ROYAL Grammar School Worcester and Bromsgrove School proved the cream of the county crop.

RGS won the Sport Structures Ltd Worcestershire Schools Cricket Association Under 13s Cup by 79 runs, while Bromsgrove claimed the under 15s equivalent by 22 runs.

In the under 13s final at King’s School Worcester, Bredon Hill Middle were the opposition after seeing off Hanley Castle High in a tense state schools final.

Independent sector victors and recent National Bunbury Cup quarter-finalists RGS won the toss and elected to bat first.

Their aggressive top-order batsmen ensured a quick start and 76 runs were on the board inside 10 overs.

Bredon helded their catches well to take regular wickets but RGS finished on 161-5 from 20 overs with Alex Hills crashing 59 not out and George O’Neill 38.

In reply, Bredon had no answer to the accurate pace and spin of RGS, closing on 82-8 with skipper Elliott Barlett taking 3-6 in four overs and Chris Nesbitt 3-12.

RGS won the independent schools competition by beating King’s School by 51 runs with Jack Taylor scoring 68.

In the national cup, they defeated Denstone College of Staffordshire by 29 runs, Hereford Cathedral School by six wickets and Nottingham High School for Boys by 12 runs.

But RGS lost by nine wickets to Abingdon School from Oxfordshire in the Midlands final and the last eight nationally.

The under 15s cup final at RGS Worcester saw Hanley Castle High School take on Bromsgrove in difficult batting conditions on a slow wicket.

Hill (35) and Buckley (27) crafted excellent shots in their 132-9 from 20 overs, while slow bowlers Jake Lee (2-12) and Toby Harper (2-18) enjoyed the most success.

Castle’s 22 wides proved pivotal in the final outcome.

The Hanley reply was anchored by talisman Tom Bottomley (45) but Will St Leger- Chambers (11) and Harper (23) were the only other batsmen to offer support.

When Bottomley was out in the 16th over with the score on 97, the Hanley innings hit the buffers.

A superb spell by Gratton (4-18) saw off the tail as they were bowled out for 112 in the 18th over.

The Worcestershire Schools Cricket Association are short of volunteers and anyone interested in helping can call Alan Bennett on 01905-20296.

PICTURE CAPTION 1 - ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL WORCESTER UNDER 13s: The county champions line up after defeating Bredon Hill Middle School in the final, back row (left to right): Jack Taylor, Ben Allen, Kieran Wilkins, Dawud Ahmed, Alex Hills, Lewis Bradley and Ed Owen.

Front Row: Jonny Reading, Tom Corlett, Elliott Barlett, Chris Nesbitt and George O’Neill.

PICTURE CAPTION 2 - HANLEY CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL UNDER 15s: The county cup finalists pose for a picture after playing Bromsgrove School, back row (left to right): Jake Turner, James Smith, Tom Bottomley, Grant Mathews (manager), Matt Dunwell, James Morton and Chris Shuard.

Front: Billy Taylor, Toby Harper, Tom Webb, Will St Leger-Chambers and Jake Lee.