PLACES in Hampshire's junior representative cricket teams will be up for grabs for almost 500 aspiring youngsters, who will be putting their school textbooks to one side to play in four separate age-group festivals during next week's half-term break.

Teams from the Isle of Wight, the New Forest, South East Hants, North Hampshire and Winchester, plus a development side from the Rose Bowl, will play in four round-robin tournaments. The Under-10 festival is at Alton's JCG, the Under-11s at River Park, Winchester, the Under-13s at Farleigh School, near Andover, and the Under-15s at Portsmouth Grammar School.

At the conclusion of each Festival a squad will be selected to represent the relevant County age group side for the current season.

Medals will be presented to the winners and runners-up and a Trophy will be awarded to the winning District Team.

l Burley's Paul Yates carried his bat for 100 not out in the New Forest CA President's Cup - but still finished on the losing side at Lymington by 78 runs !

He scored the lion's share of Burley's 139 without loss.

But Lymington had earlier savaged 217-2 in 18 overs, with Australian all-rounder Karl Whatham hitting 102 not out and Peter Tapper 74.