Last week (22nd - 24th July) saw the culmination of the Cheshire Cricket Board District Festival with sides playing the reverse fixtures to those played at the end of May. The aim of district cricket is to allow players to test themselves against some of the best players in the county and to give them a chance to show what they can do with a view to progression to the full Cheshire age group squads. Once again, Upton juniors Luca Di Stefano & Callum McCormick were selected to represent West Cheshire at U13 & U15 level respectively.

Here's the details on Callum's week with the U15s, Luca's exploits to follow shortly.

The U15s started against North Cheshire at Oxton. The North had proved to be the strongest of the districts back in May and they posted 234-8 off their 50 overs. Callum came on 3rd change, taking a wicket with his first ball and along with the West leg-spinner managed to gain some control. Towards the end of the innings, the skipper turned to Callum in an attempt to slow the run rate and he finished with 10 overs, 2 maidens, 2 for 44, the only West seamer to bowl his full allocation. Some good batting saw West close on 226-9 off their 50 overs. Callum was not required with the bat as West had a squad of 13 that they rotated in each game.

In the second game, v South at New Brighton, West recorded their first win, restricting South to 262 all out in 49 overs having scored 270-9 off their 50. Callum batted at 11, scoring 5 not out off 5 balls but it was again with the ball that he made his mark. Coming on first change, he removed the dangerous looking opener in his first over, and as seen on day 1, he was able to stem the flow of runs when others struggled. Callum came back to bowl the 48th over of the innings (only conceding a single) and would have been entrusted with the 50th over had the innings not closed in the 49th. He finished with 7 overs, 1 maiden, 2-20 in a game where 532 runs were scored in 99 overs.

The final game, against East at Stockport, was eventually rained off with East setting 259-7 off 50 overs and West not able to start their reply. Callum again bowled first change and again picked up a wicket in his first over, dismissing the opener second ball and then pinning the number 3 LBW with his third. By now Callum had established himself as the death bowler, despite being a year younger than the other seamers, and he picked up his 3rd wicket with the first ball of his second spell. He took 2 further wickets in his final over to finish with 9 overs, 2 maidens, 5-39 a performance that brought him plaudits from his team mates and both team coaches. He has grown noticeably during the week, was the leading wicket taker, most economical bowler and undoubtedly the pick of the bowlers for West throughout the week.