West Ruimveldt Primary storms to Demerara zone title in Future Warriors Tapeball

West Ruimveldt Primary, a consistent face in the Future Warriors Tapeball for Primary Schools tournament, powered by ExxonMobil Guyana, overcame their final-round jitters from previous years to surge to the Demerara zone title on Sunday at the National Stadium, Providence.

Having previously stumbled in the final rounds in yesteryears, West Ruimvelt chose the grandest stage to deliver its most complete performance.

Blunting Chateau Margot’s reputation as the tournament’s preeminent ‘chase masters,’ West Ruimveldt posted 66 for 4—the highest total of the competition—before producing a clinical bowling display to choke the East Coast Demerara outfit to a paltry 40 for 7.

The foundational bricks of West Ruimveldt’s championship-winning total were laid by Bryan Hunter, who smashed a brisk 12-ball 23, punctuated by three boundaries and a solitary six.

Skipper Steven Orie provided the perfect foil with a crucial 18, ensuring the run rate never dipped despite Mahendra Chunilall’s probing spell of 2 for 10.

Chateau Margot’s pursuit never found its rhythm against a relentless West Ruimveldt attack. Rohit Shama top-scored with just five as Vincent Farley (2 for 5) and the ubiquitous Orie (2 for 8) triggered a procession of wickets.

Orie capped off a sensational individual campaign as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 49 runs, alongside a three-wicket haul that rightfully earned him the Most Valuable Player award. Farley finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with five scalps.

Earlier in the day, West Ruimveldt signalled its intent in the first semi-final by dismantling Rama Krishna Primary.

A combined bowling effort from Farley (2 for 3), Hunter (2 for 7), and Zyron Austin (2 for 12) restricted Rama Krishna to 36 for 8, before Orie’s steady 10 steered them into the final.

Chateau Margot’s route to the final was far more dramatic. They pulled off yet another signature chase against former champions Stella Maris, hunting down a target of 52 with five wickets and seven balls to spare.

Ezekiel Thomas’ unbeaten 18 and Clevon Jacobs’ 16 had originally lifted Stella Maris to 51 for 2, but Wazim Khan’s ice-cool, five-ball 10* sealed an emphatic win for Chateau Margot.

Stella Maris eventually found consolation in the third-place playoff, bossing a 51-run chase against Rama Krishna to win by seven wickets inside 5.3 overs.

Jeremiah Scott’s blistering 24 off 13 balls and Joshua Horatio’s cameo of 14 off 7 rendered Michail Nelson’s earlier 12 for Rama Krishna obsolete.

All four top schools received a bag of cricket equipment, an electronic tablet for scoring, and agility kits to support their continued interest in the sport, along with medals and trophies.

The highly competitive Demerara leg featured 16 schools, including Grove Primary, Supply Primary, La Grange Primary, Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary, St. Pius Primary, Winfer Gardens Primary, Enterprise Primary, Comenius Primary, Redeemer Primary, Camille’s Primary, ISA Islamic and School of the Nations.

The grassroots caravan now shifts to the Berbice zone at the historic Albion Sports Complex on June 13-14, followed by the Essequibo zone at the Anna Regina National Stadium on June 20-21.

The three regional champions will then collide in a blockbuster ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament slated for August/September.

FOR ALL SCORES: https://flsport.gy/live-score/