Pre-Ascension Day Rounders Descends into War!

Very early on Thursday morning a group of Year 13 boys and girls travelled to a nearby hill for an exciting and dramatic game of rounders as part of a pre-Ascension Day service to commemorate the ascension of Christ into Heaven (given that Ascension Day itself is during half term). They travelled by minibus where the met The Rev, Miss Andrew and Miss Erasmus who had laid out a spectacular feast of breakfast snacks to enjoy after the match. The teams were then picked with Gus McCulloch, Head Chapel Warden, tactfully picking all the girls for his team. George Graham, Deputy Head Chapel Warden, put trust into his all-male team even if Gus’s team had the advantage from the girls previous rounders experience.

Prior to the match the Year 13 pupils were given a variety of bubble-making toys, which brought much enjoyment to the girls and boys!

The match got underway with the Headmaster adjudicating alongside Mr Brown and The Rev. George opened the batting for his team while Gus bowled, George’s team had a successful opening round and gained four rounders before their final player got caught out by Max Khazaneh. The teams then swapped sides. It was obvious from the start that George’s team was a close-knitted bunch of enthusiastic athletes who all had determination to win. With good steady bowls from Jamie Westbrook and tactical close fielding from Oliver Dingley and Bodie Dean, they were able to catch out and stump out many of the opposition’s team. However at this moment in the game the Headmaster issues his first official warning, this went to Jamie Westbrook after an eager throw to stump one to get Gus out ended up in a ball in the back of Gus’s head.

The game then continued with another solid round of batting from George’s team, with outstanding performances from both Oliver Dingley and Mrs Langdon which helped to give the team a mighty lead. Things then went slightly downhill for George’s team, the fielding wasn’t as tight in the second round and many players slipped through, gaining points for Gus’s team enabling them to close the gap. At this moment in the game a little verbal rivalry commenced between The Head and Deputy Head Chapel Wardens causing the Headmaster to step in and issue another official warning, this time to George. This was our last round and after the massive lead George’s team had gained, Gus’s team had roped it in. However even with the large majority of girls on the team it wasn’t enough, and victory went to George’s team with a score of 9-7 ½.

The morning then finished with a short prayer before delving into the huge buffet that had been laid on for them. With a mixture of doughnuts and pastries, strawberries and grapes the group were stuffed!

It was a fantastic morning and special thanks to The Rev for organising it, also to Mr Brown and Mr Davies for driving the minibuses.