Cumbrian school students shine at Lord's in table cricket finals
By James Reid
William Howard School enjoyed an occasion to remember at Lord's at the National Table Cricket Finals Day.
The Brampton school battled through three regional rounds to earn a trip to London, with pupils and staff setting off the day before their big event at the Home of Cricket.
Advertisement
They progressed past the group stage to earn a fourth place finish out of the 12 teams in action, and teacher Tracey Croucher was thrilled with a memorable day for her students.
'We have been doing it for about ten years - this is our fourth time coming to Lord's," she said.
"It's a massive achievement to get here. It is about enjoying it and doing the best you can.
'These children have come along for extra practices after school. It has brought together children from different year groups, all with different needs."
The William Howard team came an impressive fourth after reaching the finals at the home of cricket (Image: imagecomms)
Advertisement
Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table.
Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp.
The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part.
The sport provides opportunities for participants to benefit from all that sport can offer, something Croucher has seen first-hand.
'It means a lot to them,' she added. 'They relax when they come to practice, they get a feeling of achievement and success that they might not get elsewhere in sport.
Advertisement
'We've seen a massive difference in confidence. To be able to come here for them is amazing.'
Pupils also met cricketing legends David Gower and Mike Gatting and were presented with their medals by current England bowler Reece Topley.
It made the journey down from Cumbria all the more worth it, with many pupils visiting London for the first time.
'It was a very long journey,' said Croucher. 'We came down yesterday and got to London about three o'clock and went to Hyde Park.
"We had a lovely walk and a paddle. It was really nice to have everyone together as a team.
"When they found out they had qualified for the final, they were just over the moon and shouting 'We're going to London!'
Advertisement
'For quite a few of them, it's their first time in London so they were spotting the red buses, the black cabs and taking loads of photos.'
For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level.
It was a memorable day at Lord's for the Cumbrian students (Image: PA)
The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India.
Advertisement
'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Gower, who serves as president of the Lord's Taverners.
'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important.
"The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.'
The Lord's Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull to sign with Mercedes? What to know about rumors of major F1 shakeup
One of F1's biggest stars could be on the move soon. Max Verstappen, who is currently signed with Red Bull, is in talks with Mercedes over changing sides, according to The Guardian. The negotiations have reportedly intensified leading up to this weekend's British Grand Prix. Advertisement There was plenty of buzz around the Dutch driver at the Austrian Grand Prix last week, where the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, confirmed he was trying to sign Verstappen. The racer allegedly contacted Mercedes first, and the two sides have been in talks ever since. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Verstappen, a four-time world champion, would be a huge get for Mercedes, who have a history of convincing drivers to sign on with them. The team lured seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton away from McLaren in 2012. Here's a look at the rumors swirling around Max Verstappen and Mercedes. Advertisement MORE: F1 standings 2025: Updated driver and constructor points, results for Formula One season Did Max Verstappen sign with Mercedes? Verstappen has not signed with Mercedes, but he is reportedly in talks about leaving Red Bull to join the rival team. Mercedes has had its eye on Verstappen since last year, when the team had an opening. They ultimately selected Kimi Antonelli to join George Russell for 2025, but neither driver has a contract for next year. Wolff is clearly interested in Verstappen for 2026. 'As a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world it is clear you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future,' said Wolff at the Austrian Grand Prix. Advertisement MORE: Max Verstappen family tree: F1 driver announces birth of first child with wife What team is Max Verstappen on? Verstappen is currently with Red Bull. He has been with the squad since 2015 when he first raced for the junior side, Toro Rosso. He was elevated to the senior side in 2016 and, in his debut, became F1's youngest-ever race winner (18 years and 228 days) at Barcelona. MORE:Does 'F1: The Movie' have a post-credit scene? Is Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull Verstappen is not leaving Red Bull right now, but he is reportedly in talks with Mercedes about joining them soon. The former is the only team Verstappen has raced for as a professional. Advertisement MORE:The 15 best and worst racing movies of all time Max Verstappen contract details Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028. However, he does have exit clauses in his deal that would allow him to leave. There is reportedly an option that would be triggered if he is below a specific place in the standings at the summer break, which is after the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3. MORE:Only a handful of NFL players make more than Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Cameron Norrie takes inspiration from Andy Murray in latest Wimbledon win
Cameron Norrie mirrored two-time champion Andy Murray by harnessing the energy of a merry Wimbledon crowd to keep the British flag flying. Jack Draper's surprise second-round loss on Thursday to former finalist Marin Cilic left Norrie as the last home hope standing in the men's draw in SW19. Advertisement To the delight of high-spirited spectators on his favoured Court One, the 2022 semi-finalist delivered, recovering from a slow start to dispatch Italian world number 73 Mattia Bellucci 7-6 (5) 6-4 6-3. British number three Norrie will take on Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry in round four, with two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz a potential quarter-final opponent. 'It's important to use the crowd to your advantage,' he said. 'I was just pulling from random people, getting fired up with them. You can see they're loving it. 'Obviously Friday afternoon, people had a few drinks. I could feel that. Getting behind me. It was nice to see. Advertisement 'I wanted to try to give them something to cheer about. I think the people quite like it when you look at them and get fired up. They feel like they've played a part in the win. Cameron Norrie, pictured, fired up the Court One crowd during his contest with Mattia Bellucci (Andrew Matthews/PA) 'I wanted to pull from the energy from not just my team but from some random people in the crowd. I've seen Andy Murray do that a lot in his matches. Yeah, it was so much fun today.' Norrie, who has plummeted from a career-high ranking of eighth to 61st, conceded he 'stole' an unconvincing opening set from Bellucci on a tie-break after being broken in the opening game. He gradually took control of a tight contest to enhance his enviable Court One record, having won eight of nine matches there across his career, including his impressive second-round success over 12th seed Frances Tiafoe. Advertisement The 29-year-old is also open to returning to Centre Court – the scene of his four-set, last-four defeat to Novak Djokovic three years ago – for Sunday's showdown with Jarry but will not be making any official requests. 'If I'm playing my next match on Centre Court, that's great,' he said. 'I feel there's the tendency to be a little bit more respectful on that Centre Court in terms of energy and crowd, noise and everything. 'I felt like today on Court One, there were a few difficult moments for me that the crowd got really fired up – some love 30 (down), love 40 (down). 'I managed to switch the energy and switch the momentum of the match. I think that was huge to use that today. Yeah, I felt that. Advertisement 'I obviously played Centre Court a few times. The match with Djokovic, they got loud as well. I'm not saying that doesn't happen. 'I just feel a little bit more on Court One – it's maybe just a little bit biased (because of) winning there and playing well there.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Women's T20 Blast round-up: Bryce leads Blaze to victory
Kathryn Bryce's four wickets and a run out led The Blaze to victory over Hampshire Hawks [Getty Images] Kathryn Bryce took 4-13 to eclipse Australia legend Ellyse Perry on her Hampshire Hawks debut and put The Blaze in a strong position to qualify for the Women's T20 Blast finals day. Perry removed Scotland captain Bryce with her first ball for her new team but the Blaze all-rounder hit back by claiming the wicket of the Hawks newcomer, who is the only person to play in both ICC and Fifa World Cup finals. Advertisement Kirstie Gordon's side bounced back from their defeat by Warwickshire by recovering from a scrappy start to reach 188-6 thanks to Heather Graham (73 off 47 balls) and Ella Claridge (51 not out off 36). Perry ended with 2-23 as Blaze lost three wickets in nine balls, including that of Kathryn Bryce from Perry's very first ball in the competition, finding the outside edge. Graham was immediately fluent and, though Davies returned to trap Sarah Bryce lbw with a yorker, Claridge was the perfect foil for the Australian. After Graham's departure, Claridge closed the innings with a flurry of fours to reach a 36-ball half-century and, with Sarah Glenn, plundered 37 from the last 14 balls of the innings. Advertisement Hampshire replied with 151 all out, only Rhianna Southby's classy T20-best 64 (42) defying a Blaze attack led by Kathryn Bryce. Perry had launched Hampshire's reply with three fours from her first nine balls but perished in pursuit of a fourth when she lifted Kathryn Bryce to mid-on. The Hawks' defeat means they, or any other side, have a great deal to do in the remaining games to reel in top three Surrey, The Blaze and Warwickshire. Durham's double Durham completed the double over Somerset in the meeting of the bottom two, beating their winless West Country visitors by six runs at the Banks Homes Riverside. Advertisement Having been asked to bat first, Durham made 154-4 in their 20 overs, with Suzie Bates making 48 and skipper Hollie Armitage 41. Despite Bex Odgers celebrating the award of her first contract by making 54, Somerset finished on 148-7, with Mia Rogers making three stumpings and Phoebe Turner taking 1-15 from her four overs. New Zealand batter Bates and her opening partner Emma Marlow put on 50 in 5.2 overs before Marlow was caught at long-on off Chloe Skelton and Bates was caught at short third by Odgers off Alex Griffiths when two short of her third Durham half-century. The departure of their marquee signing made little difference. Armitage was unluckily run out for 41 at the bowler's end when Skelton deflected Mady Villiers' fierce drive into the stumps and Durham's momentum was also slowed by Erin Vukusic, who conceded only 29 runs from her four overs. Advertisement Somerset's openers began in expansive fashion, Odgers taking 16 runs off Grace Thompson's first over and despite the loss of Niamh Holland and Fran Wilson, the visitors ended the powerplay three runs better placed than Durham, albeit having lost one more wicket. A significant setback followed for Somerset, though, when skipper Sophie Luff was run out for three off her own bowling by Phoebe Turner after a mix-up with Odgers. Odgers responded by reaching her half-century off 35 balls but was stumped by Rogers off Katie Levick for 54 two balls later. Durham's spinners put the brakes on Somerset's progress following the opener's dismissal and the 40 runs needed off the final five overs proved too high a target as Phoebe and Sophie Turner choked off the runs with tight medium pace bowling.
