Champions Surrey field strong side for Boys County Finals

Stiggy Hodgson (photo courtesy of Tom Ward)

published 29 August 2008

Lancashire and Surrey will lock horns for the third successive year when the English Boys County Championship reaches its climax with the finals at Royal North Devon on 1st - 3rd September.

The north v south battle has gone both ways over the past two years with Surrey the current champions following their victory at Royal Cromer last year. But the other two regional winners involved, Cornwall and Warwickshire, will be eager to break the Lancashire/Surrey monopoly.

The northern champions parade only one of last year s side in Jack Brooks, the English Under 14 Champion in 2003 and last year s Lancashire Boy Champion. But they are without two key players in Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Andrews. Fleetwood is representing GB&I in the Jacques Leglise Trophy then making his full England debut in the Home Internationals, while Andrews is away at college in the United States.

Alternatively, Surrey will be strong with Carris Trophy winner Stiggy Hodgson and fellow boy cap Gary King, the county s junior champion and Hampshire Hog winner, in their team. Both are competing in the Jacques Leglise but will fly to Devon for the Boys Finals. The south east champions also have England under 16 squad member Matthew Chapman, Jake Shepherd, another boy cap, and under 16 international Tom Berry in what is an accomplished squad. Hodgson, King and Shepherd were in last year s victorious team.

Warwickshire, the Midland champions, last made the finals in 2005. This time they could be the dark horses with the likes of Jamie Carney, their Under 16 Champion, who finished runner-up in the McGregor Trophy, and Tom Ibbertson, their boys champion. They can also call on Will Bailey, the Warwickshire Boys Match play Champion, while Robert Bardsley has enjoyed several high finishes throughout this summer.

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