Justin Southwell struck a quick fire 35 as St. Therese’s Primary School completed a difficult chase against Charity Primary to become the 2026 Future Warriors Tapeball Champion of Champions yesterday.
The New Amsterdam school overhauled Charity’s 78 for seven, reaching 81 for four in 7.2 overs to register a six-wicket victory in the ExxonMobil Guyana-powered primary schools tournament at the Everest Cricket Club.
Southwell gave the Berbice champions an explosive start by scoring his 35 from only 17 deliveries. Melroy Grant then kept the chase on course and finished unbeaten on 19 from 10 balls.
Charity bowler Ravaldo Campbell took two wickets for 14 runs from two overs, but his spell could not prevent St. Therese’s from sealing the title with four deliveries remaining.
The successful chase came after Charity recovered from a disastrous start to post a competitive total. Elijah Bhandan and Jaden Lewis ripped through the Essequibo champions’ batting order, leaving them struggling at 17 for seven after 3.1 overs.
Adon Holmes responded with one of the tournament’s outstanding innings. He smashed six sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 47 from just 16 balls, carrying Charity to 78 for seven by the end of their eight overs.
Bhandan finished with three wickets for 12 runs, while Lewis took two for 21.
Holmes’ performances earned him the award for the most runs after he accumulated 68 during the tournament. Bhandan collected the Most Valuable Player and leading wicket-taker honours after finishing with three wickets and 23 runs.
St. Therese’s entered the final following a dominant seven-wicket win against West Ruimveldt Primary in the opening match.
Grant took two wickets for nine runs and Lomar Williams grabbed two for 10 as West Ruimveldt managed 46 for seven from their eight overs. Ceon Rajkumar top-scored for the Georgetown side with 16.
Southwell then struck an unbeaten 23 and Bhandan contributed 17 as St. Therese’s raced to 49 for three in only 4.1 overs.
Charity earned the other place in the final by successfully defending 66 against West Ruimveldt. Holmes scored an unbeaten 21 and Campbell added 13 as the Essequibo champions reached 66 for six from eight overs.
West Ruimveldt’s Vincent Farley returned two for five, while Steven Orie took two for 27. However, their team ended on 54 for four after eight overs, despite Charity conceding 24 extras.
Troy Boston led Charity’s defence with two wickets for 12 runs to secure their passage to the title match.
Yesterday’s victory made St. Therese’s the third school to claim the national title. Huis T’ Dieren Primary won the inaugural championship in 2024 before Cropper Primary captured the crown in 2025.
St. Therese’s also added a novelty-match victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors to an already successful day at Everest.
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