By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterTHE PARISH of Westmoreland has once again produced two victors for the third consecutive year as Petersville Primary and New Hope All Age were crowned JNBS All-Island cricket champions yesterday.
In the finals played at Melbourne Oval, New Hope thrashed Fellowship by 129 runs to record their third consecutive win while Petersville defeated Albion by 65 runs for their first national title. Enfield Primary had won the competition the previous two years.
For their efforts, New Hope took the Collie Smith Shield while Petersville walked away with the Courtney Walsh Shield.
In the first final, Petersville made 109 with a top score of 37 from Mackoy Ewart, this was against Jason Scott (2-21). In reply, Albion of St. Mary were blown away for 44 as only Jensen Linton with 23 made a useful contribution against Jovian Wynter, who ended with 2-0 in five balls, Oshane Jones (3-7) and Nicholson Gordon (2-9).
In the rain-affected All-Age final, New Hope, with an 83-run opening stand between Derval Green, 28, and Mavrick Perry, 26, paved the way for their massive victory. They were supported by National Under-15 player Nickoy Samuels, 62 (4x4, 1x6), against Lyndel Layne's game performance of 5-25 off three overs.
When Fellowship replied, Ryan Maxam (4-6 off six overs), Samuels (3-14 off seven overs) and Ventura Reid (2-13) combined to dismiss the Portland-based team cheaply. Sheldon Crawford, 24, and Denn Whyte, 14, scored most runs for Fellowship.
Before the start of play, Ricky Skerritt, manager of West Indies cricket team, and The Gleaner's Senior Sport Editor and president of Melbourne Cricket Club, Tony Becca, met the four teams.
At the presentation ceremony, president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Jackie Hendricks thanked JNBS for its sponsorship over the past couple of years. Hendricks, a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director, told the youngsters that just a few years ago, Jerome Taylor, now a West Indies player, had represented Aberdeen All-Age in this same competition.
