Goodbye Year 13 Cricketers! – by Caroline Foster

OQ Cricket Match – by Caroline Foster

The season did not finish there. On Wednesday we hosted the OQs T20 and were treated to the usual high standard of camaraderie, chat and laughter. The enthusiastic slip cordon from both teams testifies how they all value this occasion far more than the scoreboard stats. The OQs batted first to set 174 for victory with our resident wicket-keeper Joe being the pick of the bowlers, and Henry adding two wickets to his season tally. Our reply reached 157 for 8 and so OQs have regained this perpetual title for 2026, which will no doubt be contested in the same spirit next year.

U13 Queens: Undefeated Season Continues in Style- by Tom Bell

The U13 Queens cricket team travelled away to West Buckland looking to continue their unbeaten season and finish the year on a high. With confidence running through the squad, Queens won the toss and elected to bat first on a good-looking pitch.

The innings got off to a strong and positive start, with Owen striking 26 runs in an assured knock before being caught and bowled, falling just short of a well-earned retirement. At the other end, Max produced an explosive display of batting, smashing 30 off just 13 balls and putting immediate pressure on the opposition attack.

Freddie continued the momentum with a composed 29 from 28 deliveries before being bowled, narrowly missing out on a half-century retirement. Henry then stepped in and kept the scoreboard moving with a fluent 31 off 28 balls, showing excellent control and shot selection under pressure.

Late in the innings, Archie accelerated brilliantly, striking an impressive 32 off 20 balls to push the total further out of reach. Jasper provided valuable support in the final overs, helping Queens close on a commanding 198 for 2, an outstanding team batting performance.

In response, Queens’ bowlers delivered a disciplined and dominant display. Owen contributed with 1 wicket, while Mitch also claimed 1 wicket in a controlled spell. Freddie impressed with 1 wicket and 2 maidens, demonstrating excellent accuracy and patience. Max was particularly effective with the ball, taking 2 wickets alongside 1 maiden, and Ben added another wicket to round off a complete team performance.

Queens’ all-round effort ensured a comprehensive victory and maintained their unbeaten run, providing a fitting and dominant end to the school year.

Tennis

Queen’s hosted a boys’ tennis tournament last week, welcoming King’s and Blundell’s for a highly competitive and thoroughly enjoyable day of tennis. On Centre Court, Mate and Colin represented Queen’s superbly, showing great determination, tactical awareness and composure under pressure. After a series of closely contested tie-break matches, they secured the overall win, a fantastic achievement and a credit to their hard work. Balint and Oscar stepped up to the Inters competition and continued their impressive winning streak on courts 3 and 4, demonstrating consistency, confidence and excellent teamwork throughout. Strong performances also came from Max, Finn, Josiah, Ignacio and Lalo, who all displayed excellent composure, resilience and sportsmanship in every match. The girls travelled away, where Teniore and Nana formed a strong partnership and played with great spirit, narrowly missing out in a close contest. Overall, it was a successful week for Queen’s tennis, with all players contributing positively and representing the school with pride.