That is the Spirit, boys!

Aug 7 2007 by Tony Hodgson, Evening Chronicle

SOUTH Northumberland Cricket Club hope to better last year’s sixth-place finish when they represent the North East and Scotland in the MCC’s Spirit of Cricket Under-13 Club Championships.

The four-day national finals, which began today at Oakham School, Rutland, mark the end of competition which has seen more than 1,600 teams enter, just eight making it to compete in the finals.

Competitions were held in each of the English Cricket Board’s 38 counties, with the winners going through to the regional finals before eight teams qualified for this week’s tournament.

The other seven teams competing are: Bath, Wolverhampton, Holmfirth, Countesthorp, Northop, Hastings and St Leonard’s Priory and Chesham (East).

Despite not winning last year’s finals, South Northumberland still claimed the MCC Spirit of Cricket award, presented to the team who displayed the best on-pitch attitude.

South North made it to this year’s final by overcoming the current Scotland under-13 champions Kinross CC in the regional finals.

After making 145-3 in their 20 overs,they went on to to bowl Kinross out for just 58.