The hugely popular Glasgow Wicketz hubs marked the end of the outdoor cricket season with a Tapeball Tournament in Myrtle Park, south Glasgow, on Friday and Saturday.
Throughout the summer, many of the Wicketz participants have enjoyed playing various formats of the game; some have experienced their first hardball season, while others have competed in different tournaments around the country. This tournament was organized to bring those groups of young people closer, allowing them to showcase their passion, share laughter, have fun, and still compete against each other, providing a sense of belonging and empowerment through the game of cricket.
Teams from across the three hubs – Govanhill, Pollokshields, and a Kings Park/Coaches mixed squad – competed against each other over two days. The Govanhill team appeared solid, boasting an impressive winning streak throughout the tournament, and made it to the final on Saturday afternoon. The Pollokshields team were favoured to join them, but were upset by the Kings Park/Coaches mixed squad, who had lost all their games on Friday. In the final, the underdog mixed squad once again found form, to record a surprise win against Govanhill and take home the plaudits.
This tournament provided a terrific opportunity to engage many young people from diverse communities and backgrounds from across Glasgow in cricket. The coaches were delighted and heartened to witness the passion, camaraderie, and competitive spirit on display from all involved. The tournament also provided a platform for some of the older participants to serve as ambassadors for Wicketz, ensuring that everyone involved had a positive experience. With overwhelmingly positive feedback receive, the next Tapeball tournament may not be too far off.
With Autumn now upon us, the Wicketz hubs are moving indoors until Spring 2024. If you’d like to get involved with either the Glasgow or Edinburgh hubs, get in touch with our staff today – all details can be found on the Cricket Scotland website!
