Senior School
Tennis Report
The Senior Boys and Girls recently took part in a Senior Doubles Tournament against Blundell’s, King’s, and Taunton School. It was a fantastic way to round off the season, with an afternoon of competitive tennis and great sportsmanship that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Cricket
First XI vs The Forty Club
The most prestigious part of the season arrived when the First XI hosted The Forty Club . The Forty Club brought another experienced and skilful side of cricketers this year when Queen’s played them on Thursday. Their batting engine demonstrated the merits of building an innings in their first innings total of 220/7. Queen’s bowled some jaffas in this match, regularly beating the bat, and Queen’s kept that ball swinging and moving off the pitch for a long time. Combine this with some sharp fielding, including a one-handed stunning catch by Claire at extra cover, and the Queen’s team kept a high-class team down to a gettable score. It needed partnerships and it needed two big contributors. It’s often talked about a top 4 batter seeing it through and that’s the part where victory slipped away. Alfie was the only top 4 batter to get in, and when Digger and he didn’t stay together, the team’s hopes were fading. It was 68/5 when Queen’s lost Alfie for a brilliantly played 47. His runs account is certainly mounting up alongside an unwavering economy that so often gets his team into winning positions. Next in was Munesu with the instruction to just bat. It’s what you do when you feel confident that the situation just requires playing each ball on merit, learning ways to score off different types of bowling and helping yourself to be in the game. Scoreboard acceleration came naturally without the weight of pressure it can bring. Alex picked his balls to attack and Leo also accumulated well, managing risk with a straight bat, and these cameos allowed Munesu to play his game with front and back foot shots in the v that were rewarded. He was soon in sight of a half century and the baggy accolade that brings when you first raise your bat for the First XI. It was outstanding to see a year 9 pupil hit 63 not out on account of all the cricket passion and commitment it takes in pursuit of his potential. There is so much more to come and this milestone was a well-deserved entry into the Baggy-wearing cricketers club. Munesu’s fifty was reached before we lost ten wickets for 169, and in true Forty Club style, they allowed Queen’s to bat their whole squad so they in fact closed on 177/12 with so many highlights.
Queen’s vs Mount Kelly
Another joyful week of sunshine has been spent the way it should be, with the sound of leather on willow at home and at Mount Kelly. It got so hot that a sprinkling of rain felt medicinal and did not interrupt the play, albeit scoring on an ipad introduced some variable techniques. The best form was displayed by the players on the park though and this weeks highlight has to go to Juno for retiring on 25 after facing just 9 balls. Queen’s had to applaud their umpire for ducking in time to one those firmly struck boundaries down the ground. Elsewhere, it was the Mount Kelly batsman causing problems in the U15 clash, and our U14s as well as our U13s piling on the runs. A sound block of competitive play was had, and the heartbeat of our First XI got to go off on their Gold D of E expedition with a midweek victory under their belts. Millfield 2nd XI hit 159/6 off 20 overs and our top 5 completed the win in the final over. Tim and Digger had been pick of the bowlers, while Alfie and Tim top-scored with the bat.
First XI vs Old Queenians (OQs)
The highlight of the cricket last week had to be the 2025 edition of the Old Queenians perpetual match. Without a doubt the camaraderie on show was a testament to how that belonging to a Queen’s First XI never leaves you. The spirit and atmosphere on the pitch lifted everyone, and Jonty’s charges soon slipped back into keeping teammates grounded with great humour.
The OQs lineup was intimidating, but when combined with their friendly chat it soon became a relaxed event, albeit including some elite skill. Thankfully, JT didn’t adapt to the non-first class wicket he was batting on and it was Leo who beat me in the air and off the pitch for his first-class scalp. Max soon followed thanks to a great catch by Mo. Jack gave himself time to get in and repaid this with a spritely 57 runs. Jonty hit 22 before Elise bowled him on her way to 2 for 13. Caspar said he was going to get bowled and did. Not just an example of where negative thinking gets you, but reinforcing Alfie’s wicket-taking habits. Claire and Henry chipped in for 1 wicket each and both Tom and Spencer joined the attack in the spirit of having competitive fun. OQs were bowled out in the last over for 161.
The First XI side began the chase with belief and backed this up with some positive stroke play and good running. Tim and Joe got to 25 in the first 4 overs. Digger came in keen to continue his form and found the boundary more often than any other in the match with his 39. Alfie made 19, Spencer added his usual runs with a quick 17 and First XI had 100 up in the 14th over, but his departure brought our longer format specialists to the crease who were treated to facing JT off a few strides. The scoreboard stuttered, the hopes of an upset faded, but the banter continued well beyond the close of innings at 142/6.
The match was played in fine spirit, embodying the traditions of Queen’s College cricket while offering a reminder of the strong bond between past and present. It was a day of shared memories, hard-fought cricket, and the unmistakable camaraderie that comes when old boys return to take on the next generation.
