The Salopian no. 157 - Winter 2015

SCHOOL NEWS
33
2nd XI
Played 8 Won 3 Lost 3 Abandoned 2
This year’s 2nd XI shaped up to be another strong team at
the start of the season, with Freddie Adair as captain and
many of the bowlers from last year returning to the side.
However, it was the batting that was likely to make or break
the season, especially with Reiss Rashid injured and with the
loss of Freddie Earlam to the 1st XI early on. Unfortunately
the fixture list was curtailed by the proliferation of exams
and by some cancellations for weather, so only six out of
eight matches were completed. Six boys represented the side
on six or more occasions, including Nick Pearce, Freddie
Rowley, Paul Sharpe, Henry Newbould, James Harris and
Antony Koch de Gooreynd.
The first fixture saw the team make the epic journey to
Millfield on the second Saturday of term. It was a damp day
with a dubious forecast, so the match was shortened to a
T20 format on arrival. Shrewsbury won the toss and elected
to bat. Making a disappointing start, the team slumped to 64
for 7 after 11 overs, with only Freddie Adair and ‘on-loan’
Charlie Adams making it to double figures. However, positive
batting from Nick Pearce (17 from 13 balls) and Pat Jacob (30
from 16 balls), able supported by Antony Koch de Gooreynd
(9 from 16 balls) took the score to a respectable 137 for 9
after 20 overs. With the weather closing in, Shrewsbury took
to the field in buoyant mood, which improved significantly
when Harry Schofield took a sharp slip catch fourth ball of
the Millfield innings off the bowling of Nick Pearce, who then
bowled the number 3 with the last ball of the over to leave
Millfield on 2 for 2. Unfortunately at this point the heavens
opened and rain put an end to the match.
In the second match, Shrewsbury faced a XL Club side
that boasted two ex-international cricketers. The XL Club
won the toss and elected to bat on a fine, if chilly day, on
Chances. Shrewsbury started well bowling tightly and fielding
superbly. The XL club were restricted to 69 for 3 after 20
overs of the only declaration game of the season. However,
Shrewsbury were unable to get the breakthrough they need
to remove the ex-professionals and as the innings wore on,
the concentration of the fielding side waned, allowing the
batsmen to capitalise on some loose bowling and progress
to 216 for 3 after 38 overs, when they declared at tea. Paul
Sharpe was the stand-out bowler with 1 for 30 off his 8 overs.
In response, Shrewsbury made a positive start reaching 64 for
1 after 10 overs. Several batsmen had starts, Freddie Rowley
(30), George Birt (23) Harry Gregson (22) and Freddie Adair
was perhaps unlucky to be given out LBW for 30. However,
wickets fell regularly and although the run rate was fine,
Shrewsbury fell short, ending up 184 all out after 31.1 overs
and losing by 32 runs.
In the next match, Shrewsbury welcomed Bromsgrove on
another very dark and wet Saturday. Again, the match format
was reduced to T20. Bromsgrove won the toss and put
Shrewsbury into the field on Senior. Having got to 47 for
1 after 6 overs, Bromsgrove were in a strong position, but
excellent bowling from Freddie Rowley 4 for 15 from 4 overs
and George Birt 2 for 2 from 2 overs, reduced them to 127 all
out in 19.5 overs. Shrewsbury made light work of the chase,
with captain Freddie Adair in ebullient mood, smashing a
powerful 63 not out from 44 balls, ably supported by Henry
Newbould 18 from 35 balls and Freddie Rowley finishing a
good day on 31 not out from 21 balls. Shrewsbury won by 9
wickets with 4 overs to spare.
Further rain meant the cancellation of the match against
Wrekin, so the next visitors to Senior were Repton. Again
the opposition won the toss and elected to bat. Repton
were in a commanding position at 69 for 2 after 17 overs,
but once the number 1 and 3 batsmen were dismissed, the
innings capitulated. Repton finished on 126 all out after 35.1
overs with two wickets each for Henry Craig, Rishi Trivedi,
Freddie Rowley and George Birt. In response Shrewsbury
suffered their own collapse as the top order misfired badly,
only Henry Newbould making any impression on the score
with 20. With the score at 50 for 7 the game seemed to
be irretrievable, but just as they had done at Millfield, Pat
Jacob (33) and Nick Pearce (34) saved the innings, while
Rishi Trivedi and Antony Koch de Gooreynd saw the side
home with one wicket to spare. So Shrewsbury claimed an
improbable win by 1 wicket.
The final match of the first half of term saw Shrewsbury
host Sedbergh, who had not lost a game since we last beat
them in 2012! Unfortunately the fixture coincided with the
beginning of AS exams and a significant loss of players to
the 1st XI, which meant the 2nd XI lost captain and top runscorer
Freddie Adair, as well as wicketkeeper and opening
batsman, Henry Newbould and our saviour from the Millfield
and Repton games, Pat Jacob. On a damp day, stand-in
captain, Freddie Rowley lost the toss and Shrewsbury was
asked to bat. As usual Sedbergh bowled tightly and there
were few loose deliveries to capitalise on. Scoring was slow
and the Shrewsbury batsmen failed to apply themselves on
a slow wicket. When Harry Schofield was narrowly run out,
after looking in good touch and Charlie Cooke played a wild
stroke and was caught, the score was 56 for 7. A low score
looked inevitable, but a final wicket stand of 41 between
Ben Sansom (6) and Paul Sharpe (30), helped Shrewsbury to
a modest total of 109. Sedbergh were positive in reply and,
once the opening batsmen had established a partnership,
took only 18 overs to reach their target.
On the Saturday after Exeat, the 2nd XI travelled to Malvern
to contest what always proves to be a close fixture. Bolstered
by the inclusion of Fred Earlam, but without a few of the
more experienced senior players due to Exam Leave, the
young team batted well, posting a huge target of 275 for 4
after 40 overs. Fred Earlam, opening the batting, scored 113
from 62 balls and was ably supported by Harry Gregson who
scored 74 from 66 balls. James Harris posted a useful 34 from
27 and Antony Koch de Gooreynd chipped in with 15*. In
reply Malvern made a strong start, getting to 97 after 12 overs,
before losing their first wicket. But three wickets apiece for
the spinners, Ed Moore and Fred Earlam helped Shrewsbury
to dismiss the home side for 220 in 30 overs.
Rain put paid to the following match against Manchester
Grammar, so next up was a long journey to Bedford. On a
grey and showery afternoon it was a desperate shame that
we were not blessed with clement weather, as a potentially
competitive match was abandoned after only 12 overs.
The final match of the season saw the visit of several familiar
faces in a strong Saracens team, led by George Thomason.
The 2nd XI made a good start with Antony Koch de
Gooreynd leading the way with two catches in the first few
overs to dismiss Jamie Bird and the dangerous Matt Gregson.
Then Harry Croft and George Hanmer pushed the score on
to 85 before the next wicket fell. With the score on 132 for 6
after 21 overs, Shrewsbury had a good chance to contain the
Saracens innings. However, a 150-run partnership between
Steve Barnard (94 from 59 balls) and Henry Blofield (50*
from 51 balls) helped the visitors to 301 for 7 from their 40