The end of the academic year marked the beginning of our highly anticipated Senior Cricket Tour to Malta 2024. On a sunny Friday afternoon, 21 boys and three staff members gathered at the Senior Gamesfield, all brimming with excitement for the journey ahead. The tour did start with a bit of early drama, though, as one pupil (who shall remain nameless) had to rush home to change after being the only one not to arrive in the pre-agreed tour attire. Thankfully, it was smooth sailing from there, and we arrived at our hotel in Malta later that evening, right on schedule.
The first morning began with a visit to Splash and Fun Waterpark, where the boys enjoyed pools, slides, and the lazy river, even managing to convince Mr. Lawson to brave the daunting Sidewinder. The main event of the day, however, was in the evening, with England playing Switzerland in the Euro Quarter-Final. Sitting through penalties with 21 boys did nothing for my stress levels!
Day two brought our first set of fixtures, with both of our teams facing local select XI’s at the stunning Marsa Sports Club. Our 1st XI secured an impressive victory, while our 2nd XI put up a strong fight but narrowly missed out on a win. Both teams delivered solid performances despite the tough, warm conditions. In the evening, the boys enjoyed some free time and sampled local cuisine—or so we thought until we found out half of them opted for McDonald’s instead!
The following day included a trip to Valletta, where the boys learned about Malta’s rich history. They explored the beautiful city, enjoyed splendid waterfront views, and witnessed the Saluting Battery Ceremony. The afternoon saw us return to Marsa Sports Club for the 2nd XI’s second fixture. Despite another strong performance, they couldn’t quite clinch the victory, but the team showed plenty of promise, especially given the limited cricket experience this season due to GCSE exams.
Our final day began with a visit to Comino Blue Lagoon. After a short boat trip, we were surrounded by the lagoon’s stunning scenery, where the boys enjoyed the crystal-clear waters. Unfortunately for Mr. Anderson, he had a less pleasant experience after being stung by a jellyfish. The day concluded with the tour’s final match—a thrilling game where our 1st XI claimed another victory in a nail-biting finish against a team that included players from the U19 Bangladesh Squad! It was a fantastic way to cap off the tour, and our young side will surely carry this momentum into next season.
The final evening featured the presentation of tour awards and a closing speech from our tour captain, Josh Wood. With a 3 a.m. departure the next morning, the boys faced a tough choice: sleep or stay awake? Some opted for sleep but needed to be woken up as the coach arrived outside the hotel!
We soon returned to Wakefield, bringing home plenty of great memories. We would like to commend the boys on their exemplary behaviour, which made the tour such a success. Despite coming from three different year groups, you all integrated brilliantly, and your conduct throughout the trip was commendable (though there’s still room for improvement in timekeeping). We hope you enjoyed your time away and that this experience will benefit you in future cricket seasons.
A big thank you goes to the parents and families for your support, with a special mention to Mr. Gillespie, who selflessly volunteered his time to umpire some of our matches in Malta—your help was greatly appreciated.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Mr. Lawson and Mr. Anderson for your hard work both before and during the tour. It was a fantastic trip enjoyed by all.
Mr. Graham