Some tight matches played throughout all sports, with the girls taking the win by a close margin against Reading Blue Coat and our 1st XI celebrating a big victory against Abingdon.
Girls Rounders v Reading Blue Coat
On Wednesday 22 May, Shiplake played rounders against Reading Blue Coat. Due to there being only one Reading Blue Coat team, Shiplake divided into two groups and the match was split for two innings.
In the first innings, Shiplake were quick to start the match off with a positive attitude by batting first. With some excellent bats made by both E Hodson and H Austin, Shiplake finished their round of batting with an amazing score of 6 ½ rounders. There was much excitement as L Lyons scored a rounder in the final few balls. The team then rotated to fielding. E Booth was out deep in the field and did not disappoint, throwing balls to E Hodson on second base. A Hallam, who was on fourth, managed to get 7 of the Blue Coat players out.
The second innings started and we changed around the players. Shiplake again started with an extremely positive atmosphere. We started fielding with a terrific catch from E Nolson, automatically getting one Blue Coat girl out. The fast balls passed to R Edwards on fourth from second base, helped Shiplake to put pressure on Blue Coat players, preventing them from scoring rounders. After managing to successfully get 12 of the Blue Coat players out, we then went to bat. With some excellent hits from L Stalder, S Hahn and G Stebbings, 4 rounders were secured.
The final scores were added up after both the matches. It was a close match, but Shiplake won with 10 ½ rounders to Reading Blue Coat’s 10 rounders. Well done to all who played and for taking part in such an exciting and close game.
Report provided by M Simpson, Year 12
1st XI Cricket v Abingdon
On 22 May the 1st XI took on Abingdon’s 1st XI to play a 20 over game. With Captain M Dalrymple winning the toss and electing to bat first, this saw him and J Howard making their way to the crease. It was soon apparent that the wicket was not favourable to bat on, as Shiplake lost wickets quick. The boys were all out for 108 runs with B West top scoring with 18.
Before going out to field the boys were told by Mr McCraw that the only way the team could win the fixture was with tight fielding and steady bowling. This was perfectly executed with C Creighton starting the innings with a wicket maiden. With more strong bowling from M Haynes from the other end, this put the team in a strong position. The boys kept the talk in the field load with T Mythen executing some strong respectable sledging leading to Abingdon’s middle order collapsing. This left the game to a memorable last over. With C Creighton having bowled all his overs this put M Dalrymple on to bowl the last. Abingdon required 5 runs off the last 2 balls.
With Matt bowling a ball outside the off stump and the batsmen drilling it through the covers, J Angell pulled off a boundary avoiding dive. They then needed 4 off the last ball. M Dalrymple then decided to bowl a wide down the leg side, with the off strike batsmen charging down the wicket trying to get a quick single. J Howard’s quick thinking to throw the ball back to M Dalrymple and then taking the bails off, left the Shiplake boys celebrating a big victory!
Report provided by M Dalrymple
U15 Tennis v Holme Grange
On Thursday 23 May, the Colts played Holme Grange in a home fixture. This match saw three players make their Shiplake debut: Z Bailey-Williams, F Woods and L Ferrer de Arriba. They did not disappoint and helped the team claim a 6-0 victory over their opponents.
It is great to see such depth in the junior squad this year and we look forward to seeing the boys develop their skill and love for the game.
