sportsreport
U15
Alex Popplewell
The U15 season started well with promising performances against teams such as Aston Manor and Tudor Grange. Simon Godfrey was looking on top form with the bat, scoring runs with ease before a freak high jump injury stopped him in his tracks. Alex Popplewell took his cue, and began to score the runs Bablake was missing. His 50 and quite brilliant bowling from Morgan Baker and Ollie White brought a win against Cardinal Wiseman. An extraordinary game against Lawrence Sheriff followed: Bablake hit 193 off 20 overs with 50s from Popplewell and Kilian Kleine but Lawrence Sheriff knocked off the runs from just 14 overs. Another game against Newman saw Morgan Baker and Alex Newbold excel with the bat, Baker scoring a rapid 67 in an easy victory against an 8 man side. KES Camp Hill posed the next challenge and, after big 6s from Popplewell and Adam King, helped set a big target, Baker took wickets with his sheer pace and devastating swing. An unlikely hat-trick hero also emerged: Adam King. His unorthodox spin has a 100% wicket to balls bowled ratio, after these first 3 and most probably last 3 balls for the school side. The season ended on a low as the team slumped to defeat at the hands of KHVIII, despite some quality bowling from John Masser and Baker.
U14
Richard Miles
U12
Mr Jim Burns
The old saying about lies, damned lies and statistics certainly could not apply to the U12s this year. 12 wins out of 14, winners of the Coventry Cup, semi finalists in the Warwickshire Cup, plenty of runs and wickets from a variety of sources all suggest that the team had an outstanding season – and they would be correct. Only one team, Lawrence Sheriff, defeated Bablake and on both occasions those games were very close. The team was superbly led by the two Matthews, Clements as captain and Payne as vicecaptain. Both boys took wickets and scored runs at vital times as did Jack Webber and Chris Sewell. Other major contributors with the bat were Dominic Rae and Andrew Haughian, and with the ball Harry Pashley, Adam Clements, Will Kirkman and Nishant Patel. All of our bowlers ensured that the side had a varied and accurate attack that many sides could not cope with. James Hunter and Huw Edwards were also key members of the successful squad who contributed for both A and B teams. Highlights of the season undoubtedly were the crushing victory at Warwick School, bowling Bishop Vesey out for 36 at Sutton Coldfield and the many exciting victories “on the road” in the Warwickshire cup. However the most pleasing aspect of the summer was the enthusiasm that the team and the band of loyal parents who followed them brought to every match. The future of Bablake Cricket looks very bright in the hands of these boys.
We did not have the best of seasons but there were some high points: the Coventry Schools cup final; good batting from Ben Cooper in a hard game against Warwick; a few good knocks and excellent cover and point fielding from Will Kenney-Herbert; and also a good 50 from promising keeper Will Vines against Kineton. Will Newcombe, with his crafty singles, did well opening the batting with hard-hitting all-rounder Josh Buggea. There was also some excellent bowling from Ben Davies, Devpal Kalsi, Charlie Mulhall and Matt Smith.
U13
Ryan Parnell
Overall another great year for the U13s, as we lost just 3 games. With great team spirit developing over the season, we won the Coventry Schools cup. Talented cricketer Mark Best saw us to a 9 wicket win. The team also reached the semi-final of the Warwickshire Cup beating teams like King Edward’s, Aston thanks to posting some challenging totals. The semi-final was close but despite Matthew Clements scoring a fine 44, King Edward’s Birmingham bowled very tightly for a win. Notable performances included Hugh Kenney-Herbert making 32 against Princethorpe, David Fish taking five wickets against Woodlands, Ryan Parnell making three 50s and grabbing a 5 wicket haul and Mark Best making two 50s and an amazing unbeaten century against Woodlands. Well done to Mark Best making it into Warwickshire and Midlands reserves, and Ryan Parnell on selection for Coventry District. Things are looking bright for the next season.
bablake school
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