LVC under-15 girls’ cricket team at Trent Bridge

A TEAM of students from Linton Village College (LVC) just missed out on a trip to Lord’s when they were narrowly beaten in the regional final of a national cricket tournament.

The U15 girls’ team were at Trent Bridge in Nottingham for the Midlands finals of the Lady Taverners national schools indoor eight-a-side competition. They had qualified for the finals by winning the Cambridgeshire county championship for the third year in a row.

At the regional finals, LVC had to face schools from first-class cricketing counties such as Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.

The limited-overs tournament got off to a good start with a 55-run victory over Sir Christopher Hatton School, Northamptonshire after Amie Perry took seven wickets in just two overs. This was followed by a narrow 6-run defeat against West Park School from Derby despite four wickets from Leanne Cox.

In the semi-final, LVC played John Cleveland College from Leicestershire and had to chase a tricky target of 81 in 10 overs, but made it with one ball to spare when Rebecca Livermore hit the winning run off the penultimate delivery.

It all came down to the final against Becket School from Nottinghamshire. Some tight bowling, including a double-wicket maiden from captain Becca Free, restricted the local side to 69 all out but despite a rearguard action from Katie Lowe, LVC were bowled out for 54, losing by 15 runs to miss out on the national finals at Lord’s.

John Maddock, head of PE at LVC, said: “Indoor cricket is not a soft option and these girls can really play. Fast bowling, quick running and reaction fielding are all required.

“The girls have come a long way over the last year through six months of lunchtime training and they will be confident of doing even better next year.

“Thanks are due to former LVC student Sam Hawley and county coach Richard Bardsley for their support.”

Squad: Becca Free (capt), Leanne Clare, Sarah Cooper, Leanne Cox, Kezia Gould, Annabelle Green, Connie Hall, Caitlin Hawley, Robyn Jackson, Rebecca Livermore, Katie Lowe, Jasmin Mills, Georgia Parr, Amie Perry, Lauren Scotton.