Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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1st XI Cricket vs MCCS
Fri 29 Apr 2022On a thankfully dry last Friday in April, TWBS 1st XI Cricket hosted the annual fixtures vs MCC (the busiest cricket club in the world that play over 400 matches every year!). After the ceremonial photographs, and as is customary, the gentlemen of MCC batted first. TWBS had some good form coming into the game after their excellent bowling and fielding had set up a ten wicket victory over Claire’s Court School earlier in the week. Indeed it was the opening pair of Bailey Niblett (Year 10) and captain for the second consecutive year Charlie Dunnett (Year 13), who bowled with unerring accuracy and threat to stifle the MCC openers. Dunnett struck twice, clean bowling Feroz Baig first and then Josh Jayasingh taking a smart slip catch, to dismiss Adam Francis to leave MCC reeling at 19/2. Niblett then encouraged a false shot from Robert Eason and Kumayle Hussain took a simple catch – 29/3 before the first ten overs were completed. As expected, at this point the men of MCC showed the school boys how to deal with a tough start. Sensible batting, still in the face of good bowling, led to a promising partnership and a quicker scoring rate – the MCC fifty arriving in the 13th over of the day. Year 12 change bowlers Tegh Banse and Charlie Ticehurst then settled into their work and it was Ticehurst who got the timely wicket of the hard-hitting Ian Crosby – 73/4. By the time lunch was taken Tegh had clean bowled both the obdurate Ben Lane and MCC captain David Heavyside; MCC were on the ropes at 111/6 at lunch.
Upon the resumption of MCC innings, greater intent was shown by wicketkeeper Duxbury and no.8 Haines and the game moved on rapidly. By the time both had fallen to good catches off the same Tegh Banse over the score had moved to 168/8; from there MCC pushed to set a competitive total and declared their innings closed on 207/8. Tea was then taken before TWBS would begin their reply. Charlie Kingsford and Josh Jayasingh opened up the TWBS reply and made a great start to the run chase. Indeed, the first 50 runs came up in the tenth over and both boys looked comfortable at the crease. However, the introduction of a change of pace saw Bracey encourage Jayasingh to run past one to be stumped out for 38 and then slide one straight on to have Dunnett adjudged lbw first ball. TWBS had now slipped to 69-2 in the space of consecutive deliveries and also with now both their Year 13 students back in the Pavilion. Perhaps flustered by the quick change in fortunes, Kingsford chipped up a catch the very next over and TWBS were now 71/3. Pressure brings mistakes and Kerl Ziemkendorf’s run-less innings came with a tame catch and left TWBS 72/4. Perhaps learning from how MCC rebuilt their innings, Year 11s, Will Moss and Harry Bicknell, steadied the ship and put on a promising partnership to steer TWBS towards the 100 run mark. Unfortunately, Will’s innings came to an end with the score 99/5, giving Bracey also his third wicket. Tegh then joined Harry at the crease and runs flowed freely once again, giving the assembled crowd hope of a famous victory. In an inspired captaincy call, Heavyside brought himself on to bowl and took a wicket in each of his first two overs – Bicknell chipping a catch up for a handy 35 runs and then as the clocked ticked to 6pm, Tom Coomber playing all around a straight ball for just one run to his name. There was still hope of a win with Tegh at the crease, but his departure and then quickly afterwards Ticehurst’s gave Bracey a five wicket haul and MCC just one wicket from victory, TWBS now 145/9 and with little chance of victory. Niblett as last man went in to join Kumayle with just under six overs of the day left to try and cling on for a draw, and with instructions to do so. While Bailey dutifully played out the rest of the over as a maiden his end, Kumayle had his sights set on glory as he then launched Baig back over his head for a one-bounce four. Perhaps calmer heads prevailed as the rest of his over and the next were again full of solid defensive shots. However, a repeated attempt in Baig’s next over was less successful; Kumayle missed the ball, it thudded onto his pads and the umpire had no choice but to give him out lbw and consign TWBS to a 58-run loss.
Player of the match Tegh Banse (4/34 and 25) was presented with his Spirit of Cricket hat by MCC captain Heavyside at the end of the game. Captain Dunnett may not have been able to repeat his batting heroics from Wednesday but he did then go on to represent Berkshire 1st XI in the NCCA T20 competition.
My utmost thanks to matchday sponsor South Thames Marketing for their generosity, to our very own Chef Kev for fantastic food at lunch and tea and to the Friends’ of TWBS for their help in ensuring that the hospitality on the day was exceptional. A fantastic day’s cricket that was played in exactly the right spirit and level of competitiveness; just what MCC wants these fixtures to be.
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TWBS Staff v 1st XI Hockey match
Wed 06 Apr 2022Wednesday saw the return of the Staff v 1st XI Hockey match. The staff side (captained by the self-appointed Mr Jeffery) made a strong start and were 1-0 up in next to no time. Former pupils Paddy O’Neill and Marcus Foley bolstered the staff numbers (after all, the boys have well over 200 6th formers to choose from…the staff number significantly fewer!) and were instrumental in the goal. The foundations of the staff team were Messrs Paul, Furness, Bignall and Breen in defence, with Mr Woods a dynamic force in goal, and Messrs Jeffery and Thomas running the show in midfield. Mr Unsworth’s selfless running created many opportunities and Mr Chester was his more able partner in crime in attack. Sustained pressure throughout the first half saw the staff roar into a well-deserved 4-0 lead, with the pupils never really troubling the experienced staff defence. Paddy (twice) and Mr Chester getting the goals. The arrival of Mr Jones in place of Mr Jeffery saw a rapid shift in momentum. A rare pupil attack gave Ishwar Jabble a half-chance in the circle; a deflected shot looped off Mr Jones’ stick totally wrong-footing and stranding Mr Woods and gave the pupils a goal.
4-1 at half time soon became 4-4 – even with Mr Jeffery returning to the pitch; Akhil Paleti picked up a hattrick from a penalty stroke, an instinctive volley and then a crisp strike when left unmarked in the circle. The momentum had clearly shifted and the staff were maybe tiring (it is exhausting playing against boys half one’s own age…!) Chances continued to be made for the staff, but Unsworth (match winner in 2018, lest we forget!) was unable to finish any of them off. Then Mr Clark inexplicably missed an open goal from 2 yards out! Thankfully our newest recruit to the staff, Mr Thomas, was able to settle some nerves to make it 5-4 and then Marcus duly added the 6th.
A very enjoyable game that ended 6-4 to the staff – sadly capping a winless season for the 1st XI. My thanks go to those boys that have represented the school this year, especially to the Year 13s – captain Zac Gallagher, Will Mumford, Josh Jayasingh, Ish Jabble, Akhil Paleti, Charlie Dunnett, Cameron Boys and Freddie Pope – who have finally been allowed a senior hockey season after two years of pandemic-enforced break!
Gareth Breen
Director of Sport
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Year 11 Make the Final
Mon 04 Apr 2022On Monday the Year 11 football team beat Upton Court School in the District semi-final of the cup. With a slightly under strength side, Windsor started slowly but played some good football with Upton pressing fast and high up the pitch. As the half developed, Windsor took control and were 1-0 up thanks to a free kick into the top corner by Oliwier Bach. Just before half time they doubled their lead with the strike of the season from Jack Arnold. Bach wiped the ball in from out wide and Arnold acrobatically volleyed it into the corner of the net. In the second half Windsor continued to dominate and further goals for Bach and Charlie Reid ensured they progressed through 4-1. Man of the Match – Oliwier Bach
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Great Britain Ultimate Frisbee
Fri 01 Apr 2022We’re pleased to announce that three Year 10 pupils have been selected to represent Great Britain at the U17s European Youth Ultimate Championships this Summer! The boys are Ben Dewar, Jassien Sabri and Marcus Kalsi-Stolen. They will be training hard with the 25 man squad in the lead up to the Championships in Wroclaw, Poland, on 6th - 13th August. Highlights of the EYUC 2019 finals
