From academics to achievement on the football field, St David’s have four youngsters who are setting good examples for their peers at the club.

Noah Maharaj, Aaron Paynter, Shia Smith and Amon Simons are not only team-mates in the St David’s First Division team, but also S4 classmates at the Berkeley Institute, where they have excelled academically.

Maharaj achieved regular honours for terms one and two this school year while Paynter received honours for quarter four last school year as well as honours for quarters one and two this school year.

Smith got honours for quarter two and Simons for quarter four, and two high honours for the first and second quarters this school year.

All broke into the St David’s senior team in 2020-21, with club president Ceble Crockwell excited about their prospects on and off the field.

“We feel that highlighting their efforts only encourages them to do better and also lets them know that we are watching,” said Crockwell, who is celebrating her first year as president this month.

“St. David’s CCC is very proud of their achievements and want to also praise their parents and villages who help to support these young men. Raising young men in Bermuda during these times is challenging.

“Our club motto is ’Honour through Heritage, Pride through Sport’. The executive and management of St David’s County Cricket Club, and also the football staff, are honoured to have them as part of our team.

“We call ourselves Warriors and they are definitely great examples of warriors.”

Otis Minors, the assistant coach of the Warriors, is also pleased with the youngsters’ progress this season. Aaron Paynter, 17, also plays for the St David’s cricket team. Maharaj and Paynter are midfielders, Simons a centre back and Smith a utility player, all 16 years old.

“With the schoolwork, I’m always proud to see kids doing well academically, so that made us proud,” Minors said. “With the football they are good students, willing to listen and train hard.

“They are able to train and get their schoolwork, done which is excellent. The fact that they are able to juggle both of them shows a lot. It puts a big smile on my face to see the academic side of it, especially when they are trying to get scholarships.”