VICTORIA College 1st XI cricket team finished in second place at this year’s Castles Festival in Monmouth, Wales.
The hosts ran out comfortable winners for the fifth consecutive year, but the islanders were full value for their runners up spot.
After a convincing opening victory over New Hall by 57 runs, VC were bested by the eventual winners in a one-sided contest on Monday. However, VC rallied well to beat Kimbolton on Wednesday by 39 runs.
Kimbolton would finish in bottom place with three defeats, while New Hall finished in third place. Monmouth were the team to beat from the off and they proved as much.
Batting first in their game with VC, they posted a decent 245 all out from their 50 overs.
VC coach Matt Smith expressed how impressed he was with his side’s efforts with the ball.
Wickets were shared around – captain Barney Aston claimed 2 for 65, while Rufus Aston, Jack Vowden, Theo Bell and Hugo Gomersall each claimed one.
Pick of the bowlers however was Louie Pullman, who excelled with 3 for 49 from his 10 overs.
In reply though, the innings fell away from early. Just two men, Freddie Harben (16) and Louie Bell (17) made it to double figures as Monmouth flexed their muscles to bowl VC out for just 83 in 28.5 overs.
After a rest day on Tuesday VC returned on Wednesday for their final clash with Kimbolton.
Batting first, Ben Heelis made a breezy 60 from 47 balls, while Louie Bell played the anchor roll excellently with a measured 62 from 100 balls.
Ollie Ferguson added a handy cameo of 35 as VC were bowled out in the 47th over for 232.
Kimbolton’s reply started poorly, Louie Pullman bagging an early wicket in the second over, before Rufus Aston had them 27 for 2 in the 10th over.
An ominous third-wicket partnership of 55 was broken by the canny wrist spinner Theo Bell, which sparked a mini collapse as Kimbolton fell from 82 for 2 to 85 for 6.
Bell picked up three of those four wickets, Jack Vowden claiming the fourth in an imperious passage of spin bowling.
However, the introduction of R. Dawes at number eight swung momentum again. Combining with number five Rafferty Davey, the pair added 90 for the seventh wicket in just under 20 overs.
Davey looked the more aggressive, smashing 6 sixes on his way to a half century – well appreciated by his teammates.
He would eventually fall for 68 from 64 balls, Rufus Aston prizing him out with Theo Bell taking the catch.
Dawes’ resistance came to an end shortly after for 20 from 67 balls, Freddie Harben with the superb run out.
The final two wickets fell soon after, Theo Bell concluding his outstanding effort in the field with the second run out of the innings, before the skipper Aston fittingly finished things off with the final wicket in the 48th over.
