Alas, weather and exams did their worst and though some matches were played many were cancelled. A sorry tale arrived from one strong cricketing school where they were unable to field even a 2nd XI ? on a Saturday! – owing to the depredations of the exam season. Where will it all end? In the gradual disintegration of schools ? and therefore professional – cricket in the UK seems to be the sad answer.
Mentioning no names, I was sorry to read of one school?s otherwise fine game where the opposition?s behaviour on the field was described as ?intimidating?. There are those who deride MCC?s initiative in curbing poor behaviour as unnecessary. Earlier this season I witnessed an occasion where the (opening) batsman was intimidated into playing a rash shot and being dismissed. Pressure should come from the bat or ball, not the mouth, and umpires should have the power to stamp it out. It may be just about all right for seasoned professionals but for nervous schoolboys who may find that it puts them off the game altogether it is quite unacceptable.
St Edward?s built a pretty strong but not insuperable score of 242 for seven in their 50 overs at Marlborough and the home side were struggling at 60 for four at tea from 20 overs. They were rescued by a partnership of 88 between Max Read and Jack Bunn. Bunn was dismissed at 142 and the sixth and seventh wicket fell at 177 and then 224 in the 45th over. Following the traditional silly run-out but a fine century from Read, Marlborough were left with five to win from 3.2 overs but with nine down. A couple of wides eventually brought the scores level but the final over produced three dot balls until a smashed four through the covers by Archie Wheeler won the game.
As a Master i/c for many years my recurring nightmare was of our side being dismissed for nought. After all, every batsman is vulnerable when he or she first comes in. Why not all on the same day? It wasn?t quite as bad as that, but The Manchester Grammar School ? a strong side as witnessed by their progress in the National Twenty20 competition – had a bit of a nightmare day at Shrewsbury where they went from a reasonable and brisk start of 43 for two, chasing 221 for three, to 47 all out in the next eleven overs. Dan Lloyd took five for seven and George Garrett four for eleven in this fairly spectacular collapse.
London bus syndrome at Brighton where the Master i/c claims never to have witnessed a tie but then saw three in a week: first against MCC (149 for seven playing 149 for eight ? skilled MCC captaincy?) then Ardngly 173 playing 173 for 9. And finally the Under-15 side who tied in the County Cup competition but then won in a ?super over?. As the first two were overs matches with no pre-arranged deciding factor such as wickets lost, they must count as a tie. Confirmed by Wisden.
Results:
*Harrow 167-5 (40 overs), Malvern 169-8
*Christ’s Hospital 96 (30 overs), Sevenoaks 100-7
*KCS Wimbledon 223-9 (50 overs), St John?s Leatherhead 159
*Culford 210-4 (30 overs), Langley 110
Eltham 108,*Felsted 112-1
*King?s Taunton 266-9 (50 overs), Cheltenham 100
*Churcher?s 219-2 (25 overs), Worth 114
*Clifton 226-8 (50 overs) (V Lakhani 116 not out), Abingdon 172
Radley 189,*Harrow 166
*Shrewsbury 221-3 (50 overs), Manchester GS 47 (D Lloyd 5-7)
Ardingly 173,*Brighton 173-9
*St Peter’s,York 177-9 (50 overs), Hymers 141
Marlborough 104,*Bradfield 106-5
Old Sennockians 166 (30 overs),*Sevenoaks 99
High School of Glasgow 75,*Strathallan 77-2
*Glenalmond 236-4 ( 108) (35 overs), High School of Glasgow 50-3 (rain)
*King’s, Worcester 68, RGS Worcester 69-7
*Woodhouse Grove 236-7 (50 overs), Lancaster RGS 145
*Monmouth 196-8 (H Rose 106). Sir Thomas Rich?s 133 (L Devonald 6-36)
*Cranleigh 294-8 (50 overs), RGS Guildford 106
*Kimbolton 133, Wellingborough 134-0
*Bedford Modern 191-1 (35 overs), King?s Ely 86
*Pangbourne 211-8 (50 overs), Dauntsey?s 212-5
Radley 189, *Harrow 166
*Radley 228-9 (50 overs), Winchester 107#
Nottingham HS 152, Uppingham 153-2
National Schools Twenty20 (cumulative)
To see the state of the competition overall, click here.
North East section group 1
Durham 145, RGS Newcastle 100-9
Durham 144-5, Barnard Castle 93-8
Durham win the group and now play Worksop
North East section group 2
Silcoates 88-6, QEGS 92-5
Silcoates 85-6, Bradford 86-1
QEGS 106-6, Bradford 94-8
QEGS Wakefield win the group and now play Woodhouse Grove
North East section group 3
Worksop College 136-8 St Peter’s, York 58
Hymers College 141 Worksop College 142-0
Hymers College 118-8 St Peter’s, York 119-3
Worksop win the group and now play Durham
North East section group 4
Woodhouse Grove 188-4, Birkdale 59
Ashville 164-7, Pocklington 144-8
Woodhouse Grove 201-3, Ashville 173-5
Woodhouse Grove win the group and now play QEGS Wakefield
North East section semi-finals
QEGS Wakefield 88, Woodhouse Grove 89-5
Woodhouse Grove play Durham or Worksop in the North East section?final
North East section finals day
Durham 78-3, Worksop 79-3
Woodhouse Grove 127-6, Worksop 101
Woodhouse Grove win the North East final and now play the North West winner
North West section group 4
*Manchester GS 201-1 (S Perry 139 not out), Stockport GS 80
Cheadle Hulme 95-7, *Manchester GS 99-3
Manchester GS win the group
North West section group 5
Lancaster RGS 118-7, *Sedbergh 120-3
Myerscough 110-9, *Sedbergh 112-1
*Sedbergh 168-4, Birkenhead 55
Sedbergh win the group
North West section play-off
Merchant Taylor?s Crosby 64, Bolton 65?7
North West section semi-finals
Bolton School 104?9, Manchester GS 105?2
Sedbergh 168-4, Birkenhead 55
Manchester GS play Sedbergh in the North West section final
North West section final
Manchester GS 125-5, Sedbergh 126-4
Sedbergh now play Woodhouse Grove in the regional final for a place on Finals day at Arundel
East section group 1
Repton 135-6, *Oakham 136-5
*Oakham 222-4, Trent 166-8 (20 overs)
Leicester GS 90, Repton 93-4
Oakham win the group
East section group 2
Perse 128-5, Leys 132-5
Greshams 134-8, Leys 113
Perse 154, Greshams 47
The Perse win the group
East section group 3
Felsted 148-7, Shenfield 93 9
Felsted 170-5, Ipswich 91-8
Felsted 188-5, St Joseph?s 96-8
Felsted win the group
East section group 4
Stamford 165?6, Rugby169?5
Oundle 117, Rugby 121-3
Rugby win the group and now play Bedford in the East section semi-finals
East section group 5
Bedford 169-5, *Wellingborough 133-6
Wellingborough 187-3, *Kimbolton 110-5
*Bedford 137-3, Stowe 108
Bedford win the group and now play Rugby in the East section semi-finals
East section play-offs
Felsted 181-5, Perse 120-8
*Felsted 162-4, Oakham 126
Bedford 138-8, Rugby 130-7
Felsted play Bedford in the East section final
East section final
*Bedford 152-6, Felsted 155-3
Felsted now play?Shrewsbury for a place on finals day
West Midlands section group 1
Denstone 98-9, Bablake 99-2
Bablake 134-4, Warwick 138-2
Bloxham withdrew
Warwick wins the group; Bablake runners-up
West Midlands section group 2
*RGS Worcester 197-1, Wycliffe 96-4
Monmouth 130-6, Dean Close 131-8
Monmouth 154-7, Wycliffe 153-8
*RGS Worcester 154-5, Dean Close 112
RGS Worcester win the group; Dean Close runners-up
West Midlands section group 3
Bromsgrove 200-6, Queen Mary?s GS Walsall 40
Malvern 138-8, Wrekin 139-5
Queen Mary?s GS Walsall 111-9, Malvern 114-3
Bromsgrove 155-7, Wrekin 110
Bromsgrove win the group; Wrekin runners-up
West Midlands section group 4
*Shrewsbury 138-4, Wolverhampton GS 76-6
Newcastle under Lyme 50, Ellesmere 53-3
*Shrewsbury 117-8, Ellesmere 62-8
Wolverhampton GS 110, Newcastle under Lyme 102
Shrewsbury win the group; Ellesmere runners-up
West Midlands section play-offs
Shewsbury 187-3, Bablake 71-10
Warwick 175-2 Dean Close 108-6
RGS Worcester 139-9, Wrekin 110-7
Bromsgrove 114, Ellesmere 115-3
Shrewsbury, Warwick, RGS Worcester and Ellesmere reach the West Midlands section semi-finals
West Midlands section semi-finals
RGS Worcester 92-6,*Shrewsbury 95-5
Ellesmere 137-8,*Warwick 103
Shrewsbury now play Ellesmere in the West Midlands section final
West Midlands section final
*Shrewsbury 132-8, Ellesmere 83-9
Shrewsbury now play Felsted for a place on finals day
South East section group 1
Bede’s 125-8, Aldridge 116-7
Ardingly 162, Brighton 89
Ardingly, *Bede’s 103-2
Bede?s win the group
South East section group 2
Eastbourne 132-8, *Cranleigh 133-4
Lancing 106, Hurstpierpoint 111-2
Hurstpierpoint 112-8, *Cranleigh 116-2
Cranleigh win the group
South East section group 4
Kent College 99-8, Epsom 103-4
Simon Langton withdrew; Tonbridge had a bye
Tonbridge 190-3, Epsom 109-6
Tonbridge win the group
South East?section semi-final and final
*Tonbridge 218-5, Bede?s 160-9
Dukje of York?s RMS withdrew
*Tonbridge 120-9, Cranleigh 121-9 (T Pettman 5-24)
Cranleigh win the South East section
South London section semi-finals
Eltham 98-8, RGS Guildford 99-3
Whitgift 171-4, Hampton 124-7
Whitgift play RGS Guildford in the South London section final
South London section final
RGS Guildford 107-9, Whitgift 111-6
Whitgift now play Merchant Taylors? Northwood in the London section final
North London section group 1
Forest 83-9, *St Albans 84-1
St Albans win the group
North London section group 2
*Mill Hill 79, Berkhamsted 77-8
Mill Hill win the group
North London section group 3
*Merchant Taylors’ 214-4, Aldenham 104
Merchant Taylors’ win the group
North London section semi-finals
Merchant Taylors’ 165-8, Berkhamsted 151-4
St Albans had a walkover after Mill Hill withdrew
North London section finals
Merchant Taylors’ 165-8, St Albans 147
Merchant Taylors? win the North London section
South London section group 1
RGS Guildford 169-5, Trinity 171-4 18.3 overs
KCS Wimbledon 142-9, RGS Guildford 144-5
KCS Wimbledon 121-7, Trinity 110
RGS Guildford win the group on NRR
South London group 2
Whitgift 198-3, Wilson?s 64-6
St George?s 114, Reed?s 115-?
Whitgift 199-5, Reed?s 57
Whitgift win the group
South London section group 3
*Dulwich 194-4, John Fisher 90
St Benedict’s 89, Hampton 95-1
Hampton 155-7 *Dulwich 136-6
John Fisher 126-5, St Benedict’s 128-2
Hampton 141-7, John Fisher 109-4
St Benedict?s 117-8, *Dulwich 121-5
Hampton win the group
South London section group 4
Eltham 166-3, Ibstock 59
Langley Park 94, Chigwell 95-5
Eltham 153-2, Chigwell 113
Eltham win the group
South London section semi-finals
*Whitgift 171-4, Hampton 124-7
*Eltham 98-8, RGS Guildford 99 for 3
Whitgift play RGS Guildford in the South London section final
South London section final
RGS Guildford 107-9, *Whitgift 111-6
Whitgift now play Merchant Taylors’ Northwood in the London section final
London section finals
*Whitgift 162-6, Merchant Taylors’ Northwood 138-7
Whitgidt now play Cranleigh for a place on finals day
South West section group 1
King Edward?s Bath 146-7, *Beechen Cliff 147-4
*Bristol GS 136-3, Beechen Cliff 138-4
*Bristol GS 136-4, King Edward?s Bath 137-3
King Edward?s S Bath conceded to Clifton
*Clifton 116-4, Beechen Cliff 113
Clifton win the group and now play King?s Taunton in the semi-final
South West section group 2
Taunton 190-5, *Downside 99-5
*Taunton 118-7, Kingswood 119-2
SGS (Filton) 168-4, *Taunton 108-9
SGS (Filton) 90-8, *Kingswood 84-6
Downside 108, *Kingswood 112-0
SGS (Filton) win the group and now play Millfield in the semi-final
South West section group 3
*Clayesmore 109, Plymouth 110-5
Millfield 235-4 (T Lace 110), *Sherborne 109-7
Millfield win the group and now play SGS (Filton) in the semi-final
South West section group 4
Blundell?s 78-8, King?s Taunton 79-3
Wellington (Somerset) 174-5, Blundell?s 68-8
King?s Taunton 205-5, Wellington (Somerset) 65
Queen?s Taunton withdrew
King?s Taunton win the group and now play Clifton in the semi-final
South West?section semi-finals
*Clifton 136-7. King?s Taunton 116-8
SGS (Filton) 96-7, Millfield 99-1
Clifton now play Millfield in the?South West section?final
South West section final
Clifton 78, *Millfield 79-1
Millfield now play Wellington (Berks) for a place on finals day
South Central section group 1
*Winchester 133-9, Abingdon 99
Elizabeth College Guernsey withdrew
Winchester win the group
South Central section group 2
Lord Wandsworth 80 (20 overs), *Bradfield 84-0
Lord Wandsworth 132-9 (20 overs), Radley 118-8
*Bradfield 146-5 (20 overs), Radley 104-8
Bradfield win the group
South Central section group 3
*St Edward?s 104-7, Wellington (Berks) 107-1
Ryde withdrew
Wellington win the group
South Central section group 4
*Oratory 79-9, Portsmouth 80-3
*Oratory 126-8, Marlborough 127-3
Portsmouth 152-4, Marlborough 156-6
Marlborough win the group
South Central section play-offs
Winchester 95-9, *Wellington (Berks) 96-2
Bradfield 91-9, Marlborough 95-4
Wellington play Marlborough in the South Central section final
South Central section final
*Wellington (Berks) 167-5, Marlborough 151-6
Wellington now play Millfield for a place on finals day