A sixth form pupil at Denstone College in Staffordshire has made history by becoming the first female cricketer to play for the first XI.

Sophie Hughes, a talented hockey player and all-round sportswoman, made her debut against Checkley U19s.

Simon Guy, Denstone’s director of cricket and former Yorkshire player Simon Guy, who also coaches Sophie for Warwickshire ladies, said: “Sophie is a very hardworking pupil and benefits from our one on one coaching sessions. I certainly look forward to seeing her play in more matches.”

One London school is flying the flag for the state sector in the School Sport Magazine National U15 Girls T20 Cricket Cup.

Alexandra Park School cruised into the last 16 of the competition with an emphatic 55 run victory over Putney High School.

The north London side hit 175-3 in their 20 overs before bowling out Putney for 120 to become the last state school standing in the cup.

Next up for Alexandra Park is a trip to fellow London opponents Forest School.

Also progressing to the last 16 are St Helen & St Katharine School who overcame Bradfield College by five wickets.

Honor Murray snared three wickets as Bradfield were bowled out for 75, despite a battling 41 from Poppy Tulloch.

The Oxfordshire side then had Lucy Johnson (40no) to thank for chasing down the total and earning a visit to Bristol’s Clifton College.

The Leys School yesterday reached the quarter finals of the School Sport Magazine National U18 Girls T20 Cricket Cup after a confident run chase.

The Cambridge side, beaten finalists at U15 level in 2018, had an unbeaten half century from Issy Routledge to thank for their eight wicket last 16 victory against Ipswich School.

Their Suffolk opponents, who are still going strong in the U15 cup, made 93-8 in their 20 over with two wickets from Freya Houlden.

But Issy’s fine knock saw them knock off the total in just 13 overs to set up a last eight tie against another Suffolk opponent Farlingaye High School.

The winning quarter finalists will qualify for finals day on Tuesday July 6.

Meanwhile in the U15 cup, Bradfield College’s unbeaten run was halted by Wycombe High School, who edged a tight encounter by two wickets after chasing down their target of 93-7.

But it wasn’t enough to prevent Bradfield progressing to a delayed last 32 trip to St Helen & St Katharine School tomorrow.

With Bradfield, Wycombe and Winchester’s St Swithun’s School all finishing on two wins out of three, it was the Berkshire side who progressed by virtue of a better run rate.

Things are hotting up in the School Sport Magazine National U15 Girls T20 Cricket Cup with many of the last 16 places now confirmed.

In the northern region, Ripon Grammar School will host Repton while Shrewsbury School will tackle Leicester Grammar.

In the Midlands, King’s School Worcester will play the Perse School while Ipswich School will entertain Brentwood School.

In the south east, Forest School will take on the winners of Putney High School or Alexandra Park School while Kent College or Reigate Grammar will host Hurstpierpoint College.

And in the south west, Clifton College will play either St Helen & St Katharine School or Bradfield College while Kings College Taunton or Taunton School will entertain Millfield or Wellington School.

Finals day will take place in early September.

The quarter final line up for the inaugural School Sport Magazine National U18 Girls T20 Cricket Cup is becoming clearer.

Bede’s School kept on course for a last eight slot with a 115 run victory over their Sussex rivals Hurstpierpoint College.

Next up is a play-off against Bradfield College for the right to play either Essex’ Shenfield High School or Kent’s St Lawrence College.

In the north region, Shrewsbury School will tackle Repton School while Farlingaye High School will take on either the powerful Ipswich School or Leys School in the Midlands division.

And in the south west, Gloucester’s Denmark Road High School will host Somerset’s Millfield School.

Winners will qualify for finals day in early July.

King’s School Worcester have halted Rugby School’s march to the last sixteen of the School Sport Magazine National U15 Girls T20 Cricket Cup.

King’s made it two wins out of two in dreadful weather condition in their Midlands group with a last over victory against their previously undefeated opponents.

The Worcester side will now qualify for the knockout stages if they defeat Bromsgrove School this week.

Meanwhile down in Bristol, Clifton College reached the last sixteen after defeating Denmark Road High School by ten wickets and Cheltenham Ladies College by 87 runs.

And Cambridge’s Perse School also made it through after a comprehensive 124 run win against Norwich School thanks to unbeaten half centuries from May Busher and Anabel Kaser.

Derbyshire’s Repton School joined them after a 63 run triumph over Doncaster’s Hill House School and will now visit Ripon Grammar in the last 16.

In the U18 competition, some powerful hitting from Immy Sidhu (97) helped Suffolk’s Farlingaye High School reach 203-1 in just 20 overs against Haileybury School, who made 104-8 in reply.

Group winners Farlingaye will now visit either Ipswich School or the Leys School in the quarter finals.

Two girls from the same school have notched up the first centuries in this season’s School Sport Magazine National U15 Girls T20 Cup.

First Evie Bookie hit an unbeaten 101 as high-scoring Ipswich School smashed a massive 249-1 in 20 overs before bowling out their neighbours Royal Hospital School for 85.

Then Petra Tweedy cracked 122 not out to help her side to 222-2 before dismissing opponents St Joseph’s College for 35 to win by 187 runs.

Ipswich will now play Framingham College in the group play-off for a place in the last sixteen.

Elsewhere Bradfield College look to have a strong squad after defeating Wycombe Abbey School by ten wickets and Winchester’s St Swithun’s School by 61 runs.

In the inaugural U18 competition, Ipswich School are still going on two fronts after qualifying for the U18 group play-off against the Lets School after defeating Royal Hospital School by 73 runs.

Millfield have also started strongly with a 100 run victory over Wellington School and beating King’s College, Taunton on a faster scoring rate.

Meanwhile Bradfield College will meet the winners of Bede’s and Hurstpierpoint after seeing off Forest School by eight runs.

Umbro, official kit partner to England Rugby, have announced a long-term collaboration to bring their performance apparel expertise to the independent schools’ market exclusively via Schoolblazer.

Schoolblazer are the leading supplier of clothing to independent schools, supplying more than 180 schools, including over 160 with sportswear.

Umbro have been supplying winning teams for almost a century since their foundation in Manchester in 1924. They kitted out England’s world cup winning squad in 1966 and the British Lions in their heyday.

Schoolblazer have built a detailed knowledge of the needs and fit of young people and will work with Umbro to ensure that their garments work in a school environment and fit today’s body shapes.

Umbro are now working with Schoolblazer to bring the winning kit from Twickenham to the playing fields of the UK’s leading schools.

Michael Scholz, general manager of Umbro in the UK said, “We know how to create garments that help teams to perform and Schoolblazer are the perfect partner. Their deep knowledge of this market and excellent reputation for customer service allows us to focus on the design while they deliver”.

Schoolblazer sales director added: “This is a game-changer in this market. Historically schools which wanted a major brand had to accept poor delivery and service. Schools can now play in the same kit as England Rugby and be confident that their products will be delivered reliably and on-time, thanks to Schoolblazer’s investment in logistics. It’s an exciting time for the industry and an exciting time for schools.”

Umbro Schools will be launching in September 2021 with a full range of team, staff and training kit, but samples are available now. To find out more please contact [email protected]

More than 200 schools have signed up for the 2021/22 School Sport Magazine National Schools U12, U13 and U15 Netball Cups – but time is running to join them.

The closing date for the three events is May 30 after which the draws and further details will be sent out – so sides wishing to take part are encouraged to do so before half term.

The knockout competitions will kick off in September 2021 with the finals set for March 2022 and will complement the excellent schools’ tournaments run by the sports’ national governing body. All three U12, U13 and U15 netball competitions ran successfully between 2013 and 2017.

Run on a local, county and regional knockout basis in the early rounds to avoid excess travel, the U12 (year 7), U13 (year 8) and U15 (year 10) competitions will be played mainly in midweek but weekends if preferred.

Points accrued during these competitions will also count towards the national top 200 sporting schools of the year list.

To sign up just email [email protected]

A Berkshire school has reached the last 16 of the School Sport Magazine National U18 Girls T20 Cup.

Poppy Tulloch top-scored with 56 as Bradfield College posted a challenging total of 115 against London’s Forest School.

In reply Georgia Urwin shared an opening stand of 61 in just nine overs, scoring a fine half century.

But some tight bowling especially from Ava Lee (4-16) pegged their opponents back and Bradfield eventually edged the game by eight runs.

They will now visit the winners on the mini group involving Kingston Grammar School, Hurstpierpoint College and Bede’s School.

Meanwhile in the U15 competitions, Oxford’s St Edward’s School staged a mini-festival to determine the winners of their mini-group.

And it was St Helen & St Katharine School who emerged triumphant after victories against Downe House School, Oxford High School as well as the hosts.

They will now play the winners of Wycombe High School, Wycombe Abbey School, Bradfield College and St Swithun’s School for a place in the last 16.

Elsewhere in the south east division, Kent College (115-5) bt St Lawrence College (76-6) by 38 runs.