Bridgewater School – Prep. Department

At the ISA Kwik Cricket Tournament in York on Friday, one of the great sporting cliches came home to roost. It is often said that “catches wins matches “ in cricket, yet it is still an area that is often neglected as everybody wants to focus on bowling and batting. In becoming the ISA North Cricket Champions for 2018, the Bridgewater team demonstrated the importance of great fielding throughout the day.

It is also rare to see every player in a team game play such a big role in an event. However, each player had a moment to remember and were pivotal in the tournament victory. In the opening game Bridgewater took on Tower College from Liverpool. The opposition actually out scored Bridgewater with a challenging 48 runs. However, the bowling from Thomas, Alfie, Archie and Daniel was so good that wickets tumbled regularly. Matteo picked off two of the 7 wickets to fall, meaning a net total of 13 runs was needed for the win.

Alfie and Archie top scored in the reply from Bridgewater, with Thomas and Oliver also chipping in with vital runs. The Tower bowlers could not dent the resolve of the boys and an easy 31 run ensued, thanks to the loss of no wickets and a total of 44 runs scored.

In game 2, Highfield Prep were put into bat and the bowling and fielding was even better from Bridgewater. Archie delivered six bowls and took 3 wickets for no runs. Ethan(2), Daniel(2), Matteo, Oliver and Alfie took wickets and two brilliant run outs from Matteo and Ethan meant Highfield lost 9 wickets for just 36 runs. This set a target of a net score of -9 to win, which was achieved with ease. Once again, Archie and Alfie top the batting averages and a 51 run win, guaranteed Bridgewater a place in the semi-finals.

Before that, the final group match against hosts and hot favourites Queen Ethelburgas needed to be played to see who would top the group. Bridgewater were put into bat and struggled against an impressive set of bowlers. With a total score of 29 scored and two wickets lost, the hosts needed 19 to win. The batting from Queen Ethelburgas, which contained an opening batsman from the Yorkshire Academy, was dominant. Ethan, Harvey and Matteo(2) took wickets, but this could not prevent the hosts from sealing a comfortable 28 run win, having scored a daunting 67 runs in their 8 overs.

In the semi-finals, Huddersfield Grammar were the team standing in the way of Bridgewater reaching the final. Once again, it was to be the fielding that was to give the team the edge in what was, on paper, a game Bridgewater should lose. Two excellent run outs by Ethan and Alfie and an absolute stunner of a catch from Harvey, gave the bowlers encouragement. Thomas, Alfie, Matteo and Ethan (2) restricted Huddersfield Grammar to 37 runs, but with 5 wickets lost, the total to reach the final was 13 runs. Thomas, Harvey, Oliver and Archie found scoring easier going this time around.  With 45 runs scored and for the loss of just two wickets, a 23 run victory put Bridgewater deservedly into the final of the main competition.

Queen Ethelburgas were put into bat and despite some tight bowling and sharp fielding, a total of 60 runs was scored. However, what was to prove to be a crucial moment took place early in the hosts innings. Quick thinking from Oliver, as he fielded a shot and dived to run out the opening batsman and take a vital wicket. This reduced the chasing target to 55 runs, a total that Bridgewater had not gotten near to during the competition.

The tactic was simple, throw caution to the wind and go for it! The opening pair of brothers Archie and Thomas did just that and gave the team an incredible start. The boys’ opening stand of 28 runs, with Archie swinging away to 18 runs in 6 balls, gave hope to Bridgewater. Oliver and Alfie kept the scoreboard moving, whilst Daniel and Matteo safely took the team up to 50 runs without loss. With two overs to go, Harvey and Ethan went into bat, knowing they could not afford to lose a wicket or the match was gone, whilst somehow they had to find the runs needed for an unlikely victory.

The pair survived a fierce over to go into the final over of the tournament with the scores level. Ethan scrambled a single to take the lead, but a wicket would end all hopes of victory. It was down to Harvey to hold his nerve and keep his wicket intact. Incredibly, not only did he survive, but a flashing drive to the boundary gave Bridgewater an unbelievable 5 run win, having scored their highest score of the day and not losing a wicket.

The team became history makers as this is the first time Bridgewater have won the ISA cricket competition. It was a brilliant day and a magnificent team performance. Archie top scored with 48 runs, followed by Alfie (20)and Harvey on 14 runs. However, it was the fielding and bowing that was significant and created the opportunity to win the event. Matteo and Ethan took the most wickets with six each. Thomas, Alfie and Archie were the most economical bowlers with Archie’s figures of 5-1-11-3 very impressive. Catches and run outs from Daniel, Harvey and Oliver all contributed to an all round display of cricketing prowess by a team that has evolved at pace over the summer. Well done to the boys and congratulations on becoming the ISA North Cricket Champions for 2018.

Bridgewater returned to South Manchester CC on Friday, for a return fixture against St. Bedes, Manchester. Put into bat for the first time in a game, Bridgewater had to deal with the pressure of setting a target for the opposition to chase down.

The opening pair of Alfie and Daniel started well enough, with both playing scoring shots to get the team rolling. With every pair having to bowl a 9 ball over each, this side of the game was going to be crucial. To the credit of St. Bedes, they bowled extremely well and limited the number of wides and no balls bowled compared to the last game. Crucially, they also took wickets at regular intervals throughout the Bridgewater innings.

Thomas and Matteo coped really well with the opposition attack and had scored well between them. Unfortunately, a needless run out set the score back and with Lewis and Jake both losing wickets and struggling to score runs, the final few batsmen were under pressure to score and set a target to defend.  Archie and Ethan both scored runs but also lost a wicket each to reduce the total innings score further. In the end, Bridgewater scored 63 runs to add to the starting total of 200, but the loss of 6 wickets meant the total to beat was 233.

St. Bedes had a game plan when batting and looked to score quick singles whenever they could. This surprised Bridgewater and by the time they got to grips with this, the hosts had capitalised on some misfields and had scored well early on. Much to the bowlers’ credit, they kept going and with the more experienced bowlers to come at the end of the innings, the match result was still in doubt going into the final stages of the match.

Mattel bowled beautifully again and took a well deserved wicket. Archie bowled amazingly well and was unlucky not to turn the game on its head with more than the one wicket he took. No runs were scored off his over and he could have had 3 or 4 wickets on another day in what was a tremendous spell of bowling.

Going into the final over Bridgewater needed three wickets to win the game. Despite a good over from Harvey, St Bedes held out for a 17 run win and levelled the series at 1-1. A great contest all round and ideal preparation for Bridgewater’s attempt at winning the ISA Cricket Festival this Friday at Queen Ethelburgas in York.

Two teams from Bridgewater set off to Bury Grammar to take on the hosts in a girls football match. The A team were without Ellen, Freya and Jess from Prep 5, who had all played so well in a tournament earlier this year. The B team was made up of Prep 3 and 4 girls who have signed up for the Valencia trip this September. Therefore, it was an ideal opportunity for both teams to experience the game in more depth.

The A team kicked off against Bury Grammar B team and almost immediately went a goal down. A quick change saw Star come out of goal and into the heart of the defence and Juretha went in goal.  The switch reaped its rewards as the game went on. Star was solid at the back, whilst Lily and Nyla ran tirelessly around the midfield.  Dalia held her position out wide really well, but it was Isabella who took control of the match. Isabella scored 4 goals and Lily added two more to give the A team a deserved 6-1 win.

Over on the other pitch, the younger team were finding it tough going against the older A team from Bury. Molly and Holly worked energetically and enthusiastically to prevent wave after wave of attacks from their opponents. Anna, Evie and Mia all had a go in goal at some point and the girls did well to restrict Bury to just the six goals.

However, the best was still to come from the Prep 3/4 team, as they took on Bury Grammar B team. Molly was solid at the back and Holly found more space and time in midfield. The team created more opportunities in the game and were awarded two penalties to give them a chance to produce an unexpected win. The first was missed, but the second found the roof of the net and Bridgewater had a great 1-0 win over their older and more experienced opponents.

In the battle of the A teams, the game went from end to end with both teams having fabulous chances to win the game. Juretha made some very impressive saves in goal and Star and Dalia worked fiercely to stem the Bury attacks. Nevertheless, it was Bury who pounced on a defensive mix up to give the hosts a deserved lead.

As the match neared it’s conclusion, it looked as though Bridgewater had run out of energy and ideas.  Fortunately, Isabella found the determination and the power to deliver two perfect free kicks. The first flew into the roof of the net from 20 yards out and despite the keeper parrying the ball on the second one, the ball trickled over the line to win the game with the last kick of the game!

The heat made the games more difficult for both teams and it was a credit to all players who kept going right to the very end. The girls were delighted with their performance and their wins and could not wait to get back to school to tell the boys how well they had done! The singing in the bus on the way back to Bridgewater made it feel like football really was coming home. Well done girls!

Children from the Prep. Department have begun an exciting new initiative that they hope will help to alleviate the amount of waste we generate.  Located at the top of the stairs in the Prep. building, there is a box where old, used and dried out pens, felt tip pens, biros, whiteboard pens and markers can be placed ready for recycling.  When full, these will be sent away for recycling into new products.

Don’t bin your old pens – bring them to our recycling box and make a difference.

On a gloriously sunny day this week, 47 Bridgewater Prep athletes ran, jumped and threw superbly at the ISA Athletics Championships at Sport City, Manchester.

After months of practice it was a pleasure to watch all our athletes competing with 27 other schools in a range of events throughout the day. Four out of six relay teams qualified for the Finals with the U12s and the U10s finishing just out of the medals in fourth place.

Ellen took the individual overall honours by winning the gold medal in the Long Jump. Ellen jumped 3m 38, almost half a metre ahead of her nearest rival. Ellen earned the right to represent Bridgewater at the North of England in the ISA National Finals in Birmingham on Tuesday 19th June. Ellen incredibly went close to a unique double celebration as she led in the 600 metres only to run out of steam and finish in third spot.

Daniel had an amazing day, running the anchor leg in the relay final for the U12s and finishing in 5th place in the fiercely contested 80m sprint. Within minutes Daniel went even better by running a brilliant 150m race to take the silver medal.

Alfie in the U9s also ran a fabulous race in the 60m sprint to take the silver medal and he was also instrumental in guiding the U9s relay team to the final. Team mate Luca C missed out by 300ths  of a second from joining Alfie in the final, despite winning his heat comfortably. Jess had a wonderful run in the heats to reach the final of the 150m, where she finished a highly impressive 5th place.

Bridgewater continued their run of success in the field events too. Matteo took silver in the U10s cricket ball throw and was matched by team mate Allegra in the rounders ball throw. Star jumped 1m 15 to take bronze in the  U12s High Jump, but was out jumped by Jake who leapt to 1m 25 to add silver to the medal haul for the day.

Dante took bronze in the U12s cricket throw with a distance of over 35m, whilst Harvey in the Shot Putt and Thomas in the 600m both finished just out of the medals in fourth place.

The individual successes will deservedly take all the headlines. However, it must be said that all Bridgewater athletes performed with tremendous enthusiasm and were totally committed on the day. It was a day to remember for all and a big thank you to the travelling support as always.

Earlier this term, Prep IV held flying trials, to see who would represent the school in the ‘Fly to the line’ regional finals at the Runway Visitor Park at Manchester Airport.  On Wednesday, Alia, Yasmeen and Joe did just that.  In the large room where Concorde now spends its remaining days, our three aeronauts designed and made a new glider, which they then flew.  The top three school teams who flew the furthest are then invited to attend the Final at The RAF Museum Cosford.   Our glider came a very respectable 4th position (out of 17 schools) and are now the ‘wildcards’ who may if lucky get an invitation.  So keep everything crossed as Mrs. Acton awaits that very important email!  Hopefully, it will be luck of the Irish and an entry to the finals…

Mr. Lochery, another Senior  Science teacher also attended, and while he and Mrs. Acton made their own plane for the Teachers’ Competition, we have no news on their success – or lack of it…

The teachers’ rather less glamorous plane

Prep V blasted off to Jodrell bank today. We had a great time wondering around the exhibitions and finding out more about our solar system. Then we had a special message from Tim Peak and learnt how to train as astronauts. Finally, we carried out some exciting experiments, where we got to handle a real meteorite.