On a day full of action and games of softball cricket in the National Cricket Centre at Sophia Gardens, Severn Road Primary School won the Riverside Challenge Trophy for 2023.
During October and November, around 775 pupils from primary schools in the Riverside, Canton and Grangetown areas of Cardiff have been taking part in the indoor competition held at the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, with a series of year-group competitions plus other activities in the Museum of Welsh Cricket specific to the pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 in each of the schools.
Severn Primary School won the Years 4 and 5 tournaments whilst Ninian Park Primary School were the victors of the Year 6 competition, but it was Severn Road who won Finals Day as Monday, 20 November saw 100 girls and boys from each of the schools going head-to-head on Finals Day.
After a series of keenly-contested group games, the final saw a team from Severn Road Primary play a side from Kitchener Primary with Severn Road winning the competition and being presented with the ‘Spirit of Riverside’ Trophy by Glamorgan young gun Tom Bevan.
As always, there have been some fantastic compliments paid by the teachers who have brought the excited group of children to the National Cricket Centre – “What a great way to engage with, and to inspire, our diverse community, by playing this great sport” said one member of staff, whilst another added “the Riverside Challenge has become a fixture in our school’s calendar during the Autumn Term and all of our children look forward to it so much.”
Andrew Hignell, Glamorgan Cricket’s Heritage and Education Co-Ordinator added, “It has been great once again to see how cricket can bring communities together. Our congratulations to the winning side from Severn Road as well as to all of the pupils who took part in this year’s tournament, with the games being played in the right spirit. We look forward to welcoming the schools back to Sophia Gardens on match-days during 2024 and to next year’s indoor competition.”