The cricket match began at 12.00, a little later than the scheduled 11.00 am start, due mainly to a few of the Old Boys still recovering from the night before!  The toss was won by the School who, breaking with tradition, elected to bat first, with the game shortened to 25 overs.

The TBS team comprised mainly players who left between 1999 and 2001, with the exception of John Rummary and Jonathan Coles (over on a visit from America) who stepped in to play at the last minute.

Baz Bignell and Phil Semmens opened for the School and got off to a good start sharing in an opening stand of 35 before Baz was out for 19 off the bowling of Hugh Anderson, who by this time was bowling barefooted!

It was, however, the second wicket stand of 144 between Phil Semmens and Mike Churchill which really put the School in control.  The TBS team used seven bowlers in trying to restrict the run rate with only Tim Golds' part time offspin actually maintaining respectable figures from his five overs.  Eventually, after much toiling, a few dropped catches and some great shorts, Semmens was bowled by Tom Humphries for 102, the second and last wicket to fall for the School.  By this point the platform had been laid and Churchill (73 no) and Freddie Hulbert (23 no) pushed the score onto 214 for 2 after 25 overs.

After a short lunch break it was the Old Boys' turn to bat.  They got off to a flying start with Harry Withers and George Bright powering the ball to all corners of the Arena before George, on 18, succumbed to an old injury sustained in the same fixture two years ago.  The TBS team reached 60 off 7 overs before Mike Churchill, who seemed determined to pick up the man of the match award, took 3 wickets in 2 overs to remove the TBS top order, including Withers, for an all action 40.

Tom Humphries and Ollie Rogers steadied the ship but when Tom (20) was caught and bowled by Churchill, his fourth wicket in as many overs, the tail waned and Warner and Helesfay took two wickets a piece to leave the TBS team 41 short at the close, with Ollie having played a swashbuckling cameo of 47 off 25 balls.

As is traditional in this fixture, a Salix bat is presented to the school player with the most runs and a cricket ball is given to the player with the most wickets.  On this occasion Phil Semmens won the bat with his 102 runs and Mike Churchill, who won the man of the match award for a well taken 73 along with bowling figures of 4 for 23 off 5 overs, won the ball.

The Rounders match did take place and thanks must go to the old girls who came along to play.  Both teams were somewhat improvised with boarders from across the year groups and staff children making up the school team.  It is probably not surprising that the TBS team won 26 to 8.

On behalf of the TBS, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tor Harmer for organising the whole day, including lunch, the rounders game and the bbq in The Orchard, which made a great end to the event.  I would also like to thank Matt Payne, who along with Baz Bignell helped get the school team together and sorted out the facilities for us to use. 

 

A big thank also you to Ray Richards, whose support of and help with the event enables us to keep the fixture going.  Finally, thanks to Phil Marriott who has always supported these events and has worked tirelessly to ensure the School has had top class sports teams with topclass sporting facilities.

A good day was had by all!

Ed Streeton-Smith