Cape Town Tour February 2015

They are all back home now! Please see Richard Abson-Bennett's complete report of their visit to Cape Town.

The following was received on 19th February, from Garry Sapsford.

The Shenfield High School Cricket Academy have been touring Cape Town for the past week and return in 3 days. 11 of the 20 in the party are Shenfield CC members (if you include me and Mr Abson-Bennett!) and we have all learned loads from this amazing experience.
(At SCC we know the two teachers better as Sappo and Abbo!)

We have played 7 games so far winning 3 including a superb win against a very strong Milnerton team that went on to win a prestigious T20 comp that we were invited to play in. In that game the Ballington brothers put on a 52 run partnership to seal the victory. Jermaine Franklyn has taken 6 wickets, Jack Orwell has been a stand out performer with bat and ball scoring 28 off of 23 balls v Bergvliet and taking 10 wickets so far. Alfie Dobson, Ben Hughes, Mikko Von Weilligh and Joe Hunt have all improved hugely through the tour and all bodes well for the season to come back home.

We visited Robben Island today to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and we all learned a great deal about the suffering and bravery of the political prisoners during South Africa's Apartheid system. An ex-prisoner gave us an inspiring tour and explained how the freedom fighters kept up spirits by political education, dance, poetry and, very importantly, sport!

Tomorrow we play Jacques Kallis' old school, Wynberg, who have a huge reputation for cricketing excellence. Whatever the result the squad will continue to learn from these incredible experiences.

Shenfield High School's post 16 Cricket Academy provides 3 hours of all year round cricket coaching with Essex coaches and players regularly supporting this coaching.