Schools’ Cup Final
By Ballyclare High School on 18 June, 2024
Despite the disappointment of Schools’ Cup Final defeat against RBAI at Osborne Park, Ballyclare High School’s 1st XI cricket team can be proud of their performance and of all their efforts to represent the School with distinction this year.
RBAI’s winning margin of 126 runs was comprehensive but the Ballyclare players can look back with pride, in particular, at their bowling and fielding performance which restricted their opponents to a total of 194 all out, with four of their allotted overs going unused.
All six Ballyclare bowlers took wickets. Evan Carlisle returned figures of 3 for 23 and was ably backed up by Jack Smyth (2 for 32) and Jude Wilson (2 for 29). Team captain Finn Lutton, Jacob Scarlett and Austin Adair each claimed one wicket.
At 75 for 4 after 14 overs, the RBAI innings was in a precarious position, but partnerships of 40 runs for the fifth wicket and 37 runs for the sixth wicket demonstrated the depth of their batting resources and proved decisive.
The Ballyclare reply never really gathered momentum, Jude Semple and Cooper Donnelly being the only players to reach double figures, as five wickets fell for the addition of only six runs between the sixth and tenth overs.
Good luck messages, received before the game from, among others, long-serving former teacher-in-charge of cricket Simon Thompson, Schools’ Cup Hockey winning captain Tori Wallace and international cricketing legend Kyle McCallan MBE, testify to the enduring affection felt towards the School from those who have contributed to its sporting history in the past. The attendance of parents, family and friends, of clubmates and former teachers only served to augment the supportive atmosphere in which the Final was contested.
Congratulations to Mr Corry and Mr McIlwaine, to all the other members of the coaching staff, to captain Finn and all of his players, for making cricketing history for Ballyclare High School by delivering a first-ever appearance in the Schools’ Cup Final. Although the result was not the one to which the players and supporters aspired, the memories of the individual and collective achievements of this summer term of 1st XI cricket will endure and continue to inspire and motivate future teams to represent the School to the best of their ability in the future.