MORE than 120 pupils from Year 4, 5 and 6 at three Wellington primary schools – Beech Grove, St John’s and Rockwell Green – took part in an ‘informal’ cricket competition at the Playing Field on Thursday.

Wellington Cricket Club is trying to encourage more children to get involved in the sport with support from Somerset Cricket Board’s’ Chance to Shine?programme. Local coach Scott Brooks took charge of the competition, which included some free coaching.

“We as a club thought it would be a good idea to get the schools to the club for an informal competition,” said Wellington CC’s youth section secretary Tony Hutchings.

“This was further enhanced by The Somerset Cricket Board arranging for the New Zealand woman international, Rachael Priest, who has played more than 100 times for her country, to attend.

“We aim to make this an annual tournament to keep cricket to the forefront of Wellington Sport.”