Three schools from the local area (Coleraine College, Loreto College and North Coast Integrated College) came together at Score Football Centre, Coleraine, to play in the first Coleraine Colleges Indoor Cricket Blitz.

Through a partnership with Coleraine Cricket Club, The North West Cricket Union and Cricket Irelands Active Clubs Coordinator, each school received coaching for 6-8 weeks prior to the blitz’s from qualified coaches during or after school.

Each school brought along two teams to play in a round robin competition in order to give the boys, many of whom had never played before, experience of cricket in the shortest format. Some excellent cricket was played throughout the day with all the games being very tight affairs.

Coleraine Club Chairman, Nigel Handforth, commented “its great to see how these boys have developed over the past few weeks and months. We are very fortunate to be able to bring the boys to this facility to play this format of the game. We are very grateful for the work of the teachers and Cricket Ireland staff who have assisted us in this program, it can only be a good thing for the area and the club”

Cricket Ireland North West RDO, Brian Allen, commented “It’s fantastic to see the boys out playing. You can see that the coaching has gone well and each game they play they are al gaining in confidence and skill. The Active Clubs Coordinator, the teacher and those from the club who have come along to support the event have all done and great job”

Coleraine Cricket Club, along with Cricket Ireland, are looking to develop cricket in these and other schools over the coming months through after school coaching. The club, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Council will be starting sessions on Tuesday afternoons in the leisure centre after Christmas. For more information please see Coleraine Leisure Centre.