Watford Grammar School for Boys’ impressive record in the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Plate continued yesterday evening as they reached their fourth final in five years with a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Leverstock Green B at Chipperfield Clarendon.

The holders and three times champions chased down a target of 102-7 with 20 balls to spare to set up a final clash with the winners of this evening’s second last-four clash between Aldenham School and Bushey at Met Police Bushey next Tuesday.

Although Green’s total was on the light side, batting second was potentially tricky in increasingly gloomy conditions. But Leverstock aided their opponents’ cause significantly by bowling ten wides, each worth four runs under the competition’s rules for the first 13 of the 14, eight-ball overs a side contest.

Green’s only success with the ball came when the score was on 18 and Rhys Williams (5) was caught by Luke Weston off the bowling of Jamie Wallis (1-25). A couple of other chances were to go begging but Simon Walker (38 not out) and James Dyson (24 not out) were largely untroubled in seeing their side home.

Earlier, Leverstock had won the toss and elected to bat but they found boundaries hard to come by as Wallis (24) and Keith Glasscoe (25 not out) made their most notable contributions.

All of Watford’s four bowlers had wicket-taking success with Tom Brall (2-22) and Pettit (2-30) taking two apiece.

This evening’s second semi-final takes place at Abbots Langley and spectators are welcome.