PRIESTLEY School had to be content with second place in the Wiltshire Kwik Cricket Championships on Friday, despite an impressive showing in the group stage.

The Calne school was one of eight area winners competing in the event at Devizes Cricket Club and must now hope to go one better next year. The youngsters lost out to Salisbury's Downton Primary School in the final, but can hold their heads high after contributing much to what organisers say was a successful event.

Priestley topped Group Two with three wins from three matches while Downton did the same in Group One. Although the west Wiltshire finalists, Staverton School and Westbury Leigh School, both failed to win a game, the young players still gained valuable experience from the competitive environment.

Downton's final win saw them book a place in the south west stage in Exmouth on July 5 and the possibility of appearing in the national finals at Trent Bridge.

Wiltshire cricket development officer Alan Crouch said: "I expected Priestley to win as they had two county under 11 players in their side and looked very strong in the group games. But for some reason they didn't quite do it in the final.

"It was a good day with some close games.

"The other positive thing would be that there were some players who didn't belong to a cricket club beforehand and have now joined one.

"It's good to get any youngster playing the game, but to get talented ones is a bonus."