Somerset young cricketers set off for South Africa

Over the weekend a group of young Somerset cricketers set off for South Africa on the trip of a lifetime that will culminate with them watching the Cricket World Cup Final later this month.

The Somerset Under 13's party of fourteen players will away for two weeks during which time they will take part in a specifically arranged cricket tournament in Johannesburg that will involve teams from Namibia, Botswana, St Stithians School, and Barbados.

If the Somerset ream are successful in their early tournament matches, that include two day-night games, they could well end up playing against other Under 13 teams from England which include Cornwall, Worcestershire or Mid Wales who are also taking part.

Somerset Under 13 John Davey, who accompanied the team along with Youth Development Officer Pete Sanderson and coach Ben Wellington told me just before the team departed from Taunton: "Without a doubt this will be the trip of their young lives. They have all worked hard to raise money to pay for themselves and have been looking forward to it for a very long time. There are some very talented players in the team and as you can imagine they are all very excited about it."

Meanwhile nearer to home a group of nearly fifty Junior Sabre members of Somerset County Cricket Club went along to Ashton Gate to watch Bristol City beat Peterborough United on Saturday.

The visit was part of the arrangement that Somerset have with the soccer club whereby all Junior Sabre members can enjoy free entry to some Bristol City home matches.

Membership secretary Joanne Arnold said: "The tie up with Bristol City has been very well received by Junior Sabre members who all had a good time in the sunshine at Ashton Gate on Saturday."