BRADFORD CHAMPS: Southmere Academy under-nines cricket team have secured their place in the West Yorkshire Drax Cup finals
BRADFORD CHAMPS: Southmere Academy under-nines cricket team have secured their place in the West Yorkshire Drax Cup finals

Bradford school seal place in county finals with unbeaten qualifiers

A team of young cricket stars of the future cemented their place in the West Yorkshire School’s finals earlier this month after success in their regional heats.

The Southmere Primary Academy under-nine’s smashed their way to victory in the Bradford Drax qualifiers, defeating every opponent on their way to the top of the table.

It is the first time the side, made up of boys and girls, have played competitively together.

Shazad Bashir, PE Co-ordinator at the school and coach of the cricket team, said he was extremely proud of the children’s efforts.

“The under nine’s can be really proud of themselves,” he said. “They were fantastic in the Bradford Drax Cup and deserved to go through without even losing a game.”

The Southmere squad’s success in the first stages of the Drax cup ensured their entry into the West Yorkshire finals.

If they continue their fine form in the contest, they can progress into the Yorkshire finals, set to be held once again this year at Yorkshire CCC’s Headingley Stadium.

WAHEY!: The team celebrate their success in the Bradford qualifiers
WAHEY!: The team celebrate their success in the Bradford qualifiers

Head of Academy, Delyth Roberts, was equally delighted to see the school represented so well on and off the field.

“The boys and girls have been fantastic with their performance and their attitude in every game,” she said.

“Not only are they great representatives of the school but they have gone out there and won as well which is a fantastic achievement.”

Mr Shazad, who trains the team, was also singled out for praise by Ms Roberts.

She added: “He has been great with the team as he is every year. The children really take on board what he says and you can see how much they listen to what he says,”

Since its inaugural tournament in 2007, the Drax Cup has seen over 22,000 children compete.

The competition begins each year after the Easter holidays and is open to all primary and junior schools in the Yorkshire and Teesside region.

The Drax Cup is sponsored by Drax and organised by The Yorkshire County Cricket Club in conjunction with the Yorkshire Cricket Board, The Yorkshire Cricket Foundation and Yorkshire Schools’ Cricket Association.