Sporting Highlights – Friday 3 May 2024

Athletics
The first Diamond Athletics League witnessed some exciting and thrilling displays of athleticism in some very difficult and wet conditions. Max S emerged victorious, clinching 1st place in the 800m Intermediate Boys' race with an impressive time of 2.08. Not far behind, Theo S-F secured a commendable 2nd place finishing in 2.10.

Hadley F finished 2nd in the 100m race for the Junior Boys, crossing the finish line in 13.2 seconds. Josh O also finished 2nd in the 100m Intermediate Boys' race with a time of 12.04s, and Lottie F finished 3rd in the 200m Intermediate Girls' race with a time of 30.48s.

Team efforts also stole the spotlight, with the 4x100m relay races delivering nail-biting finishes. Lottie F, Ava U, Grace H and Emilia M showcased exceptional teamwork, clinching 4th place in the Intermediate Girls' relay. Meanwhile Josh O, Ron B, Hadley F and Luca B powered their way to a remarkable 3rd place finish, demonstrating immense coordination and determination.


Girls' Football
With girls' football now well underway for the Summer Term, the girls bounced back from defeats against Lingfield with two excellent performances against Bede's on Tuesday. Two goals from player of the match Lily T were not enough to gain a win for the 1st XI who drew 2-2. However, the U15A team ran out 9-0 winners after a dominant display. Hattie S with one goal, two for both Ava U and Nadiya L and four goals by player of the match Lila D capped off some brilliant football and a tremendous win.


Swimming
We wish the best of luck to Bianca Stavar – Albarral who is racing in Wycombe at Regionals this weekend.


Cricket
1st XI v Hampshire Development Squad (Saturday 27 April)
On a wet day we managed to play the 1st XI match at Lancing against a strong Hampshire Development Squad. It was agreed that due to adverse weather conditions we play a T20 game. Having lost the toss and been asked to field, we restricted Hampshire to 152 with captain Max W taking 2 wickets. In reply Lancing batted the 20 overs but held to 88 for 9 in poor dull conditions, losing by 64 runs.

Hampshire College batted first and posted a very competitive total of 158 for 9 with George H-H taking 4 wickets, Cal N taking 2 and a wicket each for Charlie S, Tom H & Finn S who had to come off with a injury. In reply Lancing fell short having been bowled out for 101, with George H-H top-scoring. MVP was George H-H.

U15A v Hampshire College Development Squad (Tuesday 30th May)
Skipper Sam W won the toss on a sunny afternoon at the College and elected to bat first. Wickets fell steadily throughout the Lancing innings but we held together well with a captain’s innings of 47 from Sam W before he fell just short of his 50. Lancing’s innings ended 100-9. 

A strong start from Hampshire College in the chase before 2 wickets each from Cyrus D, Gethin W and Sam W gave the opposition a scare as they fell 7 wickets down in the chase. Despite the narrow 3 wicket loss, a good effort from the U15A, playing against an older Hampshire College side. 

MVP’s were Sam W & Cyrus D.

U14A v Christ’s Hospital (Holdsworth Cup) 
A comfortable win for the U14A. 150-7 in 20 overs with Francis R and George O-H the main contributors. Christ’s Hospital were bowled out cheaply for an easy win with Henry B, Harry S (LPW) and Yashmit A among the wickets.

U14 Girls v Christ's Hospital 
The U14 girls won the toss and chose to bat. We got off to a good start with lots of positive running between the wickets to get us to 106 without losing a wicket. MVP was awarded to batter Molly T. The girls then managed to restrict the opposition to 51 runs due to excellent consistency with bowling and excellent energy in the field. MVP bowler was Breanna K who got an excellent bowled wicket.


Tennis 
We start with our U15 boys who began their Year 9&10 Youth Schools campaign in style with back to back wins against St Oscar Romero A & B on Monday. Strong performances from Logan B, Shimon M, Tudor P and Jack B throughout the afternoon saw the team take home a 6-0 4-2 win. The team currently sit top of the league and face Cardinal Newman next week.

In the National Glanville Cup, our U18 boys defeated Hurst 12-0 last Tuesday winning all singles and doubles matches, without dropping a set. MVP was awarded to Ben A for his performance against the Hurst no.1 seed. Lancing now face a very tough Sevenoaks side at home to see who progresses through to the semifinals.

Last Thursday, three teams travelled to Bede’s to compete in the U16 Doubles Sussex shield tournament. Our young U16 girls' team consisting of Coco M, Esme B R, Amelia P and Hattie P made it through to the final, beating Hurst, Bede’s and Eastbourne along the way, but narrowly losing out to a more consistent Brighton College side, 20-14 in the final.

Last Saturday, Lancing had both U16 boys and U16 girls competing in the Independent Schools Sussex League main draw finals and the U18 boys competing in the Sussex Plate event. Split across three schools, the teams battled the wet and windy conditions, adapted tactics along the way and remaining focused throughout several rain delays, with the U16 boys also having to change surface halfway through.

Their hard work and determination was rewarded with the U16 girls finishing in a highly respectable 3rd place, after not dropping a set in qualifying; the U18 boys took home the main prize on the day, the Sussex Plate, with wins from George H, Julian N, Carl F, Artem O and Alex K; and the U16 boys put in a real shift by finishing top of their box in qualifying and then beating Eastbourne College and Hurst in main draw.

Unfortunately, due to the rain the final between Lancing and Bede’s was unable to be played, and so until the final can be rescheduled, Lancing sit joint 1st place, retaining the shield for another year.