Painsley Catholic College have a strong showing at Staffordshire Lady Taverners

Painsley Catholic College under 13s cricket team have progressed to the Lady Taverners County final against Wolverhampton Girls High School A.

The under 13s went through the group stage unbeaten, seeing off Wolstanton High, Ormiston Horizon Academy, Sir Thomas Boughey and St Joseph’s, the smallest margin of victory being 24 runs against St Josephs and the highest 59 runs against Ormiston Horizon Academy.

They were due to play the final at the same time as the under 15s final at Fenton Manor, but Wolverhampton A were unable to attend due to academic commitments, meaning the final will be played at a neutral place in April.

Painsley also had a strong showing in the under 15s tournament where they made it to the final, but were beaten comprehensively by Wolverhampton by 68 runs.

They didn’t start the tournament well, losing their first game against the same side by 81 runs, but they went on to win the next two games, meaning they went through to the semi finals in second place.

In the semi final Painsley played Birches Head High School and they brushed aside the Stoke based school with ease, setting up the final with Wolverhampton.

Wolverhampton batted first and set a target of 99 for Painsley to chase down but like the first game of the tournament they fell well short only reaching 31 runs.

Wolverhampton County under 15 champions

Wolverhampton under 15s and Painsley under 13s won their respected age groups at the Lady Taverners tournament to progress to the stage of the competition.

The event took place over three days at Fenton Manor sports centre in Stoke on Trent; ten teams competed at the under 13 level over the first two days and eight teams at under 15s on the final day.

On day one Wolverhampton A under 13s progressed to the final, but only after suffering a scare; they lost one game in the group stage, which was against their own B side. Meaning if the Bs beat The Discovery Academy and scored 68 in the process they would take the place in the final, they fell short of their target, losing by 61 runs.

On the second day Painsley Catholic College went through the group stage unfazed,  with a 100 percent record, the smallest margin of victory being 24 runs, the highest 59 runs.

Wolverhampton couldn’t return for the final on the Monday meaning Painsley go through to the next round.

The same two schools reached the final of the under 15 competition, with Wolverhampton running out comfortable victors.

The two met in the first game of the tournament, the same side winning by 81 runs. Painsley’s heads didn’t drop and they didn’t lose another game on route to the final. Wolverhampton took a 100 percent record to the final not losing a game in the group stage.

In the other section it was a close affair with Birches Head High school and Alleyne’s both going through to the semi finals on seven points, with Birches Head winning the group having scored more runs.

This meant that Painsley met Birches Head and Wolverhampton faced Alleyne’s in the semi finals, both passing the test with little trouble.

Wolverhampton’s coach, Arthur Pickering, thought the girls were capable of getting to the final and winning it all along.

He said: “I always thought we stood a good chance of winning, all of them bar one were in the side that won it last year.

“Amber Sambhu and Dana Slack were outstanding, they took a lot of wickets and hit runs. They are both county players, Amber players for Staffordshire and Dana plays for Shropshire.

“I am proud of the girls with how they played in both age groups.”

Amy Carnwell, who plays for Staffordshire women’s first team, has come through the age groups at the county. She participated in the tournament at the same age and she believes it is an excellent vehicle to get the girls involved in the game.

The 19 year old said: “The Lady Taverners is a great way to discover girls that have not yet been involved in the club set up and to provide them with the pathways and motivation to continue with their cricket locally, perhaps progress to county level.

“The standard on the day was an impressive level, there were some good girls involved. I was particularly impressed with Lizzie Harvey at the under 13s tournament who played Wolverhampton A.”