CRICKET COLTS 2 P6 W3 L2 A1 Team: Hamilton-Russell (capt.), Daly, Tucker, Cockcroft, Wilson, RogersColtman, Ship, Stuart-Bourne, Stubbs, Nicholson, Bertie, Stalder, Cox, Terry, Tufnell A cheerful and reasonably able squad assembled in April and it was, as ever, tough to pick an eleven for the first match, away at Eton. We fielded first in front of their main pavilion, ensuring a good crowd, and bowled quite respectably to keep them to a muted 150-6 off their 30 overs, with Will RogersColtman taking 2 for 5 off 5. Our innings got off to a disastrous start and it looked like humiliation was imminent as we struggled from two wickets for just one run to four for ten runs, but a lively and uninhibited partnership of 67 from Hugo Bertie, who finished on 44, and James Wilson, out for 30, ensured a respectable total of 121 all out in the 23rd over. Wellington at home were always going to be a more manageable
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prospect and we reduced them to 108 all out in 20 overs, RogersColtman this time taking 6-30 off six overs. Wicket keeper Eddie Cockcroft provided the champagne moment of the season with a superb diving onehanded catch. An unbeaten 55 from Will Cox saw us win by 10 wickets in only the 14th over, Sam Tucker providing good support. Bradfield were a similar sort of challenge and we had them all out for 108, Rogers-Coltman this time taking 4-10 and Angus Tufnell chipping in with 3-26. We made a bit of meal of knocking this one off, but in the end won by five wickets with eight overs to spare. Away at Marlborough just before Leave Away we were defeated by the weather with the opposition on a much-disrupted 80-7, before reconvening a month later in baking heat to host Harrow. Crucially, they won the toss and we melted in the field, conceding 197 runs in 25 overs. Thanks to Milo Daly, with 43, and Will Nicholson, with 37, we again got to a respectable position at 170-8, but in truth were well beaten. Finally we took on Tonbridge at
THE RADLEIAN SPORTS SUPPLEMENT
Coach: IK Campbell Captain: W Hamilton-Russell
home in late June and having been 41-2 were soon 53-6 and then 64-7, before Marcus Stalder battered his way to 57 not out. They were very professional in reply and while we bowled and fielded fairly well we couldn’t take a wicket as their openers took them to a ten wicket win. Some of the team show good promise and, if they work hard at their game, they could play good cricket in the sixth form, notably Tufnell, who played lots of beautiful shots without accumulating any really big score, and James Wilson, who bowled with pace and hostility. Will Hamilton-Russell’s captaincy improved greatly as the season went on and his left arm seam bowling finally hit a groove in the last two games. I wish them well.
IK Campbell