THE preliminary round of the Potters Bar Primary School Cricket Festival was contested last Friday at The Walk. A total of 12 teams from eight local primary schools came together for the event. The weather was kind on the day so they were able to play the

THE preliminary round of the Potters Bar Primary School Cricket Festival was contested last Friday at The Walk.

A total of 12 teams from eight local primary schools came together for the event.

The weather was kind on the day so they were able to play the 12 group matches without any unwanted rain interruptions.

Teams were organised into four groups of three and each contested two matches.

The games were limited to 10 overs per side.

Normal cricket rules applied except that any batsman reaching 15 runs had to retire and no bowler could bowl more than two overs.

Each team consisted of mainly Years 5 and 6 pupils and included girls and boys.

There were one or two very close matches that were fiercely competitive.

Oakmere beat Little Heath scoring 62-6 wickets off eight overs compared with Little Heath's opening total of 60-2 off 10 overs.

Oakmere 2nds narrowly lost to Cranborne, having scored 72-2 off 10 overs, but Cranborne got the runs needed to win in 7.1 overs for the loss of only one wicket.

Three Cranborne players got 15 runs, not out, so had to retire.

Four teams won both of the group encounters.

Oakmere, Cuffley, Ladbrooke and Cranborne topped their respective groups by winning two matches.

On Tuesday the Plate Finals were due to be held.

They were set to feature Cranborne 2nds, Pope Paul, Pope Paul 2nds and St Giles.

Next Tuesday (June 23) the Shield Finals will be contested by Little Heath, Ladbrooke 2nds, Brookmans Park and Oakmere 2nds.

Finally the Henry Tilly Trophy Finals on Tuesday, June 30 will see Oakmere, Cuffley, Ladbrooke and Cranborne compete for the title.