IN 2018, the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club was a struggling organisation but with the assistance and co-operation of the proactive Berbice Cricket Board, the club under the dynamic leadership of coach Ameer Rahaman is today on the rise.

Last year, the Rose Hall Canje Arborsmart under-13 team won their first ever junior title when they won the BCB Romario Shepherd under-13 tournament. They added another trophy to their cupboard on Sunday last when they defeated power house Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes under 15 team by 79 runs to lift the RL Constructing Ltd title.

Playing in front of a sizeable group of parents and supporters, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat after the match was reduced to forty overs per side due to overnight rain and moisture on the pitch. The team was given a solid opening partnership of 85 runs by national players Adrian Hetmyer and Richard Ramdehol in 24 overs. Remdehol was caught off the bowling of offspinner Avinash Sooklall for a well-played 25.

Hetmyer was joined by the attacking Lakram Singh and together they added a further 70 runs with Singh scoring 28. Hetmyer went on to hit a brilliant 109 before he was dismissed by Balraj Narine. Hetmyer struck eight boundaries on the lighting fast outfield and one maximum in a highly mature and responsible innings. RHCC innings closed off at 190 for 6 off their allotted 40 overs.

Needing to score 191 to win another major BCB title, RHT Farfan and Mendes under 15 was rocked back by the fast bowling of Hetmyer, who claimed the wickets of Munesh Rampersaud (7), Balraj Narine (1), national player Shobik Mohmaed (0) and Koomchand Ramnarace (2) to leave the home team at 32 for 4 in the ninth over. Leon Reddy (11) and Tameshwar Deonandan scored (10) before he was runout in a mix-up. Struggling at 52 for 6 RHTFM eventually reach 111 all out in 30 overs.

National under 13 all-rounder Raffel McKenzie showed his promise with a solid unbeaten 32, while the promising Matthew Perreira, the nephew of former national Under 19 captain Shawn Perriera, supported with 20. Bowling for the champions, Hetmyer claimed 4 wickets for 20 runs while J. Hemraj took 2 wickets for 21 runs as then RHTFM batsmen were run out.
The winning team took home $60,000 and the champion’s trophy while the runner up carried home $40,000 and a trophy. Chairman of the BCB Competitions Committee, Leslie Soloman congratulated Rose Hall Canje on being crowned the Berbice under 15 Champions. He also expressed satisfaction at the standard of play at the under-15 level stating that the future of Berbice Cricket is in safe hands.

Special thanks were extended to Rondall Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of RL Contracting Ltd for his sponsorship. BCB President Hilbert Foster was loud in his praise of the outstanding work of the executives of the champions. The success, he stated, was due to sheer hard work and dedication. Foster stated that while he was disappointed that his club was defeated in the finals, he was delighted that Rose Hall Canje continues to excel on the cricket field.