Cricket Summer Term

U10s

The U10 Cricket team was a pleasure to coach and umpire matches for. They were a formidable side with many of the players representing county teams outside of Sandroyd. Their sportsmanship both in defeat and victory was exemplary and I was very proud of them, especially when other coaches and umpires commented on this. There were a number of games which went to the final ball; the All Hallows game was particularly exciting as it had been decided before the game that there would be no extra balls, and when we needed 4 off the last ball to win and they (accidently) threw a wide, it was rather a contentious finish to the game. A minor blemish in an otherwise unbeaten season. There was much progress made throughout the summer, both in terms of their cricketing ability and their teamwork, especially when the stronger players took time to guide and support all the other members of the team.

Simon Acton

U11s

Seniors

It was such a joy to welcome the pupils back onto the cricket pitches of Sandroyd without the restrictions we had been faced with over the past couple of years. It was a freedom which the pupils clearly relished as we could continue with mixing both the top two years into the seven senior cricket teams. The mood was equally enhanced by the wonderful weather we encountered as the hot summer months brought a large number of fixtures with few being affected by rain. Indeed, across the senior teams a total of 58 fixtures were due to be played with just the matches against Monkton affected by the rain.

With the senior girls and boys training together and learning the hardball skills needed to progress in the sport it was always going to be a challenge to give all the opportunity to play a good number of competitive matches. With some schools requesting softball matches and some schools not integrating their girls into the hardball game it did make selecting teams challenging but credit to the pupils who played every game to the best of their potential no matter which format they were faced with.

Highlights of the season must be the 1st XI fine win over Dumpton, a team we have struggled against over the past few years. The senior girls also enjoyed a wonderful day of tournament cricket at Marlborough with the added bonus of being coached by past and present England national players.

Towards the end of the season one of the highlights had to be the Parents v Leavers match. With the games played on a wonderfully sunny Sunday the parents took to the field and soon realised that their children had the upper hand posting an impressive total. The parents’ batting after an indulgent tea was less impressive but with an uncanny ability to edge the ball or to somehow keep the good ball out they edged ever closer to the winning score. However, some disciplined bowling saw the Leavers just cling on to a famous victory and were able to retain the trophy. A huge thank you to all who participated and helped in making the day enormously entertaining and memorable.

Congratulations must go to Laura Wilde and William Fuller for being made Captains of Cricket and to Oriana Bowater, Laura Wilde, William Fuller and Alfred Hunt being awarded their Cricket Colours.

Lastly, a particular mention must be made of Mr Wilcox for all his and his team’s effort in preparing excellent wickets for us all to play on and of course thank you to all the parents for their support throughout the season.

Trevor Webster