London Youth Games: Hackney boys look forward to Lord’s trip
Hackney's boys are competing in the finals of the London Youth Games indoor cricket competition at Lord's (pic LYG) - Credit: Archant
Squad set to face Tower Hamlets friends at finals day
Hackney’s boys will have to set friendships aside when they compete at the London Youth Games indoor cricket finals at Lord’s this weekend.
Qualifying wins over Haringey and Hounslow at Harrow last month earned the squad a place in the quarter-finals at the home of cricket, where they will meet Tower Hamlets.
And team manager John Pakington admits the squad are looking forward to it, saying: “It’s brilliant. We’re in the Middlesex set-up together, so it’s a friendly rivalry.
“I think it’s the first time we’ve qualified for the finals and I’ve been at Stoke Newington for seven or eight years.
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“It’s a very good bunch, all Stoke Newington boys, with a mixture from the local schools. Two are from Mossbourne, with one each from Central Boys Academy, Stoke Newington School, Petchey Academy, William Patten and St Paul’s Prep.
“It’s a different variety to the one we normally play. When you’re out, you’re out, so we kept it simple against Haringey and Hounslow and got wickets to chase small targets.”
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As for playing on the bigger stage at Lord’s, Pakington does not expect his players to be overawed.
He added: “A few have played outdoors at Lord’s, we won the Middlesex knockout a couple of years ago. It’s always exciting and the indoor school is fantastic.
“It’s a good all-round team. Two of the lads are in the Middlesex age groups and our captain, Theo Bannister, is in charge on the field. We leave them to think for themselves.”
