ONA Cricket

On a scenic hilltop plateau overlooking where The Great British Bake-Off is filmed, star bowler of this exceedingly good-natured ONA fixture was returnee Will Freer, playing his first cricket since Y11. Still the poster boy of a display board in the hub, Will tucked into the school’s top six with an almost greedy 4 for 8, proving there was nothing stale about his skills or enthusiasm. Only local hero, Archie, (a current Y11), could cook up much resistance to an unrelentingly stingy diet of ONA bowling – finishing on an enterprising 29 that included one show-stopper of a straight six. The icing on the cake for the ONA was George Shakespeare having a valiant Mr Robbins, who had earlier roamed the boundary with the brooding intensity of a Byronic hero, stumped as the coup de grace.

In the first innings of the game, Y13 Poppy (guesting for the ONA again) recorded a composed 20 before Elliot Crouch got going with a crunchy 52 (retired out). Ever-reliable run-baker Matt Richardson chipped in with 32 as the next highest scorer. Y9 James was the pick of a mixed St Bart’s bowling effort, extracting sharp bounce from his disciplined lines. Yet the ONA’s total of 157 was always likely to be a tricky chase, even without Mr Clayton deeming Y11 Leo lbw for nought. No bat involved? The umpire thought so.

It was great to see so many recent alumni in the victorious ONA side, capably organised by Captain Edan Camplin, but all present were grateful to the triumvirate of teachers who helped staff the school team. Mr Robbins is already mentioned in dispatches, but Mr Weekes can dine out for months on a leg glance redolent of a Richie Richardson highlights reel (that’s what YouTube is for, kids!), while Mr Horn fielded with the ardour of a Roman gladiator (if only he’d worn his plumed helmet!) and was millimetres from skewering a wicket. Final thanks to Ian Herrington for use of the Welford Park’s ground and the Lawsons for scoring en famille.