N E W S L E T T E R - Radley College

Sport
Radley continues to play its sport seriously
but a central feature is that we turn out so
many teams at weekends. In rugby, against
Tonbridge and Harrow 22 XVs competed;
in the Lent term there were sometimes 19
Hockey XIs, 10 Soccer XIs and a number
of rowing VIIIs competing at the same
time. In the Summer Term up to 19
Cricket XIs, 10 Rowing VIIIs, Tennis VIs
and Athletics teams compete on the same
Saturday afternoon. The new Real Tennis
court makes the choice of sports still more
diverse.
■ Much good rugby was played; 70% of
matches were won. The 1st XV was stricken
with injury, but it still achieved a remarkable
last gasp victory over Harrow when Tom
Atkinson (Elstree, g) kicked a final minute
50 metre penalty. The Colts, Junior Colts
and Midgets 1st XVs (indeed Midgets 2nd
and 3rd XVs as well) lost only a handful of
matches between them. It was a source of
pride, too, to see 2 recent ORs, Chris Lewis
(Pinewood, h) and James Lumby (Caldicott,
g) winning blues for Cambridge in the
Varsity Match – James scored an impressive
try to clinch the match.
■ Hockey is arguably Radley’s strongest
sport at present. The 1st XI lost once
(following 2007’s unbeaten season) and
showed great team work under Charlie
Wood’s (Dragon, e) captaincy; the wins
against strong Charterhouse, Marlborough
and Bradfield teams were especially
satisfying. Against Cheltenham, Bradfield
and St Edward’s only one match was lost
across the club.
The new Real Tennis Court
Nick Gubbins batting for the Midgets 1st XI
■ Cricket has been strong especially in
the bottom three years of the school; the
1st XI has had its moments with good
wins over Bradfield, Stowe, Marlborough
and Abingdon and a century for Henry
Mills (Harrodian, e) against Tonbridge,
but the stars of the club have been Colts
1st and 2nd XI and the Midgets sides
from 1st XI down to 7th XI. A number
of centuries have been recorded, notably
5 100s by Nick Gubbins (Elstree, h) for
Midgets 1st XI. It has been especially
satisfying that 11 out of 15 matches
against Harrow, 14 out of 16 against
Marlborough, and all the matches against
Abingdon, were won.
■ RCBC continues to be strong. The 1st
VIII just missed the medals at the National
Schools (4th) but won at Bedford. J16A
and J14A won Silver and Bronze at the
National Schools. There has been depth at
the top of the club reflected in a good 2nd
VIII and at J15 level where 5 crews have
competed. It was good to see Oli Moore
(St Hugh’s, e) win his Oxford blue in a
crushing win in the Boat Race. He and Tom
Parker (Pilgrim’s, h) are in the GB squad.
■ In Soccer the Junior Colts and Colts
squads did especially well, and the 1st XI
reached the Crusader Cup semi-finals.
■ The Steeplechase took place for the first
time in November: Archie Vey (Farleigh, b)
won the Senior race in record time, Oscar
Richards (St Ronan’s, h) won the Inter, and
Theo Bromfield (Cothill, a) the Junior races.
■ George Pitcher (Cothill, b), Kit Bicket
(Maidwell, j), Josh Rencher (Abingdon, d),
Guy Scott (Summer Fields, d), Jordan
Reeve (Pinewood, d), Henry Barker (Aldro,
d) and James Fournier (Ludgrove, f) all
received RYA competent crew awards
during a 5 day Easter cruise on the all Sail
Pilot Cutter the Jolie Brise.
■ The Real Tennis Team won the National
Schools’ title as did the 2nd pair.
■ Harry Collard (Summer Fields, f)
competed in the British Skiing
Championships.
■ A number of Radley Beagles won best
in class at the South of England Show.
8 THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER