SPORT // BOYS ’ CRICKET
wickets ) but a late rally from Hornshaw ( 2 - 19 ) was pleasing in so much that we had found some fighting spirit we could potentially harness later in the season .
Following the half-term break , a postponed cup tie at home to Ripon
Grammar gave us an opportunity to bounce back . We batted quite nicely , making a respectable 111 , with Laverack and Hutchinson playing well , but in the second half we let ourselves down giving away too many extras – eventually losing by eight wickets .
Energised by their defeat from Ripon , our next game was a chance at redemption , playing at home to Hymers . After winning the toss , a confident Hymers team elected to bat and , despite our best efforts , they eventually notched up 140 - 7 ( Hutchinson 2 - 16 ) from 20 overs . Despite early losses , a brilliant stand between Scothern 34 and Hutchinson 37 put us within reach of the target . A mid-order wobble buoyed the opposition side , but a mature and collected performance from Woodruff was enough to see us over the line for a much-needed win .
Our final encounter played out as a home defeat to a very strong St Peter ’ s side . Suffering from a number of injuries and illnesses , we were left shortnumbered for the occasion ; however , the opposition were gracious enough to allow us to condition the game appropriately , and enjoy a thoroughly entertaining afternoon of cricket and close to the season .
Captain : Harvey Laverack
Player of the Season : Harvey Laverack
Most Improved Player : Freddy Woodruff
U14 XI
P5 / W4 / D0 / L1
It has been a great return to cricket for the U13s this summer , after missing out on the entirety of their season last year , due to the global pandemic . Without any fixtures in the first few weeks of term , the boys trained with an energy and a determination that set them up to have a comeback season to remember .
Our first game of the season , against Ampleforth College , showed the quality and class that we have throughout our squad , with several individuals leading us to a convincing win . Our next challenge was Hymers , the first of a twogame clash , that saw us put together a quality performance with the ball and in the field , however , lacking a little with the bat . The boys pulled together though , and saw off the Hymers lineup with several overs spare . Then St . Peter ’ s came to town and gave us our stiffest challenge of the season . Again , we faltered with the bat , which left our bowlers a lot to do with the ball . However , they were more than up to the challenge – keeping the game tight into the final over where we narrowly came up short . Gateways School would be next on our list , which proved to be a good challenge for some of our boys who hadn ’ t been able to get a game earlier in the season , and it gave us chance to see them in a match environment .
Then came our fateful return trip to Hymers , a match that neither I nor the boys will soon forget . Once again our bowlers were on top form , bowling out Hymers for 53 runs with a special mention to James Sweeting , who ended with figures of 3 - 5 . With the victory line in their minds , the boys were caught off guard by a determined Hymers bowling line-up that reduced us to 11 - 5 . Then came the skipper : Will Carver put together the definition of a ‘ captain ’ s knock ’, steadying the ship and then steering us across the line , with the aid of Sweeting , Tanikal and Pearson ,
48 THE POCKLINGTONIAN