On Friday 1st July 2022, the Raynes Park/Wimbledon Year 5/6 Rounders Finals took place at Prince Georges Playing fields, Grand Drive. 14 teams represented a total of 11 schools (4 Wimbledon Cluster schools and 7 schools from the Raynes Park Cluster).
In the morning, the format of the competition was that teams would be placed in 4 different pools across 4 pitches, and each school would play in a round robin system against all the other teams in their group. In the afternoon, the teams that finished in 1st place after the mornings pool matches would then be grouped together to play a semi-final and final match to determine the top 3 places of the competition. Likewise all remaining teams would then be regrouped with the others teams that finished in the same position as them in the corresponding pools and also play a semi-final and final match.
After an initial briefing to help guide the players through the minefield that is the rules of rounders, matches got underway. It was clear from the start that all the children had been practicing hard back at school in preparation for this event, as the quality of batting, bowling and fielding was of a really high quality with lots of rounders being scored as a result of some sublime batting performances, as well as some pin point accurate bowling and teamwork when fielding. What was also especially pleasing was the level of support, sportsmanship and respect all players showed not only to their own teammates and opposition but also to the umpires, and this helped to create a really enjoyable atmosphere for players to perform and enjoy their matches.
When the mornings pool matches had been completed and the results had been calculated, it was Bishop Gilpin A team, St John Fisher, Polar A team and Pelham B team who would all go head to head to decided the overall champions for the Raynes Park/Wimbledon Year 5/6 Rounders Finals for 2022. In the first of the Semi-Final matches, Pool A winners Poplar A faced off against Pool B winners Bishop Gilpin A. Bishop Gilpin got off to a strong start with the bat and put up an impressive total score of 17.5 rounders. Despite Poplar A putting in a lot of effort and determination with the bat they were unable to better Bishop Gilpin’s total, and scored 12.5 rounders. In the second Semi-Final, St John Fisher put in their finest batting performance of the day scoring a massive 18.5 rounders. Again, like Poplar in the previous Semi-Final, Pelham battled hard but were not able to better this score and finished on 11.5 rounders.
The match for 3rd place was won by Poplar who demonstrated some excellent bowling and fielding strategy to beat Pelham into 4th place. Credit however must be given to Pelham, who up to this match had performed extremely well in the pool stages with both the bat and the ball, and despite the disappointment of losing this final game showed some excellent sportsmanship to Poplar at the end of the match.
The final was contested between Bishop Gilpin A and St John Fisher. Both teams had worked extremely hard to get to this point and whomever didn’t win this match would understandably be extremely disappointed not to get over the line. St John Fisher batted first, and despite some real effort and determination by their players to gain as many runs as they could, they just couldn’t break through the bowling attack that Bishop Gilpin put together. As a result, Bishop Gilpin had a commanding performance when it was their turn to bat, and finished the match as worthy winners.
Congratulations to Bishop Gilpin A team who are this years Raynes Park/Wimbledon Year 5/6 Rounders Champions, but also a huge well done to every school that competed today as you all represented your schools with pride.
A special mention must also go to our Refspect winners Joseph Hood, who received the most votes as the team that demonstrated the highest level of sportsmanship and respect out of all of competing teams. Well done all!