Sports Highlights Week 29 2026

Last Friday, the Year 5 C1 cricket team produced an excellent all-round performance to secure a hard-fought 10-run victory against Davenies.

After winning the toss, The Beacon elected to bowl first and made an immediate impact. Matthew B set the tone with two superb early wickets, putting Davenies under pressure from the outset. The team continued to work hard in the field throughout the middle overs, showing great energy and focus, with sharp backing up and strong fielding keeping the opposition’s scoring under control. As the innings reached its closing stages, two key wickets from Aaron F and Farid A ensured Davenies were unable to build any momentum. Thanks to a committed team effort, Davenies were restricted to just 44 runs.

The Beacon began their run chase positively, with Aaron and Farid both finding the boundary early on. Jack W also struck a lovely four, as did Trystan T, helping to keep the scoreboard ticking over. However, a few careless wickets kept Davenies in the contest. In a tense finish, Oscar B held his nerve and hit the winning runs in the final over, including two excellent boundaries.

A fantastic team performance—well played to all the boys involved!

Reported by Mr Powell

On Sunday, a number of our pupils proudly represented the school at the IAPS Triathlon held at Monkton Prep School. Competing in challenging multi-discipline races, all participants demonstrated tremendous determination, resilience and sportsmanship against strong competition from schools across the country.

In the Year 6 event, Kit R, Evan A and Thomas S completed a demanding course consisting of a 200-metre swim, 4-kilometre cycle and 1.8-kilometre run, with each discipline taking place consecutively. Henry L represented the school in the Year 7 category, completing the same gruelling distances with great effort and commitment.

The Year 8 competitors — Barney G, Sebastian S, Hugo C and Harry A — faced an even tougher challenge, taking on a 300-metre swim, 6-kilometre bike ride, and 2.4-kilometre run.

Everyone who participated should be extremely proud of their performances. Their perseverance and enthusiasm throughout the event were a credit to both themselves and the school. Well done!

Reported by Mr Walker

The U8A Cricket team travelled to Caldicott School for their second fixture of the season. Bathed in sunshine, The Beacon won the toss and elected to bat first.

The team produced an excellent batting display, combining confident stroke play with sharp running between the wickets. There were plenty of boundaries on show, including a number of well-struck fours and sixes, helping The Beacon post an impressive total of 274.

Taking to the field, The Beacon made the perfect start. Outstanding bowling and alert fielding saw three wickets fall in the opening three balls, immediately putting Caldicott under pressure. Although the opposition recovered well and scored quickly at times, they were ultimately restricted to 255, securing a deserved victory for The Beacon.

It was a fantastic afternoon of cricket and a superb team performance from everyone involved. Well done to all the players.

Reported by Mr Walker

Wednesday’s fixture against local rivals Caldicott is always one of the toughest matches in the calendar.

Losing the toss, Caldicott elected to bat believing they could put a big score on the board in a 25-over match, the team realised they would have to bowl well to stop them from chasing a big score. Pleasingly, after a slightly shaky start to the season involving the occasional dropped catch, questionable shot selection, and running between the wickets the team has made enormous strides since the start of the season and are now starting to look like the team I knew they could become.

Unfortunately, we suffered a late setback when Henry B was ruled out with a migraine, leaving us a player short. However, the team responded brilliantly.

The Beacon started superbly, with Barney G setting the tone immediately. His accurate bowling put the Caldicott batsmen under pressure from the outset. I am forever telling our pupils that tight bowling creates wickets, and eventually Caldicott began gambling on risky singles. After a couple of near misses, our fielders were ready if they chanced it again and a cool head from Rocco G ensured that we got a vital breakthrough. Next was the calm head of Harry A to run out the number 3 and, in the blink of an eye, Caldicott found themselves 9 for 2 thanks to two sharp run outs.

The bowling performance that followed was undoubtedly our best of the season. Rather than wanting to take the batsman’s head off by wanting to bowl as fast as they can, the players consistently bowled full and fast, asking proper questions of the opposition. Creating any doubt in a batsman is key and not knowing to come forward or back to a ball means the bowler can get on top.

Harry T was outstanding, bowling with genuine aggression and control, while Seb S and Harry A backed him up brilliantly. Caldicott never recovered and were eventually bowled out for just 76.

Bowling figures:

• Barney G: 5-2-12-2
• Hugo C: 3-0-18-0
• Seb S: 4-2-12-1
• Harry T: 4-0-18-3
• Harry A: 1.3-0-4-2

Chasing 77, The Beacon opened with their now well-established partnership of Hunter O and Seb S, and the pair produced an excellent opening stand of 49. Seb S was in particularly destructive form, smashing the ball to all corners of the ground on his way to a superb 37 from 37 balls.

Naturally, in true Beacon fashion, we then decided the game was perhaps progressing a little too calmly and promptly lost a few quick wickets to make things interesting at 67 for 4.

Hugo C batted positively and looked set to guide us home, but unfortunately missed a straight one, forcing me – once again – to raise the dreaded LBW finger. Thankfully, Harry A and Henry L showed calm heads at the end, steering the boys to an excellent five-wicket victory, with Harry A finishing the match in style by dispatching two tremendous boundaries.

A fantastic win against strong opposition and, more importantly, another huge step forward in the pupils’ development as cricketers.

As I was saying to some parents over tea, one of the great strengths of staying at the school into the later years is the opportunity it gives both pupils and staff to build genuine relationships during such important formative years. By this stage, the children not only develop physically and emotionally, but also begin to understand the game on a much deeper level – learning how to compete, adapt, problem solve and think for themselves under pressure. Those lessons extend far beyond the cricket field.

For the staff, it is hugely rewarding to watch pupils grow from enthusiastic young players into thoughtful, resilient sportspeople and young adults. This particular group has been a pleasure to work with all season. They are competitive, coachable, and full of character, and many of them have the ability to go on and play sport at a very high level in whichever discipline they choose.

It will certainly be a shame when the cricket season comes to an end and the pupils time at the school finishes, as this group has been tremendous company throughout – not just talented sportspeople, but pupils who represent the school with real spirit and determination.

Reported by Mr Robinson

The U10B1 side enjoyed their first experience of 11-a-side hard ball T20 cricket last Friday with an impressive victory over Davenies School in a mature and disciplined performance.

After winning the toss, the team elected to bat first, quickly learning the importance of valuing wickets in the longer format to ensure the full allocation of overs could be used. Archi D played the perfect opening innings, showing excellent resilience, concentration and composure at the crease as he anchored the batting effort for almost the entire innings. He was eventually dismissed for a well-made 20, providing the platform the side needed. Important late contributions from Hamish M and Austin B added valuable runs towards the end as the team closed on 91-6 from their 20 overs.

In reply, the bowling attack and fielders combined brilliantly to maintain scoreboard pressure throughout the innings. The boys showed real commitment in the field, putting their bodies on the line and backing up the bowlers superbly. The standout moment came from Hendrix K, who produced an outstanding spell of 3-5 from his three overs, including a superb hat-trick that swung the match firmly in our favour.

Macsen T was handed the difficult responsibility of bowling during the death overs and coped exceptionally well under pressure, claiming two important wickets as Davenies attempted to accelerate the scoring. Hamish M also chipped in with a wicket of his own during a controlled bowling display.

Davenies eventually finished on 81-6, meaning the boys secured a deserved win by 10 runs after a mature defence of their total. A fantastic team performance and an excellent first experience of hard ball T20 cricket. Well done, lads!

Reported by Mr Sutcliffe

The U10As produced a thrilling victory against Davenies last Friday in a match that went right down to the final ball!

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Davenies posted a competitive 101-6 from their 20 overs. The boys bowled superbly as a unit, with every player contributing two disciplined overs. A strong middle-order partnership from Davenies accelerated the scoring, but the fielding effort and energy in the field kept the target within reach.

Chasing 102 to win, the boys knew they needed to score at over five an over from the outset. Captain Freddie F led the response with a magnificent innings full of composure, determination and excellent stroke play. He was well supported by Ronan W (19) and Barney King (8) as the chase built towards a dramatic finale.

With two runs needed from the final ball, Freddie drove superbly through the covers and sprinted back for the winning second run to seal a memorable victory. He finished unbeaten on a brilliant 44 not out — a match-winning knock under pressure!

Team: Freddie F(Capt), Ronan W, Barney K, T Smith-Scharing (W), Harley G, Bertie H, Wilf W, Rona P, Aman P, Milan M, Kian S

Reported by Mr Barnett