National Cup final win for U15 cricketers

Tonbridge School’s U15 cricket team has won the ESCA (English Schools’ Cricket Association) National One Day Cup for the first time since 1979.

This is a competition which had 1,100 school teams from across the country taking part. Tonbridge beat St Paul’s, Eton and Marlborough College en route to the final.

The boys beat Bedford School by 8 wickets in the final, which was played at Oakham School on Monday (9 July). Bedford scored 178-9 from their 40 overs, with Sam Baldwin (HS1) taking 3-20, and Harry Bevan-Thomas (WH2) taking two vital early wickets. 

In reply, captain Tom Geffen (PH2) and Massimo Campanale (MH1) put on 50 for the first wicket before Sam Hadfield (FH1) and Bevan-Thomas came to the crease. Hadfield top scored with an impressive 91 not out from 59 balls, forming an unbeaten 130 run partnership with Bevan-Thomas (30 not out). 

This latest trophy completes a recent hat-trick for Tonbridge School cricket. The school’s 1st XI won the Cowdrey Cup in June, with the U14 side claiming the Oliver Cup for the school for the third year running.

The school’s U15 coach, Adam Sixsmith, said: “The boys have been absolutely fantastic, and this completes a wonderful season of school cricket at Tonbridge. Everyone in the team has played their part throughout the rounds and they fully deserve their success.”