CRICKETERS at the University of Worcester were bowled over to secure third place in a national competition.
The team was narrowly beaten in the semi-finals of the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sports) national championships, taking bronze – their highest-ever achievement.
The men’s performance squad has been training three times a week at 7am plus extra sessions in afternoons and evenings to prepare for the championships.
“We put a lot of training in,” said captain Dominic O’Reilly. “The whole team have given it their all and we’re so pleased to have come third in the country.”
Dominic, who is in his third year studying sports coaching science, said the team was now looking towards its next big competition – Varsity – against the University of Gloucestershire.
“We’ve won the last three or four years at Varsity so were hoping to do the same again,” he said. “We’re having a week off and then we’ll be back hitting the training hard to prepare.”
Mick Donovan, head of the university’s School of Sport and Exercise Science and Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, said: “This success is a great reflection upon the team’s commitment and ability, and we are really proud of the players for this excellent achievement.”
The University of Worcester has a strong pedigree in cricket, having worked for many years with Worcestershire County Cricket Club and Worcestershire County Cricket Board to provide scholarships and opportunities for students to engage in the game.