A New MILLENNIUM

Early Successes

In the first year of this new century we had many successes to celebrate, as follows:

Men's Basketball

The men’s basketball team had another excellent season in the Essex Cup. After a huge 107-71 victory over St Edwards in the semi-final we found ourselves playing SGM in the final. It made sense to play this final in Waltham Forest, officiated by local PE teachers and so was a real celebration of the strength of basketball in Waltham Forest (at all ages). On this occasion LSC were second best and the result was 69-85 to SGM.

Men's Football

After an indifferent start to the season, followed by a three- month period of inactivity caused by heavy rain in December/January/February, the college 1^st XI resumed activity on 28/2/2001 with a London Cup fixture against Cardinal Vaughan. The performance was not one to be remembered (the score was 0-5 which perhaps explains this), but the venue was. Those who choose to look at the team photos on the website will see our team standing in the shadows of Twickenham Stadium. What is important is what happened next, as we returned to Essex league competition. During March LSC recorded four straight wins (Basildon 4-3, Monoux 2-1, SEEC 7-1 and Chelmsford 5-1). The ‘hair dryer treatment’ phrase had not been invented at that time as far as I recall, but could that be the reason for this incredible improvement in performance which was enough for us to end the season as Essex Champions, our first big football success for many years. This was not a ‘stand- alone’ event as two years later (season 2003/4) with a new cohort of players LSC won the league title for a second time.

Men's Cricket

LSC recruited a number of very talented cricketers in 2000 including the well known Akrkam twins. Both Adnan and Arfan made significant contributions to a very successful summer of cricket in 2001. This included convincing wins over Monoux, NewVIc, Latymer Upper and Alleyns in the London Cup which took us to the final of this competition against Coopers. During the season the LSC batting had been sound, the bowling had been at times brilliant and the fielding very lively. Also, just weeks earlier LSC had beaten Coopers in an Essex Cup fixture, so what could go wrong? Well things did go wrong and LSC were soundly beaten, although at the same time this was a great experience for all concerned. Was it that LSC had played Alleyns just the day before and were tired? Was it that the regular wicket keeper dropped out on the morning of the final injured? Probably a significant factor. Whatever, only one player made a significant score in the total of 200 (Arfan with a captain’s innings of 72) and the bowlers just did not perform. The most telling moment was when the first ball bowled by LSC disappeared over the boundary for 4 byes, which made the heart sink! Most important, however, was the imperious performance of the Coopers opening batsmen who just seized control of the game and ensured a thoroughly deserved win for their team.