Record-Breaking Week at the RGS Cricket Festival
RGS Worcester enjoyed an excellent week as hosts of the 39th RGS Schools’ Cricket Festival, bringing together six Royal Grammar Schools for five days of competitive Cricket, outstanding individual performances and several record-breaking moments.
The Festival welcomed RGS Colchester, RGS Guildford, RGS High Wycombe, Lancaster Royal Grammar School, RGS Newcastle to RGS Worcester for a full week of fixtures across Worcestershire. Lancaster Royal Grammar School were crowned Festival winners, with RGS Worcester finishing as runners-up ahead of RGS High Wycombe, RGS Colchester, RGS Guildford and RGS Newcastle.
RGS Worcester’s second-place finish represented a remarkable achievement for a developing side that had won just one fixture before the Festival began. Across the week, the team grew in confidence, responding impressively to early setbacks and producing some excellent Cricket against strong opposition.
The Festival began at Flagge Meadow with RGS Worcester facing Lancaster in the opening fixture. After being put into bat, the hosts found themselves under pressure at 77-6, before Hayden and Ben shared an important 79-run partnership to steady the innings. Further contributions from the lower order helped RGS Worcester reach 183-9 from their 50 overs.
In response, RGS Worcester bowled with commitment and discipline. Ellis claimed the first wicket, before Captain Reuben and Year Nine pupil Jonah applied pressure through the middle overs, with Jonah taking the second wicket to leave Lancaster 51-2. However, an excellent unbeaten partnership from Lancaster guided the eventual Festival winners to 185-2 and an eight-wicket victory.
RGS Worcester responded superbly on Day Two, securing a convincing seven-wicket win against RGS Colchester at Flagge Meadow. After Colchester elected to bat, RGS Worcester fought back well following a positive start from the visitors. Reuben produced an outstanding spell of spin bowling, finishing with figures of 5-23 from his 10 overs, while Ben offered excellent support with 3-17 as Colchester were dismissed.
The run chase began positively, with Yuvraj making a fluent 26 and George M adding a quick 31. George H and Luca then combined for an unbeaten 77-run partnership to guide RGS Worcester to 166-3, with George H finishing 50 not out in a composed and important innings.
On Day Three, RGS Worcester made it two wins from three with an impressive victory over RGS High Wycombe at Kidderminster Cricket Club. High Wycombe had scored a Festival-record 415 against Newcastle the previous day, but RGS Worcester produced an excellent bowling display to dismiss them for 203. Ben was again a standout performer, taking 3-14 from 9.2 overs, including four maidens.
RGS Worcester then completed the chase with 15 overs to spare. George M led the way with a fluent 80, showing excellent stroke play to help guide the side to a comfortable victory and leave three teams level on points heading into the final two days.
Day Four brought a challenging fixture against RGS Guildford at Worcester Nomads Cricket Club. Guildford batted first and posted an imposing 316-6 from their 50 overs, despite Ben striking early and finishing as the pick of the RGS Worcester bowlers with three wickets. In reply, RGS Worcester lost wickets in quick succession and were under pressure at 68-5. George H and Hayden then shared a determined middle-order partnership, with George H making a well-crafted half-century and Hayden contributing 37, but RGS Worcester were eventually bowled out for 190.
The team finished the Festival in style on Day Five, securing an emphatic victory over RGS Newcastle at Flagge Meadow. After winning the toss, Reuben elected to bat first and RGS Worcester produced their strongest batting performance of the week, posting 343-6 from 50 overs. Ellis laid the foundations with an excellent 59, before George H made a superb 85 and George M added a fluent 72. Hayden then provided an explosive finish with 41, helping RGS Worcester accelerate through the closing overs.
Newcastle began their reply strongly and reached 149-2, with their opener making an excellent century. However, RGS Worcester continued to apply pressure, taking regular wickets as the required run rate increased. Ben and Reuben led the bowling attack superbly, taking three wickets each as Newcastle were dismissed for 246 in 46 overs, sealing a deserved victory for RGS Worcester.
Across the wider Festival, the week will be remembered as one of the most entertaining in the competition’s history. Batters enjoyed excellent conditions throughout, with seven centuries scored across the five days. RGS High Wycombe became the first team in Festival history to score 400 runs in an innings, while a High Wycombe batter set a new Festival record for the highest individual score with a magnificent 165.
There was also another piece of Festival history at Flagge Meadow, where RGS Colchester and RGS High Wycombe played out the competition’s first-ever tied match, with both sides finishing on 255 in a memorable contest.
Congratulations go to Lancaster Royal Grammar School on being crowned Festival winners. Aakshrit from RGS Colchester was named Player of the Festival, while Logan from Lancaster Royal Grammar School received the Young Player of the Festival award.
As the 39th RGS Cricket Festival draws to a close, our thanks go to all players, coaches, umpires, match managers, grounds staff, catering teams, sponsors, volunteers, host clubs, parents, Old Elizabethans and supporters who contributed to such a successful week. The Festival now looks ahead to 2027, when RGS Newcastle will host the 40th Anniversary of this much-loved competition.
Finally, our thanks go to Head of Cricket, Mr Liam Smith, all Cricket staff and the Grounds team for their outstanding work in organising and hosting such an excellent Festival.
