J.S. Woodsworth Senior Public School squad who won the Toronto Middle Schools 2014 CIBC Trophy
The north cricket ground at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Park saved the day on Friday (May 16) and allowed play in the Toronto Eastern Division Boys High Schools decider, the Toronto Middle Schools CIBC Trophy final, and the Toronto Boys High Schools CIBC Trophy final. There was still standing water on one side of the west ground and it was decidedly boggy between the west and east grounds at the park after the day’s play had completed on the more elevated north ground. The north ground was in good shape and the outfield grass was cut to a reasonably low length to allow run scoring.
Woburn Collegiate Institute scored 60/9 (12 overs) in the Eastern Division playoff. This score proved sufficient for Woburn to pull off a win by 22 runs as Lester B. Pearson C.I. was held to 28/8 from their 12 overs. Woburn probably thought at least on had was on the CIBC Trophy after restricting North Albion C.I. to 46/5 (12 overs), but North Albion bowled and fielded well to leave Woburn on 38/8 when the 12 overs ran out. North Albion thus captured the Toronto Boys High Schools CIBC Trophy for the second year in a row against the same opposition, and progress to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) championship games in Brampton on May 31.
The Toronto CIBC Trophy decider for Boys Middle Schools took place between the two high schools matches. J.S. Woodsworth Senior Public School, the Toronto Eastern Division winners, scored 68/5 from ten overs and beat Western Division winners Smithfield by six runs in a well contested final. Smithfield’s ten over innings ended on 62/5. Woodsworth qualifies for what should be the first GTA CIBC Trophy playoffs at Brampton on May 31. In 2013, the first year that the CIMA Schools cricket tournament expanded into the GTA, there were only Middle School entries from Toronto but this year there are Middle Schools entries in both Brampton and Mississauga.
The day’s weather? Well it was not so warm for much of the morning with threatening skies and brief passages where the sun made a muffled appearance through slightly brighter clouds. During the High School final the sun made some appearances in light blue sky and brigher clouds, but these kind of conditions could occur in late September or even October. Summer must be just around the corner as the teams managed to provide some interesting cricket.
Woburn coach Mr. Peter Bell said after the final “It was a game we though we could win (after North Albion had batted), but their bowling was at least as good as ours.” A couple of early run outs certainly undermined potential Woburn hopes of strolling to victory though a controlled display with the bat.
Woodsworth coach Mr. Colin Matsalla mentioned how cricket had changed from a new sport to an established sport in the course of the last five years. A more detailed assessment of the day’s play and expanded comments from some of the coaches will follow over this Victoria Day Holiday weekend. The CIMA/CIBC Trophy action resumes on Tuesday (May 20) with Mississauga Boys High Schools teams in action in northern parts of Brampton. Best wishes to all for this holiday weekend that serves as the gateway to the summer in Canada. (EN)