Every two years the school sends a Secondary development squad on a tour to England. The next tour is in June-July 2014.
The following is the report on the 2008 tour.
The College conducted a most successful tour to England, the “Birthplace of Cricket” in 2008. Eighteen students accompanied by three staff travelled to the UK for three weeks in June & July 2008.
In the Northern part of the tour the squad played two games in York (St Peter’s College and Silcoates College), two games in the Yorkshire Dales ( Sedburgh School and Ampleforth College), and four games in the Manchester area (Kirkham Grammar, Stockport Grammar, Audenshaw College and Mottram Village). The southern and final leg of the tour commenced with a game against Reigate Grammar which proved unfortunately to be the final match with the scheduled fixture against City of London Freeman School being washed out without a ball being bowled.
The tour also involved some wonderful off field experiences. Highlights were a guided tour of Lord’s Cricket Ground and a practice session in the famous indoor net facilities (where the squad shared net time with SachinTendulkar), a visit to the medieval city of York, and attending High Mass in the Abbey Chapel in Yorkshire.
Overall, the tour was, in cricket terms, a very successful tour. However, the experiences of hospitality, of genuine kindness and a mutual love of the noble game of Cricket amongst all we met, will live forever in the hearts of the whole tour party.
St Laurence’s Cricket and indeed, the whole College community, can feel justly proud of the lads who represented us on this tour. Hopefully, those fortunate enough to follow in the future will find the same.
Dr Graeme Mellor
Tour Director