Year 6 ‘A’ and ‘B’ competition to qualify for the regional finals in Berkshire.

The other big winners – on a day that saw 61 teams from 28 primary schools across the borough compete in the event at Wellington College – were Winkfield St Mary’s as they took glory in the Year 5 competition.

The Year 5 section competition was close from the start, with a number of tightly contested games.

The five group winners and three best runners up would qualify for the quarter finals.

The winners of the group stages were Winkfield St Mary’s, Binfield, Wildmoor Heath, Ascot Heath, with the runners-up being Meadow Vale, New Scotland Hill and Whitegrove.

There were few problems for Wildmoor Heath and Binfield in reaching the semi-finals but Winkfield St Marys and Whitegrove scraped through by one run and four runs respectively.

In the semi-finals, Winkfield St Marys and Whitegrove both batted first and defended relatively low scores to set up an intriguing final. The same theme continued in the final as Winkfield St Mary’s clung on to win the final by just one run.

In the Year 6B section there were three groups, with just one runner up qualifying for the semi finals. In their respective groups, Whitegrove and Ascot Heath both won all their games to go through.

The third group was tight with three teams finishing on six points. Binfield went through because of their superior run rate, but the final place went to another group’s runners-up, with Meadow Vale scoring heavily to take their place.

In the semi-finals, Whitegrove edged out Binfield while Ascot Heath were too strong for Meadow Vale.

The final produced another close match as Ascot Heath made 240 in their overs and it took a couple of boundaries in the last over for Whitegrove to edge ahead and win by five runs.

The Year 6A section is the main competition with both finalists qualifying for the Berkshire Finals at the end of June.

The scene was set for more close games when the first match resulted in a tie – the first of a number.

In group A, Wooden Hill qualified on the basis of their win in the head to head with Birch Hill. Birch Hill’s run rate was excellent and they progressed to the knockout stage.

Group B was more clear cut with Owlsmoor winning all their games and the other teams taking points from each other. In the remaining groups Whitegrove, Uplands and College Town won all their games while St Joseph’s and Ascot Heath scored enough runs to complete the line-up.

In the quarter finals, Birch Hill lost late wickets to fall short of Owlsmoor’s target, whilst a late run blitz by Wooden Hill saw them into the semi finals. Whitegrove proved too strong for College Town, but Ascot Heath needed a four from their last ball to edge out Uplands.

Both finalists had to work hard for their places. Whitegrove fielded and bowled really well to defend 225 against Ascot Heath whilst Owlsmoor needed a terrific partnership by their final pair to beat Wooden Hill by one run.

The final was not quite so nerve wracking as Whitegrove defended their title brilliantly.

A score of 244 was competitive but their bowling was once again right on the money as Owlsmoor struggled to score, losing in the end by 40 runs.