The under 14's advanced to the county final with a relatively comfortable win against Langleybury.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat Oliver Hopkins and Alex Hubbard made a good start on a very low and slow pitch, which made batting difficult. After Hoppy fell in the 6th over, with the score at 26, the rest of the batsmen all chipped in, with only Hubbard able to make a significant score of 33.

Jack Furlong's late cameo even provided some much needed comic relief for the stressed Berko coaches and specators. The sight of him almost being lapped by Mike Antonelli while running 3 was particularly entertaining. Still, the score of 109-9 from the 20 overs looked very competitive and so it proved as the bolwers all bowling well, with Hoppy (2-0-5-2) and Oli O'Gorman (4-0-9-2) being the pick of a good bunch.

However, the real difference in the sides was the fielding as Coach Cus's intensive fielding session on Friday bore fruit with 4 run outs, with 2 by Alex Hubbard capping a great all round display. After the impressive Murray was run out by Max Jones Langleybury never really treatened and the match was won by 42 runs.


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Berkhamsted hearts were broken after an enthralling, incredible, but ultimately traumatic county final against Ashwell & Weston.
Mike Antonelli won the toss and batted on the same low, slow pitch that had hosted the semi final. As expected the opposition bowling was tight, but the batsmen showed great patience and skill. Jack Furlong, promoted to number 3, ran well between the wickets (at least until being run out) and hit a few lusty blows to make an impressive 23. At 44-3 after 11 hours, the opposition would have felt very confident, but a hugely impressive and mature innings of 43 from Ben Beard and a late 17 not out from Huw Barnett helped Berko reach an impressive 117-7 from their 20 overs.
The bowlers then applied the pressure, backed up by committed fielding from the whole side. The pressure on the batsmen began to tell with Berko getting their 5th run out of the day as Oli Buchanan side-footed the ball along the fine leg boundary to Jack (comedy colt) Furlong who threw to the top of the stumps for Charlie Benson to whip the bails off. Cue raucous cheers and celebrations from the Berko crowd. When Oli O'Gorman struck twice in successive balls in the 13th over, to leave the score at 61-4, thoughts of victory and acceptance speeches began to materialise.


However, the opposition weren't finished and despite another run out by Max Jones (Cus would have been so proud!!!) the match entered it's final over with Ashwell and Weston needing just 5 to win. The last over then had pretty much everything, a wide, a bye, a wicket and dot balls, which left the scores tied with 1 ball left. Berko needed a wicket to tie the match, as the opposition had lost a wicket less at that point, and the batsmen had to do nothing but not get out. Ben Beard bowled a straight ball, which the batsman missed but inexplicably they ran. Somehow though the batsmen managed to get home to win by 4 wickets.


The result was incredibly cruel on the players who had performed so well all season. To lose their first match of the season on the last ball of the final was so harsh. Everyone of them performed superbly, with great enthusiasm and committment and to see how much defeat hurt them was difficult to take.


When the disappointment fades though, they should feel incredibly proud of their achievements this season. They were a credit to themselves, their coaches and managers and the club and I would like to thank them all for their efforts and the pleasure they provided.
Thanks also to all the parents who provided great support yesterday and to those who have helped coach the squad - in particular Fish, Janners, Paul Beard and lately Cus (sorry if I've missed anyone).