The unsettled weather last week meant an uncertain return to summer sports; with the rain came a slew of cancelled fixtures, and so cricket and tennis didn’t quite have the smooth start for which we had all hoped. However, the sun did show its face eventually and the cricket season got underway!

Cricket

1st XI vs Reading School

Master in charge of Cricket Mr Jonnie Howorth provides the report the victorious first team match:

‘After training hard all winter the 1st XI were eager to hit the ground running in their first game of the season. After losing the toss Shiplake were asked to bowl first on a green April wicket. Immediately, seamers Joe Tucker (3 for 16) and Callum Heppner-Logan (1 for 11) were causing problems for the Reading School top order and some excellent fielding, especially the one handed diving slip catch by Ben Arnold, saw the visitors reduced to 22 for 3 off the opening 10 overs. Once pace was taken off the ball by spinners Ben Westbrook-Burr and Captain Harry Ibbitson, Reading were always struggling to up the run rate and lost wickets at regular intervals with Ibbitson finishing with 3 for 6 off his allotted five overs. Debutant Freddie Bowcock finished off the tail with two quick wickets and then was straight off to put his pads on and open the batting with another debutant Todd Harman. Both batted well with Harman (33*) the aggressor in a 10 wicket win.

Despite the win the boys are keen to work on taking half chances in the field. The final score was Reading School 60 all out (20 overs), Shiplake College 61 for 0 (8 overs).’

U15A XI vs Reading School

Director of Sport Mr James Gaunt provides the following report from a closely fought match:

‘We won the toss in our first game of the season and decided to put the opposition into bat. We felt this was a wise decision given that the wicket was green and soft. This would give our seamers a chance to cause the opposition trouble. This they did with James Roxburgh Smith bowling a superb early spell finishing with 1 wicket for 18 runs off his four overs. Harry Ingram found his line and length and he too then bowled well. At one point the opposition were 15-3 and really struggling but their captain steadied the ship before being beautifully dismissed by Callum Theodorou. At 66-4 at the halfway point we needed to apply the pressure but too often we allowed Reading school singles and doubles that shouldn’t have been possible. The opposition closed on 128-7 with some good bowling from Max Haynes, Joe Ruffle and Ben Atkin keeping the total well within reached. We started our innings very well with Josh Howard and Lucas Brooks both putting the ball away to the boundary with efficient ease. However, a mix up off a no ball led to the run out of Josh Howard when the score was 37-0. Tomas Gorringe then played a loose shot to mid wicket to be dismissed for 17 and another batsman who had made a start got out preventing us from gaining momentum. Callum Theodorou looked lively but got bowled by a ball which would have dismissed almost any batsman! Valiant late efforts by Joe Ruffle (17) and Ben Atkin who finished unbeaten on 23 took us in sight of Reading’s total but it was too little too late.

The final score was 128-7 Reading School, and 105-7 Shiplake. Close but not close enough for the team who nonetheless look forward to training harder together, and making a comeback!’

U15A XI vs Churcher’s College

After a close match against Reading Schoolk, the U15A team were keen to get back on the field. However, taking on Churcher’s College proved just as tough and the team had their work cut out. Mr James Gaunt comments below on the match:

‘In our second game of the season we travelled away to Churcher's College. We lost the toss and were put into bat on a very soft green wicket. Despite a promising start we were soon in trouble with the score going from 20 without loss after 4 overs to 45-7 after 14 overs. Several batsmen made double figures but then lost concentration and played loose shots to good deliveries. We need to appreciate that when we have got in and got settled at the crease that we need to take responsibility to stay there. Treasuring our wickets instead of asking others to come in and score runs for us will be a key focus going forward. James Roxburgh Smith and Harry Ingram added a few valuable runs at the end but it was too little too late and our top order batsmen need to accept responsibility for the collapse. However, we were keen to make a better showing of ourselves in the field and this we did. The energy levels and intensity in the field were impressive making runs hard to come by for the Churcher's College openers. A very good spell of seam bowling by Harry Ingram followed by an impressive 3 overs from debutant Oliver Dorrell made the Churcher's batsmen nervous but luck favoured Churcher's who chipped the ball into the air regularly, almost always just beyond the reach of the Shiplake fielders. A late wicket from Max Haynes was well deserved but it was all too little too late. Churcher's knocked off the 74 runs needed in 18 overs losing 3 wickets in the process. Lots to work on over the next week but the key going forward will be appreciating that you simply cannot attack off every single ball. Good deliveries must be played on their merit. 

The final score was Shiplake College U15 A XI - 73 all out, Churcher’s College - 74-3. Churcher’s College won by just seven wickets.’

U13A XI vs Churcher’s College

Mr Alex Duncan, Captain Luke Theodorou and Vice Captain Zac Kennedy had a fantastic match against Churcher’s College, and provide the following match report:

‘The U13A team were rewarded for their patience in training before their first match with an excellent performance. The team beat Churcher’s College by 97 runs in a match which included excellent batting, bowling and fielding. We hope that this is a sign of things to come – confidence is certainly high! We must not get carried away, however, as we have tough opponents yet to face and on less forgiving wickets. Jai Angell scored 48 runs, including three sixes! Max Way also batted extremely patiently for 29. The pick of the bowlers was Ben Willis, with his left arm pace, and Harry Batchelor, whose line and length of delivery were consistent and impressive. Wicket keeper Zac Kennedy also made some fine stops. The whole team fielded tightly, and this is the one big area of success considering we have not played as a team before. There is plenty to work on, and the most important element was that, despite the cold weather, as well thoroughly enjoyed the match!’