2012 – 2013

MEN’S CRICKET

Men’s Captain Daniel Geer; Secretary Jonathan Lindfield

Women’s Captain Anna Comfort

Following an unbeaten league season last year the 1st XI was hopeful of securing a league and Cuppers double this year on its return to the top division. However, because of a combination of examinations and university cricket commitments, even raising a team proved a challenge.

Despite this there were still many bright moments, notably early in the season and in eighth week upon the return of the finalists after exams. The first league match saw Queen’s face Christ Church and, despite a slow start with captain Geer and university player Hamish Tester being dismissed early, Queen’s recovered well led by fresher James Colenutt and finalist Matthew Guinness and reached a respectable 160 in the forty overs allowed. This total proved far too much for Christ Church. In the face of a superb team bowling performance, Christ Church only reached 115, with wickets from next year’s captain Luca Bertoli-Mitchell (3-14), Tester (2-29) and Guinness (3-25). A combination of rain and lack of players led to a rather longer than planned mid-season break. However, upon the return of a number of finalists following exams, the results picked up again and the 1st XI avoided relegation by comprehensively beating Merton. Four wickets from Guinness and two from blue Fred Johnson limited Merton to 145 all out. This was hardly a competitive total and finalists David Phillips (52), Alex McDonald (38) and Joe Moxham (40) secured victory within twenty overs and Queen’s place in the top division for next season.

Queen’s first-round exit from Cuppers at the hands of eventual finalists Trinity was an immensely frustrating result for a side which, when at full strength, was capable of beating any other college. One of three consecutive half centuries from Phillips was not enough to prevent a century from one of the Trinity openers securing victory for his team.

2nd XI cricket again proved popular this year and often had fewer availability problems than the 1st XI. Results in general were encouraging and a win against Keble M.C.R. by a single run shows that many players have the mental fortitude and talent required to make the step up to the 1st XI next year.

Queen’s remains a college with a very strong cricketing pedigree, and success both in the league and in Cuppers remains a distinct possibility over the next few years.