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The 1st XI v King's
The 1st XI v King's

Cricket Results Trinity 2009

30 June 2009

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Sunday 28th June
v Old Elizabethans

1st XI: RGSAO 230-6, OEs 82ao WON by 148 runs (Ollie Steele 70, Jack Watkins 3-15)

Saturday 27th June
v King’s School Worcester

1st XI: RGSAO 154-9, King’s 103 ao WON by 52 runs (James Ganderton 3-7)

2nd XI: RGSAO 194 ao, King’s 118 ao WON by 76 runs

Thursday 25th June
v Haybridge High School

U 12 A: Bunbury Cup Haybridge 106 ao, RGSAO 107 – 0, WON by 10 wkts (Jack Taylor 49*)

Thursday 25th June
v Victoria College

1st XI: RGSAO 250 – 3, Victoria College 199 ao, WON by 51 runs (Ollie Flower 129, Sam Roberts 98*)

Wednesday 24th June
v Hanley Castle

U14 A: County Cup: RGSAO 182-4, Hanley Castle 132 ao WON by 50 runs (Ed Pollock 69, Zac Turley 53)

Wednesday 24th June
v Malvern College

1st XI: Malvern College 306-8, RGSAO 225 ao

Monday 22nd June
v King’s School Worcester

U 14 A: RGSAO 224 – 2, King’s 113 ao WON by 111 runs (Ed Pollock 70 & 4 – 32)

U 14 B: King’s 61 ao, RGSAO 62 -2 WON by 8 wkts (Tom Gretton 3 for 10, Ed Harling 31)


Saturday 20th June
v Nottingham High School

1st XI Nottingham 269-7, RGSAO 264-5 Lost by 5 runs Sam Roberts 102

2nd XI Nottingham 179-5, RGSAO 171-5 Lost by 8 runs Tom Williams 76

U15 A RGSAO 160-8, Nottingham 164-7 Lost by 3 wickets

U15 B Nottingham 145, RGSAO 105 Lost by 40 runs

U14 A RGSAO 130 ao, Nottingham 140-5 Lost by 5 wkts

U14 B Nottingham 102 ao, RGSAO 72 ao Lost by 30 runs

U13 A RGSAO 123-8 Nottingham 124-7 Lost by 3 wkts Dan Goodyear 50

U13 B Nottingham 181-3 RGSAO 61 ao Lost by 120 runs

U12A Nottingham 142-09 Taylor 2 for 23 Reading 2 for 19 RGSAO 114 oa Bradley 38 Reading 20 Lost by 28 runs

U12B Nottingham 48 ao Nesbitt 3 overs 3 wickets for 9 runs RGSAO 51 - 4 Ganderton 26 not out

U12B played a second game which RGSAO won again and Adam Warner scored 56 runs

1st XI Match Report

The 1st XI arrived at Nottingham on what was, all things considered, a pretty overcast, cold and uninteresting Saturday morning. The thick clouds overhead, and the sight of an already green wicket and wet outfield suggested, possibly, a low-scoring affair, with plenty of time to appreciate Nottingham’s wonderful new pavilion. How wrong we were.

Nottingham won the toss and elected to bat first, and within minutes, the RGSAO attack struck, and not only did one batsman find himself clean bowled by the pace and movement of Keir and Pollock, but so did the next one, and the one after that. Indeed, when Duncan Keir uprooted off-stump to leave Nottingham stranded on 40 for 3, things were looking very good indeed for RGSAO. However, as has often been the case this season, the run of early wickets dried up, and we began to lose the initiative as Nottingham crept back into the game. A fantastic 140 partnership in the middle of the innings took Nottingham past the 200 mark, and a fantastic century from captain Ben Storey helped Nottingham post 269 for 7 from their 50 overs, Storey finishing unbeaten on 136, one of the highlights of the season so far.

Chasing 270 to win is not something that the 1st XI have to cope with very often, but today Flower and Roberts went out to open the batting knowing that, with the pitch holding up well and the outfield ever quickening, if they got the innings off to a good start, we might just be able to pull it off. Indeed, they did just that, finding the boundary on several occasions in a commanding opening partnership of 60, before Flower was, admittedly quite astoundingly, caught and bowled when he hit a bullet back to the Nottingham bowler, who somehow managed to cling on. Dan Hagger was next out to bat, and again worked his way nicely to 30 and another 60 partnership with Roberts before top edging an attempted sweep into the keeper’s gloves. It was much the same story when Andrew Curtis came out to bat, he again helped RGSAO put on another 60 before being quite brilliantly stumped by Nottingham’s keeper, Godrich. At this point, RGSAO were 185 for 3, a good position, but we still needed another 85 runs, and there were only 9 overs left in which to get them. Steele and Ford both came and went in rather quick succession to leave the 1st XI in trouble still needing 70 off the last 5 overs. This, by any team’s standards, was a very high asking rate, of 14 an over. It was time for a case of ‘cometh the hour, cometh the man’. The man who came in to bat was Ali Pollock, who we all know to have a certain delight for playing ‘freely’. I think even those of us who knew what was coming, however, were still surprised. Some huge boundaries and several incredibly fortunate between-the-wicket runs later, and RGSAO needed 15 off the last over, Pollock having made his way to 42 off just 20 balls. Sam Roberts, meanwhile, had made his way almost undetected to 102 not out, batting through all 50 overs with poise, sensibility and an evident knowledge of the point boundary. Unfortunately, when Pollock was bowled the very next ball, the game took a huge swing back in the direction of Nottingham, and after captain James Ganderton had suffered the indignity of being given run out by his own coach and stand-in umpire, Mr Newport, the 1st XI wound up needing 6 off the last ball to tie the game. As it was, we only managed a single, and so Nottingham triumphed by 5 runs, in one of the highest-scoring games of the season, and a game that ended up being a lot closer than it had at points looked like it was going to be went Nottingham’s way. Despite RGSAO’s defeat, many players could take heart from a strong batting performance, and, if the bowling had just not let the initiative slip away during the first innings, who knows what could have been achieved?




Thursday 18th June 
v King's School, Worcester

U15 A: RGSAO 111 ao, King’s 45 ao Won by 76 runs. Alex Barnes 30* and 4 for 12, Harry Bates 4 for 8

U 5 B: RGSAO 128 ao, King’s 105 ao Won by 23 runs


Saturday 13th June 
v Solihull School

1st XI Solihull 235-7, RGSAO 231-9 Lost by 4 runs

2nd XI Solihull 194 ao, RGSAO 150 ao Lost by 44 runs

3rd XI RGSAO 125 ao Solihull 126-8 Lost by 3 wkts Alex Serrano 60

U15 A RGSAO 123 ao, Solihull 124 -8 Lost by 2 wkts

U14 A RGSAO 221-3, Solihull 173-7 Won by 4 runs Ed Pollock 71, Zac Turley 106*

U13 A Solihull 231 ao, RGSAO 134 ao Lost by 97 runs

U12 A RGSAO 206-9 Solihull 121 ao Won by 85 runs Jack Taylor 77

1st XI Match Report

The 1st XI have had quite a long mid-season break over the half-term period, and so the visit of Solihull was a hotly anticipated game, and a chance, perhaps, to recapture the winning ways that we had found in the period before half term.  Having lost the toss and been forced into the field, the first few overs passed without any real drama, as RGSAO coped fairly well, despite the absence of opening bowler Ali Pollock.  Indeed, Solihull were stopped from really getting into their stride early on, and when a quick burst of wickets left the score at 68 for 3, it looked good for RGSAO, if they could push on and take a couple more quick wickets.  However, some good batting from the middle order rescued Solihull’s innings, and they played their way to 181 for 6, before an impressive unbroken eighth wicket stand of 70 allowed them to post a very handsome target of 235 for 7 from their 50 overs, their star batsmen on the day Lucas scoring an impressive 70 not out, and James Ganderton picking up three wickets along the way.

This certainly was a very good total, and so the RGSAO openers knew that a strong opening wicket stand was necessary to allow us to attack the Solihull score.  Unfortunately, opening batsmen Sam Roberts had suffered a knock at the hands of team-mate Dan Hagger, who had sent him crashing to the ground when the two of them had gone for the same catch towards the end of the Solihull innings.  So, whilst he recuperated in the pavilion, Ollie Steele took to the field with Oli Flower to open the innings.  After a good start (Flower smashing a full toss for four on the very first ball), Flower soon found himself heading back to the pavilion, caught in the ring for just 15.  So often the lynchpin of the RGSAO batting lineup, the other batsmen would now have to stand up and score runs.  Steele, opening the batting for the first time, stuck around and played a wonderful innings of 58, sharing 121 for the second wicket with Dan Hagger, who played a wonderfully crafted 62.  Andrew Curtis blasted a very quick 43 off just 35 deliveries, to put us in a position from which we could win the game, requiring just 30 to win from the last 5 overs.  However, when Curtis was given out lbw, with 10 still needed to win in the penultimate over, there were no out-and-out batsmen to come in and grab the winning runs, and sadly the wickets tumbled as RGSAO lost 5 in the final two overs alone, to end up with a score or 231 for 9, and despite appearing to bat far better than we had done at any stage this season, we fell agonisingly 4 runs short of Solihull, in a wonderfully close and well-played game, with plenty of talent on show.  Despite the loss, a confident batting performance was a good building block to take into the next game.



Friday 12th June
v Hereford Cathedral School

U12 A Hereford Cathedral School 39 ao, RGSAO 43-2 Won by 8 wkts

U12 B RGSAO 109-9 Hereford Cathedral Sschool 105 ao Won by 4 runs



Monday 8th June 
v Pershore HS  U14 County Cup

Pershore 98 all out RGSAO 101 for 2 WON by 6 wickets.

A man of the match performance from Chip Lawton, taking 4 for 17 and scoring 23 not out, ensured a comfortable victory.

Harry Taylor scored a well constructed 38 in an opening partnership of 66 with captain Ed Pollock. All the bowlers bowled well but we still gave a problem with wides and no balls - 36 of the Pershore score of 98 were extras!


Friday 5 June

v King's Worcester - Quarter Final Bunbury Cup

The Year 7 Cricket team beat King's on Friday in the quarter-final of the Bunbury Cup. The match was very closely fought and we managed to reach their total of 109 in the last over.  Jack Taylor was man of the match with 39 runs and 3 wickets.  We now play against either Haybridge High or Baxter College in the semi-final.  

Saturday 16 May

v Monmouth School

1st XI Report

It was decidedly overcast when the 1st XI stepped out onto the field to face a good Monmouth side at Flagge Meadow, and we all knew that we would be very fortunate indeed to get through the day’s play without at least some interruption.  Having lost the toss, and Monmouth chosen to bat, the bowlers got their teeth into the opening batsmen, Ali Pollock managing the breakthrough in just 5 overs.  Monmouth’s opener, who had scored two consecutive centuries before this game, was dismissed for just one.  The second wicket partnership started to build, and looked a little more comfortable, until Jack Watkins struck to take two quick wickets as the rain began to fall.  Indeed, play stopped before the next batsman had a chance to take guard, and as an early lunch was taken, the rain fell, with Monmouth on the back foot at 60 for 3.  The rain delay meant that the game would now be reduced to 45 overs a side, and RGSAO went back out onto the field in the knowledge that another couple of quick wickets could turn the game heavily in their favour.  Sadly, it was not to be, as a fourth wicket partnership of 160 carried Monmouth easily past the 200 mark.  The Monmouth captain scored a magnificent 106 not out, amidst a couple of wickets for Andrew Curtis and another for Pollock, but Monmouth overall did superbly well to post 236 for 6 from their 45 overs.

The RGSAO run chase began very well, Oli Flower looking in good touch until he feathered one behind in the 7th over.  From then on, regular wickets began to fall, and though Sam Roberts made a good 57, by the time the rain came a second time, RGSAO required 12 an over from the final 9 overs to have any hope of saving the game.  Nevertheless, out went the sides again determined to complete the remaining overs.  It was rather fortunate for the spectators that they did, as the high asking rate gave Ali Pollock the opportunity to play as aggressively as he wanted, with some spectacular results including one huge six that almost cleared the fence amongst a barrage of big hits and improvisation.  Sadly, though, it was not enough to win the game.  Indeed, in the end, RGSAO fell 60 runs short, managing 176 for 8 from their overs, and were left to rue not killing Monmouth off when they were struggling early in the morning, and the rain that came just at the wrong time to stop the momentum.  A defeat, then, to take into the half-term break, in the knowledge that there was plenty of room for improvement, but also cause for optimism, for the second half of the season.



Saturday 9 May 

v Warwick School

U12 A RGS 132-8, Warwick 134-4 LOST by 6 wkts

U12 B RGS 155, Warwick 140 ao WON by 15 runs (Alix Turley 45 not out)

U 13 A RGS 74, Warwick 76-3 LOST by 7 wkts

U 13 B RGS 61 ao, Warwick 62-0 LOST by 10 wkts

U 14 A RGS 184-6, Warwick 185-4 LOST by 6 wkts (Zac Turley 75)

U 14 B Warwick 136-6, RGS 137-4 WON by 6 wkts (Ben Hughes 61 & 3-19)

U 15 A RGS 117 ao, Warwick 118-4 LOST by 6 wkts

U 15 B Warwick 58 ao, RGS 59-3 WON by 7 wkts

3rd XI RGS 123 ao, Warwick 124-9 LOST by 1 wkt

2nd XI RGS 138 ao, Warwick 139-

1st XI Warwick 176 ao, RGS 177-3 WON by 7 wkts (Andrew Curtis 73 not out
Dan Hagger 59, Duncan Keir 4-30)

1st XI Match Report

After three successive victories, the 1st XI looked to continue their run of good form into this week’s game against Warwick. With captain James Ganderton somehow managing to miss the bus, and stand-in skipper Oli Flower being forced by Warwick to field first, the day appeared to be starting badly as RGSAO took to the field a man down. However, the match very quickly came to life, and a devastating spell of pace bowling from Duncan Keir reduced Warwick to 36 for 5 in the first 15 overs, the ball seaming around all over the place and the Warwick lower order literally shaking at the prospect of going out to face his bowling. When Ganderton finally arrived on the scene, numerical parity was restored, but RGSAO failed to capitalise on their run of wickets, and began to lose the initiative as Warwick crept back into the match.

Another quick burst of wickets either side of lunch from Will Short reduced Warwick to 130 for 9, but a last wicket partnership of 40 helped Warwick to post a very competitive total of 176, and RGSAO were left to rue what might have been had the lower order been dispatched as easily as the top order batsmen. The highlights of the innings were Keir’s fantastic bowling to finish with figures of 4 for 30, along with Jack Whittaker taking an impressive 4 catches behind the stumps, and Oli Flower’s sharp throw to run out one of Warwick’s faster players.

Flower and Roberts walked out to bat, facing what was an average total on the school circuit, but on a very green and unpredictable wicket, it would be tough. Early runs showed promise, but when both openers departed in successive overs, the innings began to rock, with two new batsmen at the crease and the score at 25 for 2. Andrew Curtis and Dan Hagger played themselves in, but as the overs ticked away, the run rate was moving at barely 2 an over, and by tea RGSAO were 86 for 2 after 32 overs, requiring 5 an over from the remaining 18. Curtis and Hagger knew, now, that they had to go out and play their strokes. They were targeting 6 an over, and to their immense credit, they stuck to this rate. More importantly, they did so without getting themselves out. The ball frequently flew to the boundary, but most important were the clever shots into the gaps for quick singles and twos, and despite a few close encounters with the run-out, both passed 50 in successive overs. Indeed, both men scored personal bests for the 1st XI, and even when Hagger was caught behind with 13 still required to win, Will Ford had the presence to go out and hit a couple of boundaries, and eventually hit the winning runs to bring RGSAO victory by 7 wickets in a game that had swung one way, then the other, and back again several times.

Curtis finished on 73 not out, and it was his magnificent 140 partnership with Hagger than eventually brought victory that, after a lightning start, we thought might have been slipping away. RGSAO’s winning streak continues.



Saturday 2 May 

v KES Birmingham

U12 A   KES 55 ao, RGS 56-4 WON by 6 wkts (Jack Taylor 3-6 and 20)

U12 Chiefs   RGS 84-6 KES 62-4 WON by 22 runs (Alix Turley 3-4)

U12 Hurricanes   KES 64-9 RGS 65-6 WON by 4 wkts (George O’Neil 21*, Joe Ravenscroft 3-8)

U 13 A   KES 193 ao, RGS 73 ao LOST by 120 runs

U 13 B    KES 191-6 RGS 39 ao LOST by 152 runs

U 14 A   KES 30 ao, RGS 31-2 WON by 8 wkts

U 14 B    RGS 71 all out KES 74-4 LOST by 6 wkts

U 15 A   KES 218-6 RGS 158-7 LOST by 60 runs

U 15 B   KES 237-5 RGS 75 ao LOST by 162 runs

3rd XI   RGS 97 KES 98-9 LOST by 1 wkt

2nd XI   RGS 98 ao KES 99-6 LOST 4 wkts

1st XI  RGS 218-4 KES 178-9 WON by 40 runs (Sam Roberts 76*, Ollie Flower 76
Andrew Curtis 4-41 )

1st XI Match Report

After two nail-biting encounters last week, everybody on the sidelines was hoping that the 1st XI could put on a commanding performance and win a bit more comfortably against KES Birmingham. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Oli Flower and Sam Roberts soon made their intentions clear that they would attack the KES bowlers. Oli in particular went on the offensive, smashing ten fours in his 78, as the opening partnership reached 123 before finally being broken. Will Ford and Dan Hagger provided useful support, but the headlines of the innings were stolen by Sam Roberts, who managed to bat superbly for the entire 50 overs to finish unbeaten on 76. Thanks to the contributions of the openers, RGSAO posted a total of 218 for 4, their highest of the season so far, and easily their most impressive display with the bat.

It was now down to the bowlers to restrict the KES batsmen and prevent them making the target. Duncan Keir in particular bowled well, only conceding two runs an over, but once again it fell to the spinners to take the majority of the wickets, James Ganderton chipping in with 2 for 21 before Andrew Curtis continued his amazing form with the ball to take 4 for 41, and leave KES with no real hope of making the required runs. KES’ Jack Cornick put on an amazing display to become the second batsman of the day to see out all 50 overs, and finished on 112 not out, but in truth, none of the other KES batsmen seemed able to stay in with him, and eventually KES fell 40 runs short, although the RGSAO win had looked inevitable for a long time and KES were never really up with the run rate.

This was a fantastic result for the 1st XI against another team who had beaten us last year, and there seems to be a rich vein of form and good morale running through the team, which will hopefully remain in future matches.


Sunday 26th April 

Chesterton Cup, Round 1 v King’s Worcester

RGS 118 ao King’s 116 ao Won by 2 runs!!

Match Report

After the nail-biting win against Bromsgrove the day before, and the tension of the one-run victory in this fixture the previous year, none of us on the sidelines thought that this game could possibly be anywhere near as close. How wrong we were. With King’s having won the toss and put RGSAO in to bat, the openers strode out onto a beautiful pitch, basking in the sun and the shadow of New Road, with the knowledge that quick runs would be needed in this shorter, 40-over game. After only one ball, Oli Flower was back in the pavilion, clean bowled by the first delivery from the King’s opener. Luckily, the next pair managed to consolidate, and put on a partnership of 50 to steady the ship. However, when both Roberts and Curtis then departed without further score, the innings again looked shaky, with two new batsmen at the crease, and King’s on a roll. Dan Hagger battled his way to 22 before being run out, and although we had not been bowled out in the course of the 40 overs, we all knew that, with a score of 118 for 8 on the board, we had not scored runs quickly enough. To win this game would need tight bowling, good fielding and early wickets.

After an initial two overs that were dispatched for 19, Will Short got the breakthrough, dismissing the King’s opener following a stunning one-handed diving catch from keeper Ollie Steele. Short also succeeded in removing the King’s captain and best batsman the following over, and when King’s had staggered their way to 49 for 4, the game looked once again in the balance. A 55 partnership for the fifth wicket, however, seemed to have put the game to bed, with RGSAO staring down the barrel for the second game in succession, King’s needing 15 runs from 15 overs, still with 6 wickets in hand. Then, however, the wickets began to tumble, started by a miraculous catch in the deep by Sam Roberts. Each King’s batsman that went in looked increasingly nervous, and each stayed in for a progressively shorter time, as Andrew Curtis again began to eat up the tail. Three wickets were lost with the score static at 111, and when the ninth wicket fell at 116, nobody could call which way the game would go. RGSAO needed one wicket, King’s three runs. Curtis came on to bowl what was to be the crunch over, accompanied by the loud call of the King’s coach to his number 11 batsman: ‘Just play it straight!!!’ In keeping with the long tradition of tail-enders, he did, of course, not. In trying to play the ball square against the spin, it took a leading edge and looped up into the air into the grateful arms of Ali Pollock. Miraculously, RGSAO had won by just two runs. There was silence in the pavilion, but eventually the crowd came round, and everyone congratulated both teams on the amazing spectacle they had produced, and congratulated RGSAO, in particular, as they progressed into the Chesterton Cup semi-finals



Saturday 25th April

v Bromsgrove School

1st XI RGS 182 ao Bromsgrove 177 ao Andrew Curtis 5 for 39 Won by 5 runs

2nd XI Bromsgrove 177 ao RGS 178 for 6 James Brooks 70 not out Won by 4 wkts

3rd XI Bromsgrove 61 ao RGS 61 for 0 Won by 10 wkts

U15 A Bromsgrove 81 ao RGS 82 for 2 Oli Hills 47* Won by 8 wkts

U15 B Bromsgrove 115 ao RGS 99 ao Lost by 16 runs

U14 A Bromsgrove 236 for 4 RGS 238 for 4 Ed Pollock 85 Won by 6 wkts

U14 B RGS 155 Harry Roberts 49* Bromsgrove 123 ao won by 32 runs

U13 A RGS 193 Harry Williams 71* Bromsgrove 194 for 9 Lost by 1 wkt

U13 B RGS 126 Bromsgrove 128 for 6 Lost by 4 wkts

U12 A RGS 137 for 5 Elliot Bartlett 53 Bromsgrove 138 for 7 Lost by 3 wkts

U12 B RGS 126 Bromsgrove 127 for 6 Lost by 4 wkts

1st XI Match Report

It is often the case in sport that one can witness a ‘game of two halves’. Often the entire outcome of a match can hinge on one turning point. Very rarely does that turning point come with only five overs to spare. Having won the toss and stepped out to bat, the RGSAO top order looked to put the defeat of last week behind them and put pressure on the Bromsgrove bowlers. Despite a crashing opening boundary through the covers from Sam Roberts, he departed with just 6 runs on the board. As with last week, the batsmen found it hard to occupy the crease, each wicket partnership averaging about 20 runs before being broken, and RGSAO were fortunate that Oliver Flower managed to stick around for a well-earned 43 before chipping one up into the ring for an easier catch than was deserved to end what looked a promising innings. Good contributions came too from Ollie Steele and Dan Hagger, before RGSAO were eventually bowled out for 182 in the final over.

Bromsgrove made a decent start in chasing this down, and good performances from a couple of their top order moved them onto 152 for 4, needing just 30 to win, from 9 overs, with 6 wickets in hand. Cue the fight back. Bromsgrove lost their next two wickets in consecutive balls, and when the Bromsgrove number 7 attempted a huge pull and succeeded only in smashing his own stumps to sawdust, the faintest hope of victory crept into the picture. After a brief, but very, very heavy rain delay, the game resumed, and Bromsgrove were promptly skittled out for 177, Jack Watkins holding the final catch to bring RGSAO victory by just five runs. The real hero, however, was Andrew Curtis, bowling magnificently to deceive almost all of the Bromsgrove batsmen and end with figures of 5 for 39.

From the jaws of defeat, victory had come about, and as coach Newport was later heard to remark: ‘we never looked like winning it until we took the final wicket’. This, I feel, was the game in a nutshell. But, things like this often happen in cricket, and the manner of victory gave us the perfect lift to take into the second game of a busy weekend, a winner-takes-all cup match with bitter rivals King’s. I end, fittingly, with the words of Jack Watkins. ‘Bring it on’.


Saturday 18 April

v Shrewsbury School

1st XI Shrewsbury 255-3 RGS 147 ao Curtis 59 LOST by 108 runs

2nd XI 60 ao Shrewsbury 61 - 3 LOST by 7 wickets

3rd XI RGS 161 Shrewsbury 157 WON by 4 runs!

U15a Shrewsbury 176-4 RGS 130 ao LOST by 46 runs

U15b Lost....

U14a RGS 146 Pollock 65 Shrewsbury 123 ao WON by 23 runs

1st XI Match Report

It has now become tradition that the opening day of the 1st XI season is far from an ease-in to the new summer.  This year’s first game against Shrewsbury School was no different.  With Shrewsbury having won the toss and elected to bat, the bowlers headed out onto the field with optimism, despite the perennial strength of the Shrewsbury batting line-up.  Within ten minutes they had their reward, Ali Pollock tempting the opening batsman into an outside edge that found its way into the gloves of Ollie Steele.

However, then came the runs, and, as is typically the case with Shrewsbury, they came fast and they kept coming.  In no time, the second wicket partnership reached 75, and even when that was broken by James Ganderton, it was simply the cue for the next Shrewsbury man to step into the breach and continue the scoring.  Deon Holden played his way to a magnificent 139 from just 141 balls before being bowled by Pollock whilst attempting one huge six too many, as Shrewsbury racked up a mammoth 255 for 3 from their 50 overs.

Chasing down such a huge total was always going to be a difficult ask, and despite a promising start to Oliver Flower’s 27, the wickets just fell too regularly for the total to ever really look in sight.  Andrew Curtis managed to stay at the crease and battled his way to 59, but this was really the sole highlight in an innings where we just had to settle for the fact that, on the day, we were beaten by the better side.  In the end, RGSAO were bowled out, and Shrewsbury won the game by 108 runs, and though we were disappointed, it was reassuring to know that they really were a class act.  It was a good idea, as coach Newport always suggests, to look for the positives from the game, learn from the negatives, and start afresh against Bromsgrove next week.


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