Back, from left, Cranbourne West Primary School students Feda, Aiden, Shane, Shannon, coach Mark Cooper, Dylan, Jake, and front, Josh, Jake, Jake, Luke, Brodie and James celebrate their Willow Wizard Cup triumph. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
THE Willow Wizard Cup has been run and won again, with Cranbourne West Primary School trumping defending champion Hillsmeade Primary School at Casey Fields last Wednesday.
After being undefeated in the round-robin stage of the inaugural cricket tournament last year, Cranbourne West was beaten in the semi-finals, but proved too strong in 2007.
Behind the grand final knocks of young batsmen Feda Alidad (11 not-out) and Luke O’Brien (7 not-out), Cranbourne West posted 40 runs in the ten-over format to defeat Hillsmeade by 15.
The other primary schools that took part were Trinity Catholic, Narre Warren South P-12 (two teams) and Berwick Fields.
St Kevin’s and Berwick Lodge withdrew after initially being involved in the event.
All sides contain 10 players and each competitor bowls one over and bats for two overs in a pair.
Cardinia A-grade captain-coach Mark Cooper mentored Cranbourne West and was extremely proud of his squad.
“It was fantastic. The boys did really well and it was a great result for them,” he said.
“It’s a great introduction into the sport, it’s fairly fast paced and the kids are always occupied, which they need at this age.”
Four Oaks Ward councillor and Willow Wizard Cup creator Rob Wilson is full of praise for the competition.
“It’s fantastic for the kids and it has been very well received,” he said.
“There is lots of stuff for kids in junior cricket once they get into the under-13s, 15s and 17s and so forth, but very little at primary school level.”
