Students from Angmering School national runners-up

The team narrowly missed out to reigning champions Victoria School, in Poole, having played at the home of cricket, Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Hosted at the Nursery Pavilion, the national Lord’s Taverners tournament concluded with eight schools from across the UK challenging for the 2015 title.

The Angmering School won its group on finals day to make it to the final, against regular finalists Victoria School. But the trophy wasn’t to be, as the team was beaten by 30 runs, defending a score of 240.

Duncan Lewis, director of fundraising, partnerships and events at the Lord’s Taverners, said: “It is fantastic to witness children with severe disabilities engage in sport and what’s more, get involved in cricket.

“Table Cricket ensures that participants can experience playing at a competitive level and enjoy the benefits of being part of a team. Congratulations to The Angmering School on becoming the second best table cricket team in the country.”

In its 17th year, the competition, which is supported by the ECB and a number of trusts and foundations, saw more than 500 youngsters with severe physical disabilities from schools across the UK participate in competitive cricket.

The eight schools representing their respective regions were The Angmering School for West Sussex, Fountaindale for Leicester, Ralph Thoresby for Yorkshire, South Gloucestershire for Bristol, Suffolk One for Ipswich, Percy Hedley for Durham, Fairfax School for West Midlands and Victoria School for South West.

Played on a table tennis table with side panels and sliding fielders, a ball launcher, weighted plastic ball and wooden bat, table cricket enables young people with severe physical and learning disabilities to enjoy cricket and represent their school on a competitive basis.

The Lord’s Taverners will be launching a development programme to enhance the accessibility of the sport, originally developed for children unable to access the more traditional form of cricket.

The fully inclusive Pan Disability Table Cricket programme aims to reach youngsters aged 12 to 25.

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