qualifying in a credible second, having won all but one game.
“The same could be said in the U15 girls, where the standard - having discussed with my colleague and the teachers - was the best we'd ever seen it.
“There was a three-way tie at the end of the day with Ripon Grammar, Richmond and St Aidan’s all tied on 10 points! (3 wins, 1 loss). Ripon, who scored more runs than St Aidan’s, qualified again in second place.”
He added:
“Thank you to Ripon Grammar School for entering our Chance to Compete competitions and we look forward to seeing the girls next year.
“Best of luck to the U15 team, who were crowned Yorkshire Champions by way of a bowl off due to inclement weather in Ampleforth.
"They now progress through with Penistone (South Yorkshire) to represent the whole of Yorkshire in the North Regional Finals in Durham in July, where the girls get to play at the Riverside Stadium.”
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