WERRINGTON junior cricketer Toby Ward has been selected to tour South Africa during February next year as a member of the Cornwall Schools’ Cricket Association team.

Toby is part of a 14-player under 13 squad from Cornwall, who will be travelling to Johannesburg and Cape Town to play nine matches during the two-week tour.

Launceston Rotary Community Shop Fund is sponsoring Toby with a grant of £500.

Rotarian Kim Kinvig said: ”We support local junior sports activity and congratulate Toby on his selection. Our fund sponsored the tour last year when Werrington junior cricketers Dan Howgill and James Adams were selected.” 

Reflecting on last year’s trip, Dan said: “During the 2017 tour I developed as a cricketer and person. We loved having the opportunity to stay with the opposition players and make new friends. The standard of cricket was brilliant and a test for us all. It was a huge boost for our confidence when we delivered high quality cricket in conditions not experienced before. We went on safari and saw groups of elephants in the middle of the road. Like others, I had concerns about Johannesburg’s reputation for crime, however the people were all extremely pleasant and kind.”

This year’s selection, Toby Ward appreciates the experience passed on by team mates James and Dan, and is looking forward to going on safari and adapting his cricket to the different conditions in South Africa. 

All-rounder Toby often plays in the Werrington fourth eleven and ended the season with a fifty at South Petherwin seconds.

The Rotary Shop Fund also supported Werrington cricketer Freddie Ward, on a tour of the West Indies last season with Cornwall Under 15s. The young Werrington cricketers are grateful for the support from Launceston Rotary Club in sponsoring the tours which provide fantastic opportunities to enhance their skills as cricketers and as young representatives for their school Launceston College, Werrington Cricket Club and Cornwall.

Werrington are the current ECB Cornwall Premier League champions and provide an excellent platform for coaching young players.