RISING Huddersfield star Ben Raven-Hill has just returned from a highly successful tour of Cape Town with the Yorkshire Schools' Cricket team.
The Thongsbridge player was part of a team that produced some
excellent cricket to win all seven of their matches.
The touring party, made up of 13 players, seven officials and 20 parents, enjoyed themsleves away from the cricket field with a walk up Table Mountain and a Peninsular Tour.
The undoubted highlight, though, was a day hosted by Geoffrey and Rachael Boycott at their stunning Paarl home on the Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate.
Raven-Hill, captain of Huddersfield's Joe Lumb Cup-winning team last season, and the rest of the boys spent the day playing golf and swimming, which was followed by a reception and barbecue.
This included an inspirational team talk and discussion with the former Yorkshire and England opener, where the players learned what is required to reach the highest level of County and Test cricket.
Raven-Hill, who again skippers Huddersfield's Under 18 side this season, will be hoping to build on the experience he has gained and further his promising cricket career.
The Huddersfield spinner claimed three for 18 in a day/night Twenty20 victory over Derbyshire Schools, while another teenager familiar to Huddersfield players, Oliver Hannan-Dalby (ex-Kirkburton) also picked up a couple of wickets in three games.
Victories included beating Paul Roos High School at Stellenbosch, Boland at Boland Park, Paarl, Paarl Boys HS, and Western Province at Langa.
Also accompanying the tour party was Kirkburton-based Harold Galley, who is secretary of the Yorkshire Schools' Cricket Association.
* Arrow Huddersfield Central League officials are expecting upwards of 350 guests at their annual dinner and prize presentation evening next Friday at Brooklands restaurant, Dodworth.
Eric Jones, a former detective superintendent from Manchester, is the guest speaker, along with comedian Gary Marshall and MC Malcolm Lord.
Yorkshire players Andrew Gale and Richard Pyrah are expected to drop in to present the prizes.
* There are still some tickets available for the Phil de Freitas evening at Armitage Bridge CC, also next Friday.
The former England and Leicestershire bowler will be subject of a question and answer session.
