Jack, 13, is a crib champion

Like many teenage boys Jack Beattie loves football, rugby and playing out in the park with his friends but, unlike many of his pals, he is a whizz at the popular pub game cribbage.

The 13-year-old Bloxwich boy proved his prowess this week when he became the youngest player in history to win the Walsall & District Monday Night League Division 2 Captain's Cup. Jack, captain of his team, played counterparts from four rival pub squads and won every game to take the title. He will be presented with a cup at a presentation ceremony this year.

The Walsall Academy pupil was introduced to cribbage, called crib for short, by his father and now team mate Ian Beattie, who is landlord of The Royal Exchange, Bloxwich.

He first played at just nine-years-old and took to it like a duck to water.

In turn, Mr Beattie, aged 46, was taught the sport by his father Harry Beattie, aged 73, himself a champion in his home town of Leeds.

Jack said: "When I visit my grandad in Leeds we sometimes play and it is 50:50 who wins. Me and my dad play if we fancy a game at the pub, but I beat him."

While many respect Jack's ability in the sport, a minority snub his undeniable talent. "I had one bloke who never liked me playing at all just because I'm a kid so he wouldn't play me," he said.

"But being the only kid in the league doesn't bother me because I live in a pub so I'm with old blokes all the time."

Jack, whose favourite subject at school is maths, said he loved to play football and rugby with his friends and would pick the former over cribbage any day.

The Captain's Cup competition took place at Colebatchs Club in Bloxwich on Monday night. There are three crib teams based at The Royal Exchange, in Stafford Road.