Summer Sport in Full Swing

It has been a fantastic week of sport across the school, with pupils from Years 3 to 6 taking part in a variety of exciting fixtures, friendly matches, and athletic competitions. From closely contested cricket games against Moor Park and Malvern St James to standout individual performances at the National Preparatory School Athletics Qualifiers, our pupils have demonstrated not only impressive skill and determination but also outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm.

U8/9 Cricket v Moor Park 

On Tuesday, I had a small group of girls for a pairs cricket match under beautiful sunshine. It was truly rewarding to see how much progress they’ve made since their first game at the start of the term. Olivia stood out with an impressive bowling performance, demonstrating a strong understanding of field placement and tactics. Hibah also had a great game, confidently striking the balls that deserved to be hit. 

Overall, it was a very pleasing and encouraging performance from all the players. Well done, girls! 

 

U8/9 Cricket v Moor Park 

On Tuesday 17th, the Year 3 and 4 cricket team enjoyed a glorious afternoon of cricket at Slingpool Walk, taking on Moor Park School in a friendly ‘pairs’ format match. With the sun beaming down and a gentle breeze keeping players cool, conditions were perfect for an exciting game. 

The St. Alban’s team, made up of; Milan, Tiegan, Nell, George, Jeremiah, Rudy, Max, Iris, Poppy and Amber, was full of enthusiasm and team spirit as they took to the field. Batting first, the team made an excellent start, with all pairs working well together to rotate the strike, find gaps, and build a solid score. Despite losing a couple of wickets along the way, they showed good resilience and awareness, finishing their innings on a very respectable 71 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets. With boundaries hit and plenty of quick singles taken, it was a strong team performance. 

Knowing that every wide or no-ball would cost them runs, and that each wicket taken would deduct five runs from the Moor Park total, the St. Alban’s players focused hard during the fielding innings – and it paid off. The whole team showed great determination in the field, and their bowling and fielding helped them restrict Moor Park to 60 runs for 3 wickets, securing a well-deserved and fairly comfortable win for St. Alban’s. 

There were some standout moments that deserve a special mention; Jeremiah bowled a fantastic maiden over, conceding no runs and applying pressure to the opposition; Max showed brilliant awareness and accuracy with a direct-hit run-out to claim a wicket; Nell and Iris batted confidently, running quick singles and helping build momentum; Milan impressed with a well-timed boundary; George had a great all-round game, posing a threat with both bat and ball; Poppy, Amber, and Rudy made several important stops in the field, keeping the run rate in check. The game was played in a fantastic spirit, with all players showing great teamwork, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship throughout. 

A huge well done to all of the children for their hard work and positive attitudes and a warm thank you to all the parents and supporters who came along to cheer them on in the sunshine. Your encouragement is always appreciated and helps make afternoons like this extra special. 

 

U10/11 Cricket vs Moor Park School 

On Wednesday, I went to my first away match at Moor Park School a truly delightful setting for cricket. Although our game was played on an astro hockey pitch, it turned out to be a great surface, with a true bounce and small boundaries that made for an exciting, fast-paced match. 

We lost the toss and were put into bat first. Our batting performance was strong, with the team losing only one wicket. Tilly was rightly awarded Batter of the Match for her excellent contribution. The highest scoring pair was Crispin and Henry, who struck two boundaries and added crucial runs to the total. We finished our innings with a solid 285 runs. 

We took to the field full of positivity, and our fielding was the best it has been all term. George C and Henry made some excellent stops on the boundary, showing real commitment. Luca was named Bowler of the Match for his impressive performance, and Phoebe deserves a special mention for bowling a brilliant over, conceding just two runs. 

Moor Park were restricted to 254 runs, giving us a well-deserved win. Well done to the whole team for a fantastic performance! 

 

U8/9 vs Moor Park 

The U8/9s put in a fantastic team performance against Moor Park, showcasing great skill, spirit, and sportsmanship throughout the match. Sophie and Elodie were outstanding with the bat, playing confidently and timing their shots beautifully to keep the scoreboard ticking. Their technique and focus at the crease were a joy to watch. Gabe and Daniel were superb between the wickets, running quickly and smartly to turn ones into twos and applying real pressure on the fielders. 

With the ball, Akshay and Savannah set the tone early with tight, accurate bowling, while Gabe continued to shine with a brilliant spell that included a key wicket. Hugo and Magson were electric in the field, reacting sharply and showing fantastic commitment to backing up throws and stopping runs. Their energy lifted the whole team. 

What stood out most was the incredible teamwork on display. The players supported each other with positive encouragement and celebrated each other’s successes, showing great camaraderie. They were equally respectful to the Moor Park team, clapping good play and helping out when needed. It was a wonderful display of cricket and sportsmanship from a talented and developing side. Well done to all involved! 

 

U11/10 vs Moor Park 

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, the U11/10 team faced off against Moor Park in what turned out to be an exciting and hard-fought contest. KSA batted first and got off to a flying start with Will and Nell setting the tone, scoring confidently and running well between the wickets. The momentum continued with the final pair, Arlo and Romi, who batted with great intent to help the team finish on a solid 291. However, despite the strong scoring, a flurry of wickets throughout the innings meant 40 runs were deducted from the total under the match format, resulting in a net score of 251. 

With three clear targets bowl straight, stay tight in the field, and take every opportunity the team took to the field with great energy. The bowling performance was nothing short of outstanding. Max set the tone brilliantly, claiming a wicket with the very first ball of the innings to ignite the KSA momentum. Ben J followed suit with an impressive display, taking two excellent wickets both with the first deliveries of his two overs! 

Romi bowled with impressive accuracy and economy, conceding just 2 runs from her two overs, keeping the pressure firmly on the opposition. Nell produced a moment of magic, claiming what was undoubtedly the wicket of the day – clean bowling Moor Park’s big hitter and removing middle stump with a beauty of a delivery. 

The fielding throughout was sharp and disciplined, with the whole team contributing to a tight and controlled performance. The bowlers were backed up brilliantly by the fielders, limiting Moor Park’s scoring chances and holding their nerve under pressure. Moor Park were restricted to 230, meaning KSA secured a well-deserved win thanks to their excellent bowling and fielding efforts. 

 

U10/11 vs Moor Park 

The U10/11s produced a brilliant all-round performance against Moor Park, full of energy, skill, and outstanding teamwork. Batting first, every player contributed positively, with Oscar and Leo leading the way with powerful and controlled strokes. Harry brought flair to the innings with some inventive and creative shots, keeping the fielders guessing throughout. Freddy and Zack showed excellent communication and awareness, running quickly and smartly between the wickets to keep the momentum going. 

With the ball, Archie and Uriah delivered tight, accurate spells that gave the opposition very few scoring opportunities. A highlight of the innings came when Freddy, keeping wicket, took a superb catch off Uriah’s bowling an excellent moment of teamwork and skill. In the field, the boys maintained high energy and focus from start to finish. Oscar was outstanding, producing two sharp run outs with direct hits, while the rest of the fielders showed real determination to back up throws and stop boundaries. 

 

U11/U10 Cricket v Malvern St James 

 The team created a fantastic atmosphere, encouraging each other and playing with real spirit and enjoyment. Their support for one another and respect for the opposition made it a great game to watch. A superb team performance from a group showing real promise! 

 

National Preparatory School Qualifiers – Stourport Athletics Club 

We’ve just returned from a scorching day at the National Preparatory School Qualifiers, held at the Stourport Athletics Club. Despite the intense heat, all our pupils showed great determination, we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. 

The day began with Nell D in the Year 6 1500m race. She ran a smart and tactical race, finishing strongly in 4th place with an impressive time of 5:524 minutes. 

Tilly was our first competitor in the field events, and she should be very pleased with her throw of 13.8m in the discus event, earning her a well-deserved 4th place. 

In the high jump, both Romi and Charles represented the school with determination. Each cleared a height of 1.10m, with Charles placing 11th and Romi securing a joint 5th position—an excellent result in a competitive field. 

Archie delivered a superb performance in the 100m sprint. He ran with speed in his heat, and we are delighted to see that he qualified for the final—well done, Archie! 

Our final competitor of the day was Georgia in the long jump. After a long and hot wait for her event, she showed remarkable composure and strength to record a leap of 3.41m. 

A huge well done to all our athletes for their outstanding effort and perseverance throughout the day. You represented the school brilliantly!