Sporting Highlights – Friday 14 June 2024

Tennis
The Tennis Club took on their annual block against Eastbourne College last Saturday with the College playing host to the girls’ 1st & 2nd team and the boys’ 1st, 2nd and 3rd team. A wonderful sight to see so many Seniors competing across the grounds. 

Despite some great quality tennis, the 1st team boys narrowly lost out to a more experienced stronger Eastbourne National Cup team, taking a 7-2 defeat; however, the 2nd and 3rd team Senior boys put in a dominant performance throughout and secured an 8-1, 7-2 win respectively. Great performances from all, with coaches eventually deciding on MVPs awarded to Magnus D, Carl F, Tom C, Kitty H and Ottoline G for their efforts on the day. 

The Junior boys and girls travelled away to Eastbourne where they faced stronger counterparts and various challenges, yet were still able to secure some positive results, including back-to-back wins by Vasilisa S and Olga S 6-1, 6-0, 6-2. Very well done.  

On Tuesday, we saw the return of the Junior and Senior House Tennis. With the pressure mounting on Head’s and Manor House, could they both retain the Junior titles for a third year running? Time would tell … 

Playing in a round robin format, all Houses played each other to fight for their rights to take home the shield. Closely fought matches between Saints’ and Field’s, Handford and Sankey’s, Teme and Head’s, there were multiples times that it went down to the wire …

Results are as follows:

In joint 3rd place for the Junior boys: Saints’ and Second’s House. In 2nd place, Head’s, and in 1st place winning 9 out of their 10 matches, Teme House.

In the girls’ event, 3rd place went to Handford, in 2nd place was Fields, with Saints’ House finishing 1st having won 8 out of 8 matches. 

Football
On Tuesday, the Junior and Senior girls took part in this year’s House Football tournament. The competition comprised a round-robin format with each of the seven teams playing each other once to determine the overall champion. From the outset, the standard was high and the improvement which girls’ football has made over recent years was clear to see. With goals flying in from all angles and a strong determination from all Houses to be victorious. the tournament came down to the final round of matches.

After Sankey’s recent success, winning the tournament for the last two years, Handford and Field’s presented stern competition and all three Houses finished the tournament separated by just three points, with Field’s and Handford unbeaten across all six matches. The final standings were:

• 7th place – Field’s B
• 6th place – Sankey’s B
• 5th place – Saints’
• 4th place – Manor
• 3rd place – Sankey’s A
• 2nd Place – Handford
• 1st Place – Field’s

Athletics
Luca C finished 1st in the Junior Mile race at the Worthing 10km race last Sunday in a record time of 5 minutes and 32 seconds. 

We saw fantastic results from our athletes who competed in the Sussex School Championships last Saturday at the K2. Personal bests were achieved by Hadley F and Grace H, alongside notable performances by Luca C, Ava U and Ron B. 

Highlights of the day went to our bronze medallists: Bibi W and Max S in the 800m and to Theo S F in the 1500m in a time 4:12 (a new pb).
Our silver medal of the day went to Joshua O who placed 2nd in the 100m finals in a time of 11:94. Joshua has now been invited to Stone X Stadium in London to represent Sussex in The Cunliffe Cup the Inter-Counties track and field event; we wish him the very best of luck!

Cricket 

1st XI vs Christ’s Hospital: A good solid performance in the field, bowling out Christ’s Hospital for 90. Alex McG taking 3 wickets for 4 runs and 2 wickets each for Max W and Fin Su on his return from injury. Max W held the batting together with a gritty 16 not out, with Cal N dominaing the innings with a blustering 25 from 23 balls, with a little help from William P at 13 not out. A good win.

Result:  5 wicket win. Lancing 91 for 5 / Christ’s Hospital 90 all out
Best Batters: Cal N 25, Max W 16 not out, William P 13
Best Bowlers: Alex McG 3 wickets for 4 runs, 2 wickets each for Max W and Fin S.
MVP:  Alex McG.

2nd XI vs Christ’s Hospital: The 2nd XI earned their first win of the season against CH. Great bowling from Ben C and the rest of the team restricted CH to 111 off their 20 overs. Lancing dominated from the first ball and a classy 41 from Teddy B and a calculated 56 not out from Zach A J steered the side home comfortably.

Result:  9 wicket win (Lancing 112 for 1 wicket / Christ’s Hospital 111 all out)
Best Batters: Zack A-J 56 not out, Teddy B
Best Bowlers: Ben C
MVP: Zach A-J

U14a Boys vs Seaford College (Holdsworth Cup Semi Final): Up against a strong Seaford side the team battled hard with the bat to set a score of 56 of our 100 balls. With Barney stabilising the innings. In return Seaford batters managed to knock the runs off but not without trouble from our bowlers especially from Bibi W who got our wicket.

Result: Loss. (Lancing Batting: 56 of 100 Balls / Seaford College 57 for 1)
Best Bowlers: Bibi W 1 wicket for 13
MVP:  Bibi W

Lancing College U14a vs Christ’s Hospital: Lancing batted aggressively and showed impressive game management, accelerating the pace as their innings drew to a close. George Overton-Hard produced an unplayable delivery first ball, setting the scene for a dominant bowling performance as Lancing reduced their opponents to just a single boundary.

Result: Lancing win (Lancing 181-9 / Christ’s Hospital 23 all out)
Best Batters: Francis R (53 not out), Jude G (44), Hugo M (21)
Best Bowlers: Jude G (3-2), George O-H (2-4)
MVP: Francis R

U14A & B Development Team vs Bede’s: In a rain affected match Lancing restricted Bede’s to 111-4 off 16 with Eliot G taking the catch of the season. Francis R with a composed 47 not out and William S with a quickfire 33 not out saw the team home in just 12 overs for a notable victory. 

Result: Lancing win: Lancing 112 / Bede’s 111 for 4 wickets
Best Batters: Franics R 47 not out, Will S 33 not out
MVP: Francis R

U14A  vs Christ’s Hospital: The U14A girls played exceptionally well. They started off a bit flat however they picked up and displayed excellent teamwork and support during the fielding. 

Result:  Lancing win: Lancing 53runs for 2 wickets / Christ’s Hospital 29 runs for 5 wickets 
MVP:  Stella C, Lily S, Esther C and Amelie M.

U14B/15B mixed team vs Christ’s Hospital: A full strength U14/15B side won the toss and opted to bat against their opponents. After the early loss of Tom S, both George F and Tom M scored 30s not out and they were ably supported by good late hitting by Solomon W Y and Jack R, to ensure that Lancing ended with a total of 198 off 20 overs. In reply the Lancing bowlers backed up their batting colleagues and skittled the opposition for 68. The star bowler was John H with 3 wickets for 3 runs. He was well supported by Talent K and Matthew L who yet again each picked up wickets and George F who took 2 for 8.

Result: Lancing win.
Best Batters: George F 30 & Tom M 30
Best Bowlers: John H 3 wickets for 3 runs & George F 2 wickets for 8 runs.
MVP:  George F

Girls’ House Cricket:
There was lots of excellent cricket and sportsmanship on display, with high scores being hit and close games being had. After a lot of closely fought games, it came down to the last round with any team still able to top the table. The first of the final matches was Field’s vs Manor; Manor set a competitive total but Field’s won it in the final over. This result it meant that the final match between Handford and Sankey’s was all to play for. Sankey’s batted first and – with some big shots – set a big total for Handford to chase. Unfortunately, Handford fell just short …

This meant the final standing were:

• 4th place – Manor
• 3rd place – Handford
• 2nd place – Field’s
• Winners – Sankey’s