SLOUGH colts section showed their strength when winning three Berkshire Youth Cricket League finals in Reading.

Slough were successful at Under-17, Under-15 and Under-11 levels, and were only denied a clean sweep by Windsor Under-13s.

The Harris twins, George and James, played in both of the older group finals, while elder brother, Will, was part of the Slough team that won the Berkshire Under-19 T20 competition last month.

Wilson Gumbs heads the youth section at Slough. He said: “Four county titles out of five is a tremendous achievement.”

Gumbs puts the success down to a lot of planning and preparation that starts during the winter months and goes on throughout the season.

He added: “We’ve got 15 year olds, a few 13s and 14s, and 17s and 19s training with the senior team. That helps them to improve their game when they play in their own age group.

“The majority of them are playing in the senior teams from the fifths up to the seconds.

"Personally, I would like to see a lot more playing in the seconds and even one or two of pushing for a place in the first team."

Gumbs said: “The future of the club is very good.

“If you can develop from within there are a lot of huge benefits.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: The Slough Cricket Club Under-11 team which won the Berkshire Youth Cricket League final in Reading.

“Financially, you are saving money because you’re not paying for an overseas player. That is no disrespect to those who do come over as they help with some of the coaching and they’re good for the club.

“We also have parents helping with the coaching, and two have got their level two [badges] in the last few years.”

More than 120 boys and girls attend coaching sessions at the Upton Court Road club each week, with many of them given the chance to train with the first team squad on a Tuesday and Thursday.

First team captain Bobby Sher, who attended the finals day in Reading, said: “Wilson does a great job.”

Under-17s: Slough 96-8 (20ov; Qureshi 21, J Harris 17, Khan 16; Clark 3-3) beat Finchampstead 75-9 (20ov; Brown 18, Simmons 14; Sajid 2-15, Khan 2-15, G Harris 2-11, Bhachu 2-6) by 21 runs.

Under-15s: Boyne Hill 57 (17.5ov; Crowston 14, Butt 12; Sher 2-13, G Harris 2-22, J Harris 2-1) lost to Slough 60-2 (11ov; G Harris 25no, J Harris 16) by 8wkts.

Under-13s: Windsor 121-3 (20ov; Lall retired, 31no, Ormond retired, 31no, Moffatt retired, 30no) beat Slough 108-5 (20ov; Samra retired, 31no, Sher retired 30no, Majid 14; Ziemkendorf 2-20) by 13 runs.

Under-11s: Slough 125-5 (Fleming retired, 27no, Jariwala retired, 25no; Ishaq 22; Lewis 2-11) beat Thatcham Town 86-3 (20ov; Lewis retired 25no, Hawkins 22, Greenwood 11) by 39 runs.