BLUE AND GOLD
Hello all, and welcome to the second edition of Blue and Gold, the magazine by the boys for the boys. As the longest term of the year draws to a close, with energy dropping and the days darkening, there has been one remaining constant, sport – the heartbeat of the school.
Once again we have all sorts for you, including an interview with Old Shirburnian Will Parry (b22) and a results page featuring the best performing teams over the term, plus the rugby and football 1st teams. We hope you have enjoyed the two editions so far, and we look forward to working with more of you to produce the Lent copies.
Thank you and enjoy...
The Editors Will T (U6d), Henry H (U6b), Charlie T (U6d), Thomas L (U6e)
WILL PARRY
Will Parry (b22) talks about his time at Sherborne, balancing university and professional Rugby, Sushi with Marcus Smith and scoring at the Rec
view by Will T (U6d) and Henry H (U6b)
our time at Sherborne?
y loved it. Even though I in the Fourth Form and ally hard to settle in to ablished groups, was amazing. I was in d had an amazing time in ears I spent there.
u find the boarding ?
om a boarding nd I was very familiar ding life. I loved that most lads were in every weekend with SG up the road and always loads to do Abbey is in a great position; close to the Dining Hall and school itself!
What is your best sporting memory at Sherborne?
The Quarter Final victory at home against Harrow definitely stands out Harrow were unbeaten in the season and we were the underdogs. The atmosphere and crowd was incredible and I still find myself rewatching it in my head or on YouTube
What other sports did you play at Sherborne?
I only played Rugby and Rugby Sevens at Sherborne as I was in the Academy at Bath During the Lent Term I would play in the Academy League with Bath which was an amazing experience.
How did the school support you in attaining a professional contract?
The school offered amazing support and Mr Smith, Mr Howden and Mr Bennett were brilliant The staff were always happy to take me to extra Bath sessions or give me extra support after Games. Mr Smith actually took me to the wrong Bath Trial session first time; he took me to the PDG session (the highest level for the age group) and I got in! Without this luck or deliberate planning from Mr Smith, I am not sure if I would have gone professional, or progressed in the manner I did.
Who were the big sporting rivals when you were at Sherborne?
Radley were a massive rival of ours. Unfortunately I never beat Radley but they always gave us a great game. Millfield was another very tough game that I relished playing in.
What was it like playing in the Semi-Final of the National Competition at the StoneX Stadium?
Whilst we didn’t get the result we wanted it was an unbelievable experience and we were all so happy to be there. Losing to the eventual winners is nothing to be ashamed of. To hear the chants of the Sherborne lads who came to watch, and to not hear the Trinity chants despite the score was immense.
How was your Bath debut against Bristol in 2022?
It was pretty nerve-wracking as I wasn’t best prepared. I had been called down from Durham that week and it was my first taste of professional rugby. I started on the wing, having never played there before, which was a great learning experience. It was so cool to have some of my idols on the pitch with me. For example, having Jonathan Joseph inside me was awesome. Having had that experience it made me want it even more so that I could excel in the shirt, not just wear it.
What is it like playing with Arthur Green (g22) and Tom Carr-Smith (m20), your cousin?
I love it; it’s just like playing at Sherborne again. Loads of Shirburnians come to watch and you can still hear the Sherborne chants in the Rec. I am very lucky to be able to celebrate together when one of us scores a try and Tom is always the first to jump on me if I score. When I scored my first try against Bristol, despite being absolutely knackered, Tom was the first to celebrate with me. We have a natural competitiveness but it only makes us stronger. I look up to him loads and seeing him play in the Premiership makes me want to take the field with him at the next level soon.
How good was the West Country derby victory this year? You scored two tries in a massive victory - how did it feel?
It was definitely the highlight of my Bath career so far and the best day I have had there, the boys were on fire! It was a strong Bristol team and playing in the West Country derby is a massive achievement for me. Having a sold out Rec was unreal and it was the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of.
Your second try came from you making a brilliant interception ten metres out. Is that something you planned?
We had previewed Bristol that week and knew they loved to offload and play fast. I knew that if I got between the nine and the first receiver I had a chance and luckily it fell into my arms and I could go over for a second time.
How did you find training with England at the World Cup?
A few Bath lads had already been sent out to help in training and I was asked out for the Quarter-Final. I was so nervous but seriously looking forward to it. I remember walking down the stairs on arrival and seeing all the England lads, many of whom I had idolised, eating dinner it was surreal. It was amazing to learn from the best in the country and I was so inspired. It was an unforgettable experience, as was eating Sushi with Marcus Smith on one of the evenings!
When did you decide you wanted to become a professional rugby player?
I have always tried to do everything to the best standard I can and so I was never dead set on turning pro. I took it stage by stage wanting to do as well as I could for the Bath U18s and see what progressed. The contract Bath gave me allowed me to study at Durham as well which was so important for me, Rugby is a short career and I want something to fall back on.
What is your big message for boys at Sherborne concerning sport?
Enjoy your days playing at Sherborne. Some of my favourite moments in sport are at Sherborne. Appreciate the friends you are playing with: many of mine are my best mates even to this day.
T H E E A R L Y D A Y S
Written by MIJ (Interim Headmaster)
Rugby Football was introduced to Sherborne School in 1846 by the headmaster, Reverend C.T. Penrose, who had previously worked at Rugby School. As I reminded the 1st XV when presenting them with their shirts earlier this term, that was the year Marlborough College was founded and means that our School has one of the longest rugby-playing histories of any type in the world. Of course, at Sherborne, rugby was known purely as ‘football’ for a long time in a way we do not refer to it these days. Interestingly, we played the Association code (modern-day football) for one year, in 1871, before giving that up and carrying on with rugby the next year.
There were some representative school matches against local clubs in these early days, but inter-school fixtures did not actually start until December 1893 when we first played Cheltenham (and lost). These local games were known as ‘foreign’ matches and were played against clubs such as Yeovil and Salisbury or against invitational sides made up by old boys or locals. I can imagine the lack of fixtures being a problem as the boys would have been eager to play in more serious competition than the friendly games which were organised twice a week amongst themselves. It is of no surprise that a cup for senior football was established in 1873 to formalise a more focused competition. This was known as the ‘Three Cock’, a name that has not aged well, perhaps. As explained on the wonderful Sherborne School Archives pages, ‘The origins of this game stemmed from the fact that School House was easily the largest at Sherborne and so they played a game against representatives of the best three of the other houses.’ At its inception, that meant Abbey, The Green, Harper and Abbeylands were the only houses from today that took part with the extinct Wildman’s, Price’s and Day Boys house also involved. These ‘Outhouses’ would effectively combine to play off against one another and make up a single side for the final against School House led by the strongest house.
Like House rugby today, the passions would run high and the final of the Three Cock was, according to the School’s historian, A.B. Gourlay, ‘the most important match of the year and formed a magnificent traditional finish to the season. ’ When perusing the list of previous winners it is of interest to note the dominance of Abbey House when led by the housemaster and ex-England international, G.M.Carey (after whom the games fields are named). Interestingly, two current governors led their respective houses to victory in the final few years of the Three Cock competition: R.A.L. Leach of Abbey House (1972) and C.H. Samler of School House (1975).
The competition ended in 1977 after 104 years. Perhaps it is a trophy and title we ought to revive.
Cheltenham - 0
Sherborne Gents XV - 41
A dominant performance by the Gents XV - our best of the season. Cheltenham were a decent side who had comfortably beaten Marlborough earlier in the season; the same team who had beaten us narrowly both home and away We thought we were in for a tough afternoon but dominated both territory and possession from kick off, winning the battle at the breakdown and constantly breaking the gain line with relentless attacking Harry K (U6d), a leading member of the Gents, praised the communication and fast flowing style of rugby played by the side. By half time two converted tries and a penalty saw us 17-0 up.
We knew a strong start to the second half could kill the game off, and so it proved with two more converted tries within ten minutes. At 31 points up we were able to ease back and play different combinations, but still dominated play to score two more tries and end up 41-0 victors
For many, putting on the tweed and singing ‘The Carmen’ is up there with the most memorable moments of one’s school career Not only do the Gents turn up in style and sing their hearts out as if they were at Twickenham, they bring back the goods and were the only team to win away at Cheltenham. Harry gave particular mention to Will A (U6b) and Hugo C (U6b) who both had outstanding games The Gents left nothing at Cheltenham bar a few tackle bags and returned home proudly with the clean sheet! After a tough season where we have been repeatedly edged out by a single score it was gratifying for the squad to gain such a deserved, morale boosting win They have continued to train hard and with commitment. After the exeat our season concludes with a momentous home fixture against Radley. As always, this will be our Everest match, but, on this evidence, we will be up for the challenge
Oli B (5g)
talks about his involvement sport at Sherborne, 1st Team debuts and the future.
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by Will T (U6d), Thomas L (U6e) arlie T (U6d)
s do you play at Sherborne t level?
y, hockey and cricket and n the A team for all over ple of years it has been etitive but has been great by specifically I am a flyve been playing there ever ember I love the ty and pressure of fly-half
u enjoy Sherborne and sport ar here?
ugh sport here I have met so many great people outdoors having absolutely love it!
t is your favourite moment during time here on a sports field?
irst thing that comes to mind is a y game at home against Taunton urth Form I slotted the winning n front of a big crowd and, whilst s a very simple kick, it felt zing!
How did it feel to make your 1st XV debut against Abingdon?
I loved every moment of it! I was a bit nervous beforehand, especially as I only found out I was playing in my last lesson before the game! It was great fun and everyone was so supportive. Abingdon were very good and I could definitely feel and see the physical and tactical step up I didn’t really feel the pressure of it when I was on the pitch The noise of the crowd just drove me forward and I got into my zone and I was just doing what I do best rather than being hampered by nerves
Where do you see yourself in the future regarding sport?
Like every young sportsmen I want to play professional sport and for me I want to achieve this in rugby Hopefully, I can play some BUCS Super Rugby at university and try make a challenging path slightly easier I think sport will always be a part of my life, however. I am not really sure what I would do without it, whether it be rugby, hockey or cricket
How have you enjoyed being a key member of the Colts A?
I have loved the Colts this year and have loved having Mr McGuire as our coach. We are a pretty determined side and everyone wants to win which brings a great competitive edge to us. It has been great to be a part of, and watching the progression from Third Form has been awesome.
If there is one thing about your rugby game you could improve what would it be?
I would love to get a bit bigger and start running more. I want to be able to be more involved as an attacking threat.
What are you most looking forward to in 2025 in sport at school?
I cannot wait to play senior sport hopefully challenging for 1st Team places. I cannot wait to challenge for spots in the 1sts and push myself more and more in all three sports.
What makes sport so enjoyable for you?
I just enjoy every moment of it, being outdoors and with friends I love the contests and the competitiveness of sport and want to keep striving to get better and better.
What is your big message around sport at Sherborne?
Make the most of every opportunity there is. Get involved with all the extra stuff, pushing to reach your goals. Don’t let opportunities pass you by where you will be thinking in years to come; ‘I really regret that’.
Singles
Tom C (5a) L 1-2
Jerry B (U6f) W 2-0
Joe Z (5e) W 2-0
Reuben C (L6d) W 2-0
Felix W (L6e) W 2-0
Noah C (5d) W 2-0
Jamie S (5a) W 2-0
Thomas O (U6b) W 2-0
Rufus W (U6a) W 2-0
Thomas M (5b) W 2-0
Doubles
Tom C (5a) & Jerry B (U6f) L W
Joe Z (5e) & Reuben C (L6d) W W
Felix W (L6e) & Noah C (5d) W W
Jamie S (5a) & Thomas O (U6b) W W
Rufus W (U6a) & Thomas M (5b) W W
The Badminton team achieved an impressive win against Sherborne Girls last Thursday. Despite a couple of close defeats against the outstanding top player from the opposition, the rest of the team went undefeated in both singles and doubles, showing strong performances from all boys. Most notable matches were Felix W (L6e) who only lost 5 points in his entire BO3 singles game and Tom C (5a) who after a hard fought BO3 match managed to take one game from their top player. Joe Z (5e) and Reuben C (L6d) also managed to defeat the opponents top ranked pair whilst being the second pair for Sherborne. Overall a fantastic win for the team.
Reuben C (L6d)
Mr Tatham reflects on Sherborne’s entry into ‘The Cricketer’ magazine’s Top 100 Schools for Cricket.
TowardstheendofNovember,weweredelightedtoannouncethenewsthatSherbornehas beenchosenby‘TheCricketer’magazineasoneoftheirTop100SchoolsforCricketintheUK Wehadbeenabsentfromthisprestigiousannualpublicationforthepreviousfiveyearsand, eversinceIwasappointedMasteri/cCricketin2022,ithasbeenoneofmykeyaimstoreturn theSchooltoitsrightfulplaceamongstthecricketingelite.Thisrecognition,therefore,isa sourceofgreatpersonalsatisfaction–aswellasarichly-deservedpositivejudgementonall thatweseektodowithinourcricketprogramme
Oneofthechallengesofgettinginto,andthenstayingin,theTop100isthefactthatthe judgingpaneldoesn’tpublishanyformalcriteriaforinclusion.Ofcourse,considerationssuch asthesizeoftheprogramme,thenumberoffixturesplayedandteamsfielded,aregiven weight–andthisiscertainlyanaspectinwhichSherborne’sclaimscanneverbefaulted.Each school’splayingrecord,historyandtheinvolvementofplayersonelitepathwaysallalsoseem tocomeintotheequation,soIhavenodoubtthatourincreasedinvolvementwithDorset Cricket–bothinproducingasteadystreamofplayersforthecountyandalsoasatraininghub forvariousDorsetsquads–hasserveduswell.SotoothefactthatwehaveSherborneboys playingandtrainingnotjustatDorset,butalsowithHampshire,Herefordshire,Oxfordshire, Somerset,Sussex,WiltshireandBarbados! Whatwedefinitelydoknow,though,isthatthejudgeswereimpressedbySherborne’sdesire tomoveourcricketprogrammebeyondjustthebusinessofwinsandlossesontheplaying field.Thewinterprogramme,spearheadedbyMrBuckley,wasmuch-praised,notleastbecause itmakescricketaccessiblefarbeyondthelimitsofthetopsideswhilstalsoensuringthatthe mostambitiouscricketersarechallengedandtheirhorizons extended.SotooourRuthStraussFoundationCricketWeeks,whichhaverunoverthepast coupleofyears Thesespeaktothepowerofthisgreatgametodogoodwellbeyondthe narrowconfinesoftheboundary–somethingofwhichIamincrediblyproud,andwhichweare alreadyplanningtoreplicateagaininthesummerof2025.
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Achieving this accolade is – of course – a team effort, and I must first acknowledge the unstinting efforts of all those members of the teaching staff who sacrifice enormous chunks of their time to coach cricket: their commitment and expertise are so very much appreciated My heartfelt thanks also go to our superb groundsman, Tom Punchard, for whom no job is ever too much trouble and whose expertise is – quite simply – unparalleled in schools’ cricket Lastly, I must pay tribute – again – to Mr Buckley: he has been here less than 18 months but, in that time, he has had a transformative impact on our cricket programme His rapport with the boys, and his efforts to support their aspirations are, quite simply, wonderful! Before we know it, the 2025 cricket season will be upon us and I, for one, cannot wait… In the meantime, do have a look at the magazine: a copy has been distributed to all houses, as well as elsewhere across the school site. So do –please – read and enjoy as we count down to Summer 2025!
HFT
MiC Cricket
On May 12th 2022, Brendon McCullum was named as the Head Coach of the English Cricket Team. Appointing Ben Stokes as captain, succeeding Joe Root whose batting, physical and mental health had all suffered during his tenure, ‘Bazball’ was born. Critics call it reckless and stupid; fans – like me - think it is incredible. From winning 1 Test out of 17 before Stokes and McCullum took the reigns, the team have won 22 Tests, lost 11 and drawn just 1 (at the time of writing). The red-ball revolution has been unbelievable, with a series win in New Zealand for the first time in over 15 years its most recent result.
So what actually is ‘Bazball’? Had this question been asked during the 2022 summer the answer would have been something along the lines of: ‘Bazball is a style of play in a different world to how Test Cricket has been played previously. Scoring at around a run-a-ball every innings, reverse-scooping the quickest bowlers in the world and inventing new fielding positions, Bazball is all about bringing fans into the game and reviving Test Cricket.’ Put simply, at its outset, many viewed it as care-free cricket; however, as it has developed, this is clearly not the case. The old guard found their own way through the chaos of the new. Joe Root has amassed run after run, obliterating records on his way. He has done it his own way, rotating the strike and putting the bad balls away. This is a better representation of Bazball than care-free cricket. With Harry Brook, Ben Duckett and Zac Crawley bludgeoning the ball to all parts, with sixes in the first over or centuries in fewer than 100 balls, Root stands as a better version of the batting talisman he has been over the last decade. He plays it his way – and this is ‘true Bazball’.
‘Bazball’ is all about finding your own way to succeed, putting pressure on the opposition in your own way. This manifests itself differently for each individual; what could be better than that? The team is full of personality, individuals happy to fail doing the right thing, growing as cricketers and people. The coaching staff back each individual and the left-field selections of Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir have all been revealed as inspired moments of brilliance. Bazball is fearlessness, independence and camaraderie personified, the core building blocks of school sports teams. It can become a way of life rather than just a cricketing mentality or, if not a way of life, at least a sporting mentality. Failure is okay, a lack of trying out of fear is not! Being yourself and finding your own way through situations is good, following the crowd is not! Bazball puts a smile on pessimistic faces, draws people into a sport labelled ‘boring’ and brings joy to anyone who crosses its path, why does it have to be limited to the England Test Team? I don’t think it should be…
Images (top to bottom)
Ben Stokes (England Test Captain)
Jacob Bethell (England’s latest wildcard debutant)
Harry Brook and Joe Root (The top 2 Test batsmen in the world)
Both the junior and senior swim teams swam well at the North Dorset Senior Schools Gala against five other teams The U16s came 3rd overall and the U18s 2nd with excellent performances from both individual and team efforts Particular mention must go to Bryden L (4e) who broke both the U16 50m Butterfly and U16 100m Freestyle records. The freestyle record was set in 2016, therefore breaking an eight-year-old record. With the scores combined the Sherborne Schools Group finished in a very respectable 2nd place.
It has been brilliant to see so many swimmers helping create a shift in the sport here. From ‘turning up and swimming’ to competing for gala victories against an immensely strong Leweston, it has been fantastic to witness.
A further four school gala against Bromsgrove, Marlborough and Wellington, Sherborne obtained 3rd with 119 points, narrowly missing out on a silver medal. The full standings are below:
Once again this was a very respectable showing from the swimmers. Bromsgrove have the luxury of national swimmers under the banner of the City of Birmingham. If they hadn’t won it would have been a great shock and so finishing second out of the remaining three, nine points off top is an excellent result.
DR WADHAM
Former Head of Hockey, Biology Teacher and Harper Housemaster, Dr Wadham talks about touring, coaching and his unending love of hockey…
Interview by Will T (U6d) and Thomas L (U6e)
What is your current role within the school?
I am mainly a sports coach focusing on hockey whilst helping out with the golf. In the Summer term I will help out with tennis as well. Concerning hockey, I am doing a variety of things working with Year 5s at Sherborne Prep as well as doing bits with Sherborne Girls and being club captain at Yeovil and Sherborne, the local club.
How long have you been working at Sherborne?
I joined in 1997 (28th year). I had just finished my PhD and I felt I needed a stable career given I had a young child. I had just been tutoring on a medical ethics course at Birmingham Uni and I really enjoyed that environment. Having come from an independent school myself (Bradfield) and being involved in hockey at that time meant it all fell into place. Repton was the first job I went for which I didn’t get. Then I went for the job here and when we walked into the Courts, which were looking as beautiful as ever, my wife said to me ‘ you have to get this job’ and luckily I did.
During this time what roles have you held in the school –sport and outside of sport?
Biology teacher from 1997 until the end of last year I became MiC Hockey in my second year, taking over from Mr Scott’s father. I did that for five years before becoming MiC Tennis. I also ran the sub-aqua I was a tutor in five of the houses and was Harper’s Housemaster between 2010 and 2020.
You have been on various tours, most recently to India in 2018 – how have they been?
So I think it splits into two. You have short haul tours like the hockey tour to Rotterdam which is much more focused on the sport. They are short but packed with matches and training and are brilliant for team bonding. The long haul tours have to be about more than just the sport. India was unbelievable for that, doing the Golden Triangle was incredible. For example the Taj Mahal was mind-blowing even after seeing thousands of pictures of it. Throughout India you would constantly drive along the road and have to stop to admire what was around you. I’ve been lucky enough to go to Barbados in 2001 on a hockey tour and a sub-aqua trip to the Red Sea.
When you were younger what sports did you play – what level?
When I was at school I would play any sport I could get my hands on. I was that typical kid staring out the window on match days waiting for the lesson to end. At school it was all about playing sport whether it be squash, tennis, swimming, hockey or football. Yet at Bradfield I was told I was too small to play football despite being quite good but it didn’t matter about my size in hockey. I played for Harborne in the National League after school unfortunately we got relegated to the Midlands Premier League but National League was an amazing standard. When I arrived here I went to Yeovil and Sherborne and there happened to be a man called Rob Hill there who had 70 outdoor and indoor international hockey caps. At the same time Mickey Colclough (ex-Welsh international) and Andrew Parker (ex-England Indoor player) were also there. We won the West Premier League and got to the National Playoffs.
Why do you think sport is important for boys at Sherborne?
Obviously there are the health benefits around both physical and mental health but I don’t think that is the most important reason. I think the camaraderie you get from sport, the friendships you build and the competitive edge it fosters are so important. A lot of boys need that competitiveness in their lives and sport provides them that. But also, it is fun, and that cannot be overlooked.
What is your most memorable moment concerning coaching?
I’ve got two! First one is when I was coaching the 2nds, a team that played on the counter a lot. We were playing Millfield and they, as they often do, turned up with the impression that they would win. They had a Welsh International in their side who had been dropped from the 1sts because he had a falling out with a few team members. On our first counter-attack we scored, having soaked up all their pressure. This is how the game continued, scoring most times we got into the D. I think we won 7-2 and watching Millfield totally broken at the end, after how they had turned up – I loved it! The second is when Mr Scott and I coached the U14s in 2018, who won the Wests and went on to the Nationals. They were one of the last 8 teams in the country. The team had the likes of Charlie Collinge (f22), Angus Bushby (m22) and Tom Ewart-Smith (d22).
Do you still play sport now – what level?
I’m not sure to be honest! I played a couple of weeks ago and pulled my groin. I haven’t yet decided whether I need to stop or not. My body can’t do what my mind says it can do anymore and it is really frustrating. I have enjoyed the camaraderie of Yeovil and Sherborne but the annoyance about my body is still there. I have played hockey since I was 10 and hockey is a part of me and I don’t know if I am ready to leave it behind me.
What is your big message to boys at Sherborne around sport?
There are two strands to this and so I have two messages. Firstly, if you enjoy participating in sport, school is the best place to do it. At school you can walk down to Carey’s in specific slots and there are knowledgeable coaches, all the kit and other people there and you can play sport without having to do much extra yourself. When you leave school you have to do it for yourself and join clubs or find the time to play. Therefore, don’t underestimate the amazing opportunities and ease in which sport can be played here. Secondly, at a performance or an elite level there is another message, and it is something that has irritated me over the years about Shirburnians. Not many talented sportsmen I have seen have had the desire. When you get to the elite level so many people are massively talented but you have to have so much more than that to be a professional. You have to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night thinking ‘I am going to get there’. You then have to do everything in your power to do that whether it be S&C, nutrition, waking up early to go for a run or any other thing. You have to make your whole life about being an elite sportsmen and if you rely on talent alone, forget it!
Statistics: Michaelmas 2024
Rugby 1XV, Football 1XI and the top performers...
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the following for their help with the magazine:
M R L E P O I D E V I N
M I S S C L A Y T O N
M I S S T U C K E R
M R J A M I E S O N
M R T A T H A M
D R W A D H A M
M R G R I F F I N - R A P H A E L
M R R O B I N S O N
D R S P E N C E R
M S T A Y L O R
M R G U Y
M R R B U C K L E Y
M R H E N D E R S O N
M R S M I T H
M R K E E N
M R E W A R T - S M I T H
M R S E N N E C K
And, of course, our biggest thanks to Will Parry (b22) for taking the time to have a chat with us.
And to the following boys who have also helped or written pieces for this edition: Oli B (5g) Reuben C (L6d)
