A Busy Week of Cricket and Athletics

Tuesday 16th June

U8/9 Cricket vs. Moor Park

KSA won the toss and elected to bat first, and it proved to be an excellent decision as the team produced a superb batting display. 

From the very start, the players showed great confidence at the crease, running brilliantly between the wickets and putting pressure on the fielders. There were plenty of well-executed boundaries throughout the innings, with James, Gabe, Wilf and Magson all finding the rope with some excellent shots. 

The standout batting performance came from Archie M, who was in terrific form. During his three-over spell at the crease, Archie struck two huge sixes and two well-timed fours, helping KSA build an impressive total. Thanks to a combination of strong batting, positive running and excellent teamwork, KSA finished on a fantastic score of 291. 

KSA then carried their momentum into the field, making a strong start with the ball. The bowlers consistently restricted the scoring and took regular wickets to keep Moor Park under pressure throughout their innings. 

There were some excellent moments in the field as well. Gabe took a fantastic catch, while the standout moment of the innings came when a Moor Park batter hit the ball high into the air and Magson held on to a fabulous catch, much to the delight of his teammates. 

KSA’s disciplined bowling and fielding performance restricted Moor Park to 267. A special congratulations goes to Archie M, who was voted Player of the Match by the opposition following his outstanding all-round contribution. 

A brilliant team performance from everyone involved, with strong batting, excellent bowling and some outstanding fielding helping KSA to another strong performance. 

U8/9 Cricket vs. Moor Park 

Our U8/U9 team put in a fantastic performance against Moorpark, showing great enthusiasm, teamwork and improving cricket skills throughout the match. There were plenty of highlights, including an excellent wicket from Xander R, whose superb bowling provided one of the standout moments of the game. With the bat, Molly P, Alice P and Olivia E all played brilliantly, showing confidence, determination and some excellent shot-making to keep the scoreboard moving. In the field, Edward R made a huge contribution by stopping several critical runs for the opposition with some outstanding fielding, helping to maintain pressure throughout the match. Every player played their part and represented the team brilliantly with great effort and sportsmanship. A special well done goes to our Players of the Match, with Molly P named Bowler of the Match for her excellent performance and Olivia E awarded Batter of the Match for her outstanding batting display. Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic team effort against Moorpark. 

 

U8/9 Cricket vs. Moor Park 

Twenty-six Year 3 and 4 pupils made a slightly longer journey than usual on Tuesday as they travelled to Shropshire for an away cricket fixture against Moor Park School. 

One of the three St. Alban’s teams was made up of Sam, Phoenix, Ben W, Tiegan, Hibah, Finley, Ivan and Mikaeel. After winning the toss, Moor Park elected to bowl first. 

St. Alban’s made an excellent start with Ben and Mikaeel opening the batting and scoring 21 runs from their three overs without losing a wicket. Tiegan and Hibah followed with a further 16 runs, losing just one wicket, before Ivan and Sam added 23 runs from their three overs. Phoenix and Finley then rounded off the innings in fine style, scoring an impressive 30 runs from their three overs to help St. Alban’s finish on a very respectable 90 runs for the loss of just one wicket. 

With the batting order mirroring the bowling order, Ben, Mikaeel and Tiegan opened the bowling and immediately put Moor Park under pressure, restricting the first pair to 16 runs while both Mikaeel and Tiegan claimed wickets. Hibah, Ivan and Tiegan continued the strong start, limiting the next pair to 19 runs from their three overs. 

Sam, Phoenix and Finley then maintained the high standards in the field, conceding just 22 runs from the following three overs. Ben, Mikaeel and Hibah completed the innings with another disciplined spell, restricting Moor Park’s final batting pair to 22 runs from the last three overs of the match. 

The highlight of the innings came on the final ball, when Tiegan demonstrated excellent wicketkeeping skills to complete a run out with a perfectly accurate throw at the stumps. 

At the close of play, Moor Park had reached 69 runs for the loss of four wickets, giving St. Alban’s a deserved victory by 21 runs and three wickets. 

Congratulations to Sam, Phoenix, Ben W, Tiegan, Hibah, Finley, Ivan and Mikaeel, who all played their part in an excellent team performance. The match provided valuable match experience and reinforced the importance of accurate bowling, positive fielding and taking every opportunity to score runs. 

Many thanks to the parents who made the longer journey across the border to support the children throughout the afternoon. Their encouragement was greatly appreciated by all involved. 

Wednesday 17th June 

U10/11 Cricket v Moor Park

The U11/10 team travelled to Moor Park on Wednesday and produced an excellent all-round performance. 

Captain Joshua won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that quickly paid dividends. The KSA bowlers were disciplined throughout the innings, restricting the Moor Park batters superbly and making scoring difficult from the outset. 

Wickets were shared across the bowling attack, with Haadi, Ben, Max and Jack C all making important breakthroughs. The standout bowler was Jack C, who delivered an outstanding two-over spell, conceding just two runs while also picking up a wicket. His accuracy and control helped keep the pressure firmly on the opposition. 

Thanks to the team’s excellent bowling and fielding efforts, Moor Park were restricted to a total of 96, leaving KSA with a manageable target to chase. 

In reply, KSA batted positively and confidently from the start. Max led the way with a well-made 15, while Adam contributed 13 and Joshua added 14. Matthew remained unbeaten on 14*, helping guide the team towards victory. 

The batting unit worked together brilliantly, keeping the scoreboard moving and ensuring there were no alarms during the chase. KSA reached their target comfortably, finishing the game with seven overs to spare. 

It was a fantastic team performance, with disciplined bowling, sharp fielding and confident batting combining to deliver a well-deserved win. 

U10/11 Cricket v Moor Park

The KSA Girls U11/10A team enjoyed a fantastic afternoon of cricket against Moor Park, producing an excellent all-round performance to come away with a well-deserved victory. 

After winning the toss, the girls decided to bowl first and made a brilliant start. Tight and disciplined bowling put Moor Park under pressure from the outset, resulting in regular wickets throughout the innings. The highlight of the day came from Thea, who produced a superb hat-trick, much to the delight of her teammates and supporters. Backed up by some excellent fielding, KSA worked hard to keep the Moor Park total as low as possible and maintained their intensity from start to finish. 

Going into the batting innings, the girls continued to impress. There was some excellent cricket shots played throughout, demonstrating growing confidence in our ability. One of the standout achievements was that the team did not lose a single wicket, allowing them to steadily build momentum as the innings progressed. 

The running between the wickets was superb. The girls made sure they took every run on offer, particularly important with the slightly larger boundary. This awareness and communication enabled us to keep the scoreboard ticking and ultimately leading to us scoring lots of runs. 

In the end, KSA came out on the winning side after a thoroughly enjoyable match filled with great teamwork and positive cricket. 

Well done to Nell, Romi, Thea, Elodie, Aria, Hannah, Martha, and Lilliana on what was a very enjoyable afternoon of cricket and a fantastic team performance. 

U10/11 Cricket v Moor Park 

The U10 and U11 Girls B Team produced an excellent all-round performance to secure a well deserved victory against Moor Park. 

The girls were outstanding in the field, showing great energy and enthusiasm throughout the match. Their bowling was accurate and disciplined, making scoring difficult for the opposition and limiting Moor Park’s opportunities to build partnerships. Backing up the bowlers was some excellent fielding, with the team working hard to stop runs and put pressure on every batter. 

When it was our turn to bat, the girls showed great awareness and communication between the wickets, turning singles into twos and keeping the scoreboard moving. There were also some powerful shots on display, with both Sophie and Savannah delighting teammates and spectators alike by hitting impressive sixes. 

It was a fantastic team performance, with everyone contributing to a deserved win. Well done to all the girls for their effort, teamwork and positive attitude throughout the game. 

U10 Cricket vs. King’s Hawford

Ten Year 5 boys made the short journey to Claines to take on their counterparts from King’s Hawford in an enjoyable and competitive game of hardball pairs cricket. Representing St. Alban’s were Jack C, Harvey, Bertie, Theo, Max C, Oscar, Eli, Dylan, George and Daniel. 

After winning the toss, King’s Hawford elected to bat first. St. Alban’s made an excellent start with the ball, as Jack, Dylan and George restricted the opening pair to just seven runs, each claiming a wicket. Bertie then produced an impressive spell, taking two wickets as he, Daniel and Max limited the next pair to only five runs. 

The disciplined bowling continued throughout the innings. Harvey, Eli and Theo conceded just four runs from their three overs, while Dylan, Oscar and Jack restricted the following pair to only two runs, with Dylan earning a deserved wicket. St. Alban’s finished strongly as George claimed another wicket and Daniel took two wickets in consecutive deliveries. By the end of the innings, King’s Hawford had been restricted to 18 runs for the loss of nine wickets. 

Following the same batting order pattern, St. Alban’s responded positively. Jack C and Max opened with a confident partnership worth 15 runs without loss. Daniel and Eli then accelerated the scoring impressively, adding 31 runs from their three overs. Eli struck a fine boundary, while Daniel delighted spectators with three fours, including two in consecutive deliveries. 

Bertie and Harvey added a further 15 runs, while Dylan and George contributed 13 runs, including another boundary. Oscar and George completed the innings with a useful 10-run partnership. St. Alban’s finished on 69 runs for the loss of just three wickets. 

The final score gave St. Alban’s a convincing victory by 51 runs. Although the run difference was significant, the match ultimately highlighted the importance of taking wickets, and it was particularly pleasing to see the boys seize their opportunities in the field, claiming nine wickets while losing only three themselves. 

Congratulations to Jack C, Harvey, Bertie, Theo, Max C, Oscar, Eli, Dylan, George and Daniel on an excellent team performance and for continuing to develop their hardball cricket skills and match experience. 

Finally, thank you to the parents who came along to support the team. Their encouragement was greatly appreciated, especially during an afternoon that alternated between sunshine and cloud.

 

Thursday 18th June 

Our pupils represented the school brilliantly at the Mercia Regional Athletics Meet in Stourport on Thursday, demonstrating not only excellent athletic ability but also outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day.The children maturely supported and congratulated one another in every event, creating a fantastic team atmosphere and showing great encouragement for their teammates from start to finish.

Max (600, HJ), Adam (75, 150), Jack (Shot), Ben (150, HJ), Hugo (LJ, Jav), Thea (HJ, 600), Nell (1200) and Romi (150, HJ) all performed exceptionally well, pushing themselves to achieve their very best against an extremely strong field of competitors. Their determination, resilience and commitment were evident in every event they took part in.

Special mention must go to Adam, who produced an outstanding performance by qualifying for the finals of both the 75m and 150m races. He narrowly missed out on national qualification, making his achievement all the more impressive. To come so close against such high-quality opposition was a tremendous accomplishment.

Nell was another standout performer. She worked incredibly hard in the demanding 1200m event and then showed great determination in the 100m final, battling strongly against her opponents and giving an excellent account of herself.

Congratulations to all of our athletes on a successful day. They should be extremely proud of their efforts, attitude and achievements, and they represented the school superbly throughout the competition.