The Canterbury Academy’s run to a national final has given their cricketers an injection of confidence and self-belief - but the school’s director of sport admits their players are now in need of a rest!

At Loughborough University, they were narrowly beaten in The Cricket Paper’s under-17 cup final last Wednesday by Shrewsbury School on Duckworth-Lewis.

It was a cruel way for them to lose, the state school having stunned their share of private schools on their way to the final.

“It’s given the players a massive injection of confidence and self-belief,” said former Kent Academy director Phil Relf, now at The Canterbury Academy.

“They have had quite a long season, some players play for clubs where their seasons have gone to the wire.

“The two girls have played a lot. Darcey Carter has played for Scotland and Alexa Stonehouse has been away with the Trent Rockets in The Hundred. They all need a break, really.

“It [their run in the competition] has given our school some good promotion but there’s the same challenge of funding at state schools.

“We are determined to break down some barriers but cricket facilities are limited in Canterbury. We have worked at Polo Farm but Canterbury Christ Church have first dibs there.

“Kent Cricket have been really good. But after Christmas, it’s a little bit of a challenge.

“Private schools have their own facilities but we haven’t. We are not moaning about it, we will get on with it and see what happens.”

The Canterbury Academy, which has come a long way in the past nine years, are attracting players from right across Kent - and one who even comes from outside the county.

Relf said: “There’s a lad that comes down from London which shows fantastic commitment. Several come from Medway and up from Thanet. I think that’s a good sign.

“We have loads of support from local clubs - like St Lawrence & Highland Court, Whitstable and Chestfield - to name just a few.

“We are thankful to them for the support they have given us.”

The Canterbury Academy, who had returned from The Cricketer Schools 1st XI Hundred competition as the under-18s winners at Desert Springs, Spain, earlier this year, lost by just 23 runs on Duckworth-Lewis to Shrewsbury School as the rain came down.

Asked to field first, they fought back after a good Shrewsbury start to restrict them to 203-7 from 35 overs, Connor Dale and Josh Julian were among the wickets while Jayden Denly took a fine catch.

The Canterbury Academy were 99-3 as opener Ben Burgess did well but, just before the rain came, they lost a couple of quick wickets and were 100-5 in the 21st over.

“Losing on Duckworth-Lewis by such a small margin was a tough way for the season to end,” conceded Relf, with Shrewsbury’s best bowler having bowled all of their allocated overs already.

The Canterbury Academy is based on Knight Avenue.