WI local:Kings of junior cricket

At 1:05 p.m. yesterday, William Clarke emerged from the Empire Club pavilion with tears in his eyes.

An hour-and-a-half later, he returned to the pavilion amidst widespread celebrations among his schoolmates.

Charles F. Broome, on their first appearance in the final of the Piton Malta Herman Griffith Competition, won the title with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over previously unbeaten Good Shepherd.

I was crying when I was going to bat. I was nervous, Clarke, the winning captain, admitted after the match, which was watched by a large crowd including pom-pom girls cheering on the winners.

Man-of-the-Match Clarke batted through the innings until Charles F. Broome attained their target of 97.

Once you have the skill and the will, you can do it. My plan was to go out there and do my best, said the chubby opening batsman.

He was a trifle lucky in his innings of 30 not out that included three fours. He got the benefit of two chances, the first of which was a straight-forward offering before he reached double-figures.

He was well-supported by all-rounders Kevin Springer (19) and Sergio Charles (14).

Good Shepherd, who went into the final with an impressive 11-0 record, might have been anticipating a bigger total after a third-wicket half-century stand between captain Adrian Caddle (27) and Nathan Haynes (25).

However, once Caddle was well caught on the deep backward-square boundary in the 20th over, Good Shepherd were unable to score freely in the last five overs.

They were kept in check mainly by medium-pacer Alex Estwick, who took three wickets for 12 runs from his five overs.

Good game

Good Shepherd lost out in a final for the second time in three years, but the legendary Sir Everton Weekes felt there was no loser.

We have had a good game of cricket. One side had to lose and one side had to win. Fortunately, in my view, cricket has won, Sir Everton said.

Both teams performed immensely well. I hope that this competition continues to bring out some of the virtues and some of the abilities we have seen.

Sir Everton, a cricket consultant with the National Sports Council, had some advice for the players during the presentation ceremony.

I hope you youngsters pay a little more attention to the coaches rather than your parents cricketwise I mean, he said.

I think the coaches will do a good job. They are looking at you, not only as cricketers, but they are looking at you as persons. The coach has got to look after the whole person and not just your cricketing prowess.

Good Shepherd captain Adrian Caddle, later named the tournament's joint MVP for his 192 runs and 17 wickets prior to the final, made no excuses for his team's performance.

Most of our players did not focus enough, Caddle admitted.

He thought they had made enough runs but could not offer an explanation for the missed chances.