Sensational cricket season at Warden Park Academy

No surprise, as the Cuckfield school has produced two England Schoolboy Internationals and many top county school players.

The u15s have already been crowned Sussex 20-20 champions and the u12, u13, u14 u15 teams have enjoyed a wonderful season with all 4 teams progressing into the County Cup semi-finals.

The u15s were crowned Sussex 20-20 champions after dramatic victories against Chichester in the semi-final: Warden Park won with 3 balls to spare. In the final Warden Park hit 152 against Bede’s who only managed 138 from their 20 overs. Warden Park now represents Sussex and faces the Surrey Champions.

In the County Cup, victories against Weald, Cardinal Newman and Blatchington Mill see them compete against Oathall in the semi-final. The quarter-finals included an epic victory over last year’s champions Cardinal Newman. Ben John, Matthew Denyer, George Galbrath-Gibbons, William Cawley (78, 58 no) and Charlie Best have all had good knocks thus far. In the quarter final against Blatchington Mill, the strong bowling attack of Robbie Deane, Tom Hinley, Galbrath-Gibbons and Denyer was too much for the opposition who found runs hard to come by, scoring 109 from 20 overs for 8 wickets. Warden Park won with 2 overs to spare, John batted extremely well scoring 45 not out.

The u14 team have progressed into the Cup semi-final after victories against Lancing College, Oathall and Cardinal Newman. The game against Newman saw Warden Park chase down 155 runs to secure victory in the last over. Ben Caidan has now hit 58, 55 in two games and Tom Smith hit an excellent 65 against Hurst and has been excellent as an opening batsman this year. The team now face Brighton College in the semi-final.

The u13 team have also had an excellent season thanks to batsmen Leon Cragg, Tom Pederby, Ross Pedley and Jack Billbruck. The bowling attack has been strong with Luke Minett taking a number of wickets. The team now face Brighton College in the semi-final.

The u12 team are unbeaten this season and are arguably strongest year 7 team the school has had since the team of 2008: 2 boys from that team are now playing full time professional cricket for Sussex. Two of the current Year 7 team, Tom Hinley and Charlie Weir, are both with Sussex Academy u12 team and both boys also play for the u13 and u14 teams with Hinley opening the bowling in the u15 side. The u12 team have worked extremely hard this season and Jack Brown is on 240 runs not out for the school team. An excellent bowling attack from Tom Ellis, George Jeavons, Tanvi Choudhury, Leo Alexander and Josh Moorcroft has made it extremely difficult for teams to score. The consistent performances from the wicket keeper, Nathan Buckeridge have meant byes are not conceded.

The team have beaten Brighton College, Forest, Gildridge House, Weald and Blatchington Mill and now face an extremely tough semi-final away to Bede’s, Eastbourne.

With all the hard work in winter and summer nets, plus top quality friendly fixtures, the hope is to have a County Cup trophy at the end of the season. 4 massive games of cricket to come.

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