Town Close House

This season we have fielded 8 cricket teams across the Prep School age range and around 90 boys have represented the School over the course of the summer term. An early Easter meant that several fixtures at the start of term were cancelled due to poor weather but since half term, we have been extremely fortunate to have played every single fixture.

The U9 A and B teams enjoyed a successful season and although the A team’s analysis reads played 3, lost 2, won 1 it should be remembered that both of the losses were by a single run!

The Colts teams had mixed fortunes this year. The B team were unbeaten entering into half term including a 162 run victory over Brandeston which was helped by an unbeaten century scored by Henry Crane. The C team enjoyed their fullest season to date playing 3 fixtures in total. The A team played more cricket than any other team in the school, including playing at the Framlingham Festival and the St Josephs Festival where the standard of cricket was incredibly high. They won the Plate at the Framlingham Festival following a toughly fought final against Widford Lodge.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs have had to battle against some strong opposition. The 2nd and 3rd XI teams played, as they always do, with passion and enthusiasm and gained valuable experience by playing in some highly competitive, close matches. The 1st XI made a slow start to the season but managed a draw against a very strong Norwich School side and a convincing victory over Taverham. They followed this up later in the term with a pleasing performance at the Brandeston Festival bearing in mind that they were missing their captain through injury.

The House Matches were exciting and full of drama and it was good to see some emerging players putting in memorable performances as well as the more experienced cricketers. In the senior House Matches George Cooke scored a 50 for Upton in their opening game against Ranworth and in the Colts House Matches Oscar Marshall made 50 for Barton in the 3rd and 4th playoff. In the Senior final the best was saved until last with Tim Alexander scoring a century in just 12 overs! The House Cricket Trophy was won, overall, by Upton and this will be presented on Prize Day.

On behalf of all of the boys who have represented the School this term, I would like to thank all of the coaching staff for the time and effort that they have put in to help us with our cricket.

Brandeston U13 Festival

The 1st XI travelled to Brandeston Hall on Thursday 19th June for the annual Brandeston Cricket Festival. They were beaten heavily in their opening game against a very strong Holmwood House side which served as a major shock to the system and inspired some team members to put in their best performances of the season in the games that followed.

In the Plate Semi Final they were drawn to play Brandeston Hall. Town Close batted first scoring 115-2 in their twelve 8-ball overs. George Anthony was out in the second over but a 100 partnership between Tim Alexander and Angus Raffles steadied the ship to say the least with Alexander scoring a superb 51 and Raffles scoring an equally impressive 34. Brandeston were always up with the run rate but Town Close took wickets at crucial times and managed to bowl the hosts out for 97 with Gautham Venu taking 4 wickets.

In the Plate Final against St Josephs, Town Close made 119 with another half century from Tim Alexander and an excellent 47 from George Anthony. St Josephs reached the required total with an over to spare despite a spirited team performance in the field.

Tim Alexander won the award for Batsman of the Tournament.

The squad that went to the Festival were:
S Bloom, T Alexander, G Anthony, A Raffles, F Baron, J Deane, W Tomson, G Venu, D Woodward, C Youngs, H Brock, G Cooke, L Gooderham

Framlingham U11 Festival

The Colts A travelled to Framlingham College on Friday 13th June for the 2nd Framlingham Festival and won The Shield. They lost their opening game against a strong Holmwood House team meaning that they went straight into the Shield Competition for first round losers. In the Shield Semi Final they were drawn to play Brandeston Hall. Brandeston batted first scoring 57-3 and Town Close managed to reach the target with an over to spare. In the final, Town Close played against Widford Lodge. Town Close posted a pleasing total of 84 and managed to limit Widford Lodge to 78. The team conducted themselves excellently and there were some impressive individual performances both with the bat and with the ball.

The squad that went to the Festival were:
L Gooderham, A Levinson, J Smith, A Moody, D Simmons, C Greenhall, O marshall, W Hunt, H MacGregor