Oathall girls are cricketing national champions

Top Row: England Cricketer Kate Cross, Ella Bates, Imy Dilling, Megan Hannah, Amber Layne, Student Coach Lucy Western and England Cricketer Tammy Beaumont. Bottom Row: Issy Peacock, Rebecca Bonanate (C), Millie Walker and Charlotte Hepburn. Photograph ©Mark Peacock

Oathall’s under15 girls cricket team have beaten teams from across England to become National Champions in the Chance to Compete 2014 Girls U15s cricket finals held on 15 September in Birmingham.

Oathall’s winning team were: Rebecca Bonanate (Captain), Amber Layne, Charlotte Hepburn, Mellieha Teague, Issy Peacock , Imy Dilling, Millie Walker, Ella Bates & Megan Hannah. The team were coached by PE teacher Miss Laura Gyngell and assisted by student coach, Lucy Western.

This is the second time this year that the cricket team from the college has competed at national level. In May, the U15 team narrowly missed becoming National indoor champions when they took part in the finals of the Lady Taverners girls cricket Indoor National finals.

Miss Gyngell, PE teacher said: “I am so proud of the girls and their brilliant team performance. It is especially pleasing to win this final after being runners-up in the National indoor finals in May. It is great to see that all the hard work and training that the girls put in has finally paid off.”

Chance to Compete is a national secondary school competition aimed at giving secondary school children an opportunity to play competitive cricket. Matches are played in under an hour and all participants play a significant part in the game. A series of regional matches are played in each County; and each County winner then goes through to a regional quarter final. The four winners of the regional finals qualify for the Finals Day.