Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

AFTER BLOWING away Old Harbour on yesterday's final day of their Grace Rural Area Under-16 cricket final at Chedwin Park, Holmwood Technical's coach Robert Lewis had every right to say his team was "head and shoulders" above the rest.

Lewis, who is also a vice principal at the Christiana-based school, based his comments on the easy road they had to the final. They then dominated the final, winning by a whopping 315 runs. Final score: Holmwood 383 for four declared; Old Harbour 68 all out.

"It was easy throughout the entire competition," explained Lewis, who is also manager of Jamaica's Under-15 cricket team.

"We did not have any hiccups in any of the matches," said Lewis after securing his school's 15th title. "I think this team is head and shoulders above all its opponents so, by virtue of that, we won very easily." Old Harbour resumed yesterday's final day on 55 for three but lost their last seven wickets for 13 runs, handing Holwmood an easy victory.

Jermaine Blackwood, who took 2-10 on the opening afternoon, finished with 5-33 and was well supported by Tanik Lowe, who ended with 3-10 off 18 overs.

Holmwood's victory could be considered as revenge for their Headley Cup semi-final defeat to Godfrey Stewart, who went on to lose to St. Elizabeth Technical, the former's arch-rivals.

Good feeling at the end

"It's a good feeling to end the season with a title after having lost the Headley Cup championship. The cupboard is not empty for this year," said Lewis who now has his sights set on a 15th All-island crown against urban champions Eltham. That showdown is tentatively set for next Monday and Tuesday at Chedwin Park or Port Esquivel. He continued: "It's a good feeling, a rewarding end to a very tiring season, if I may put it that way."

Old Harbour's coach Keith Hibbert, a former national wicketkeeper/batsman, had high hopes for his boys entering the final day but Holmwood could not be stopped. Oshane Morgan, who fell for his overnight 12, Kerwin Bonner, who added one to be dismissed for seven, and Dwayne Bennett, who was run out for three, were identified by Hibbert as their only hope for a freak victory.

Lewis said: "We were totally dominant throughout; we lost two early wickets, the two openers (Marlon Pinnock, 14, and John Campbell, four) when we had 24 on the board, but from then on it was total dominance.

"We actually batted Old Harbour totally out of the game and coming back this morning we got seven wickets for about 12 runs, which sort of sums up the whole dominance of the Holmwood team," he said.

For Old Harbour and their coach Hibbert, it was a learning experience.

"This is my first season with the boys and first experience as a coach, so to be in the final is an achievement," Hibbert said."The boys are disappointed but it's a young team, so hopefully we will get better from here".