Borough boys chasing London Youth Games glory

Havering’s boys will look to get among the medals at the London Youth Games indoor cricket finals at Lord’s this weekend.

After beating Harrow and City of Westminster in their qualifying group last month, Nicky Ison’s squad will take on Ealing in the quarter-finals on Sunday (11am).

Southwark or Bexley would await them in the last four in successful and Ison said: “The boys are looking forward to the day out at Lord’s.

“After beating a strong borough like Harrow we are confident we could achieve something at the finals.

“Ealing in the quarter-finals will be a tough game as they beat last year’s finalists Hounslow.

“Our captain Ellis Pickering will be vital to us qualifying, if he puts in a performance, he could take us far.”

Pickering is joined in the squad by Upminster clubmates Jai Mayor, Josh Mason and wicketkeeper Nathan Brown, as well as Gidea Park’s Liam Purton and Hornchurch Athletic’s Nathan Duke, and Ison admits it would be special to face their local rivals and defending champions in the fight for medals, adding: “I would love to eventually come up against Redbridge.

“It’s a great experience for the boys to play at Lord’s and I hope one they fully embrace.”

Quarter-finals, boys: Tower Hamlets v Hackney; Redbridge v Waltham Forest; Ealing v Havering; Southwark v Bexley; girls: Haringey v Richmond; Hammersmith & Fulham v Redbridge; Hillingdon v Bromley; Wandsworth v Ealing.