School Sport: Shenfield High are treble tops

Shenfield High's under-13 girls with England international Kate Cross after winning National and Essex Cup titles (Image: Archant)

Shenfield High School’s under-19 boys completed a second successive treble with victory in the Essex Cup final last week.

Having already claimed county basketball and football titles, they beat Newham College by five runs at Shenfield Cricket Club.

And captain George Pratt claimed it was a fitting end to their time at the school, saying: “To end a superb seven years with this win and complete the county cup treble is perfect.

“We have loved our time at Shenfield and the memories we have, especially from sport, will last us forever.”

Shenfield chose to bat first after winning the toss, with Greg Larkin and Jack Potticary putting on 45 for the first wicket before the latter was trapped lbw for 21 off just 17 balls.

Other wickets fell as Newham bowled tight lines and fielded well to keep the run rate down, but Larkin held Shenfield’s innings together until he fell three runs short of a half-century.

Alex Rickenbach added a quickfire 28 towards the end of the innings as Shenfield were dismissed for 135 in the penultimate over.

And Newham made a positive start to their run chase, scoring 32 without loss in the first four overs before Haris Mahmood struck with the ball.

Rickenbach came into the attack and produced a tight spell, claiming the scalp of Newham’s other dangerous opener with a sharp caught and bowled effort.

Newham’s innings then faltered, in a similar way to Shenfield, as skipper Pratt brought himself into the attack and claimed 2-13 from an economical five-over spell.

The scoreboard kept ticking over, though, to leave Newham needing 27 runs from the last five overs with four wickets in hand.

But Rickenbach’s second spell was also tight and Marc Carter produced an excellent run out to remove Newham’s number six for 29.

The east Londoners needed eight from the last over, with one wicket remaining, but Ashley Parmenter kept his nerve and bowled an excellent over.

With six needed off the final delivery, Mahmood held onto a catch in the outfield to clinch victory and spark wild celebrations, with many making their final appearances in a Shenfield shirt.

There was more cricket success for the school to celebrate this week as their under-13 girls lifted a National Cup title on Monday and were crowned Essex champions the following day.

The under-14 boys had to settle for runners-up medals against New Hall in their Essex final at Loughton.