Lady Taverners national finals.
In an exciting finals day Horizon Community College from Barnsley came out victorious in the U15s Lady Taverners final. The girls competed against Felsted School (Essex), Leicester Grammar School (Leicestershire), Moreton Hall School (Shropshire) and Queen Elizabeth’s School (Dorset) winning the tournament by having the best runs aggregate.
The article below from team manager Dan Russell tells the full story:
Horizon CC, Barnsley, is the new home of the Champions of England!A team of 10 girls from Years 9 & 10 at Horizon Community College have become the premier cricket team across the whole of England. In September, over 850 schools entered the indoor cricket competition, playing in various city, county and regional rounds, and now these girls can class themselves as Champions of England.
On Tuesday 10th May two coaches set off from Barnsley, destined for Lords, the Home of Cricket. An overnight stay prepared the girls for a big day at the National Finals of the Lady Taverners Indoor Cup. The tournament itself pitted the best 5 teams from across the country against each other in a league format. Horizon CC were the representatives of the North of England, and found themselves as the only state school left in the competition.
The first game for Horizon CC was against Queen Elizabeth School of Dorset. HCC won the toss and elected to bat. The day started strong, with the first 4 batters passing the 15 runs to retire, leading HCC to a strong score of 100 runs from their allotted 8 overs, Adrianna Darlow (captain) top scoring on 25. At the reverse of the innings, HCC knew they should be able to defend their score, and set about the task of claiming wickets. A strong opening to the bowling from Ellie Williams, Darcy Hancock, and Emilia Rossi had limited the chase to 30 for 3 at the half way mark. A scrappy end to the innings, where HCC failed to eliminate the last of the batters allowed Queen Elizabeth to reach 80/7 after the 8 overs, but did secure Horizon with their first win, by 20 runs.
Before the second match could get under way, the 5 schools were all distracted by an unexpected visitor; none other than the England Cricket Captain, Alastair Cook! After several photo opportunities and well wishes from the Alastair, the second game got underway. Maybe it was the thought of the celebrity onlooker that spurred the HCC girls on as they started the bowling against Moreton Hall of Shropshire, but it certainly had a positive effect. Ellie Williams’ first over included 2 wickets, an over only surpassed by Neve Stretton’s in the fifth where two more wickets taken for only 5 runs. Ellie Williams wrapped up the innings, claiming the last wicket, and limiting Moreton Hall to 51 all out in the last over. Due to the format of the day, Horizon knew they must first win the game, before going on to post a high score. The opening pair of Adrianna and Ellie W set off fast, scoring 27 in the first two overs, before Ellie W was run out. Emilia Rossi came in and scored heavily, seeing HCC wrap up the second win inside 4 overs, before racing ahead in the remaining 4 overs to score 115, consolidating a comprehensive 64 run win.
Before the afternoon session began, each of the 5 teams were given a tour around the Home of Cricket during a county match. This included the opportunity to see ‘The Ashes urn’ in the MCC Museum. As the skies opened and drenched the MCC in a deluge of rain, the girls ran back to the Cricket Academy building. The third series of matches gave the HCC team a chance to rest, and watch their remaining opposition compete. One of these teams, seen to be the biggest hurdle in the way of claiming the title, was Felsted School of Essex. They showed strength in winning their first two matches, and it seemed it would be a winner takes all fixture.
Horizon CC won the toss, and elected to bet. Unfortunately the innings did not get off to a strong start, seeing Ellie W ran out in the opening over, followed by Emilia in the second, and Adrianna in the third. Ellie Hawcroft came in and held the team together, and scored consistently, with all girls doing what they could to add to the team score. A last stand between Ellie H and Neve saw the score reach 64 all out. The interval between innings so a lot of bowed heads at a disappointing team performance, but after some strong words and a team spirit that refuses to be broken, the girls lifted their heads and prepared to defend their total. Felsted took to the innings, knowing 8 runs per over was enough to take the game, and slowly edged towards the score, despite the loss of some early wickets. Scores were tied after the first 6 overs, and despite a strong bowling display at the death, Felsted took the game, winning eventually by 23 runs.
The girls were clearly dejected, seeing what they had worked towards every Tuesday night for the last two years, slip away inside 20 minutes of play. Despite the defeat, there was still another game to play, and a second place to guarantee by winning their final match against Leicester Grammar School, Leicestershire. The girls got themselves together, reminded each other that there was a game to be won, and it wasn’t over until all games had concluded. HCC yet again batted first, and were clearly determined to right their wrongs from the disappointing defeat, seeing four players pass the 15 runs to retire at. All players contributed to the team total, registering the highest score of the day of 125/4 inside their 8 overs. This was the third time the team scored above 100 in the day; indeed they were the only team in the finals to pass 100. Now with the ball in hand, HCC weren’t satisfied to just score heavily, they wanted to ensure a resounding win, and they set about it in a strong manner, taking two wickets in the first two overs, and limiting Leicester to 12. It was around this stage that both HCC and Leicester Grammar players began to realise that the game on the adjacent pitch was causing the observation balcony to lose focus. Felsted had batted first, and posted a score of 87, for Queen Elizabeth to chase. The Dorset school knew a win would put them on three wins, tied with Felsted, and had started the chase towards 88 in good fashion. With what seemed like all supporters and players more interested in matches other than their own, runs and wickets tumbled on both courts. HCC kept Leicester at a distance, despite the periodical lack of focus, as Queen Elizabeth did what they needed, and passed the 88 benchmark with more than an over to spare. HCC wrapped up their third win by 40 runs. The girls, management, parents, and officials, all now realised that there were three teams tied on three wins and one loss each.
All the teams now gathered in one court, awaiting the officials to decide on how the winners would be determined. Some quick calculations from the HCC team figured that they had scored the most, conceded the least, taken the most wickets, and conceded the least wickets, with the best aggregate win. But still, there was no official word, until there was an almighty eruption of emotion from off court. All heads turned to see the parents of the HCC team cheering and hugging, crying, whooping and hollering, which was quickly replicated by the team and most officials in the HCC set up. Finally the realisation had begun to register; two years after narrowly missing out on the title, Horizon CC were to be crowned Champions of England!
The HCC team were gracious in their applause of the opposition that had represented schools, cities, regions and counties from across England, before being greeted with the trophy that had made it all worth it.
The girls in the team displayed an unbelievable team spirit throughout each of their successful tournaments. The way they congratulated each other on taking wickets, to applauding each other as they score enough runs to retire; From the camaraderie on the on the team bus, to the way they always find a way to laugh and smile. Their unbreakable team spirit has seen many of them play together since they were in Primary School, and has helped them grow together into a true team. They have done themselves proud, shared moments that will live long in their memories, and now have something they can look back on with great joy and pride.
Furthermore, they have done their families proud, families that have supported them at each and every tournament. They have done their school, and their teachers’ proud, bringing national success to the College, and have set an exceptional benchmark for sports teams that go out under the Horizon CC badge in the future.
Finally, I would like to add that they have done both Adrian Darlow and me proud. The mature attitude they display every week at training has kept up the motivation. They are Champions, and to work with a group of determined young sportswomen is an honour and a privilege. Throughout the year, they have been using the tagline “Winners find a way to win” as a stimulus, and they are certainly winners!
Adrianna Darlow (captain)
Ellie Williams
Emilia Rossi
Ellie Hawcroft (WK)
Darcy Hancock
Neve Stretton
Tiegan Bligh
Lucie Barlow
Imogen Butcher
Anika Hill
Adrian Darlow (coach)
Dan Russell (assistant coach & manager)
Rebecca Vernon (assistant coach)