Sports

The girls have made a fantastic start to the hockey term bringing their enthusiasm and desire to learn to very lesson – come rain or shine! So far this half term we have combined working on their general fitness with really honing the basic skills and then introducing the younger girls to positional play. The older girls have had a chance to learn some 3D skills which has really challenged them as well as taking time as a team to really think about set pieces and the tactics involved in these.  The progress the girls have made is evident from all years and they seem to have really benefited from the extra time we have devoted to skills in lessons. We have used small sided games and lots of  ‘conditioned’ games to put into practise what they have learnt and after half term we are looking forward to some more competitive games in our year groups and some inter-house competitions. This week the Form 5 girls enjoyed four five-a-side House hockey matches with Fisher 1st, Gunning 2nd, Beaufort 3th and Sandys 4th.

The U13 1st Boys’ VII hockey team performed brilliantly at the U13 Eastern Regionals last week. As Cambridgeshire County Champions, the team qualified for the East Regionals, held at an Olympic training ground in Redbridge. Assistant Director of Sport, Mr David Millward, commented, "In windy conditions the standard of hockey did not disappoint and the group stages were fiercely contested. This team have been working particularly hard on converting goal scoring opportunities and this proved to be very useful in the shortened tournament matches."

The boys beat Norwich, Robert Bloomfield, Forest and Bishop’s Stortford schools before drawing 0-0 with Culford. Mr Millward remarked, "This left them joint top of the group but second on goal difference. The news filtered through from the other group that our opponents in the Semi-Final would be Felsted, the team who knocked us out of the IAPS Nationals on penalty strokes!"

The boys were highly motivated but experienced a challenging first half with high intensity and pressured situations as the team went into half-time 3 goals down. The boys used a collaborative and positive mindset to change their play in the second half and, with a minute to go, the score line ended on 2-3. Mr Millward commented, "The boys should be tremendously proud of the way they persevered in the second half and the tenacity that they showed right up until the final whistle.This has been an exceptional season for the team and they have shown that they really are one of the best teams in the country. The boys have represented the school with aplomb both on and off the pitch and will now move forward with some long lasting and wonderful memories."

The 1st VII Boys’ team performed brilliantly at the IAPS National U13 Hockey Championship on 6 March. Having qualified through the East Region, the 1st VII made the journey to Cheltenham College for the National Finals. Assistant Director of Sport, Mr David Millward, explained, "Fully aware that the standard at these tournaments is extremely high, the boys arrived with a very positive mindset. The team realsied that the roller-coaster of tournament hockey would surely require a great deal of perseverance and collaboration throughout the day."

The team played incredibly well throughout the morning to secure second place in the group. Results were as follows: 0-0 vs Bedford School (0-0), 2-0 vs Dragon School (2-0), Ardingly College (0-0), Junior King's School (1-1) and St Andrew's Prep School (1-0)​.

As a result the Cup stage of the tournament beckoned and this was a chance to highlight the hockey skills the boys had been working hard on all season. Felsted were the opponents in the Quarter Finals and the quality of hockey from both sides did not disappoint. Despite numerous chances at either end, the teams could not be split in full time and they entered a period of Golden Goal extra time. One of our youngest players in Fifth Form made two unbelievable saves to keep the team in the contest as the spectators were treated to a thrilling end to end battle. In the end, the match was decided by penalty strokes and Felsted won 3-2.

Mr Millward remarked, "After the initial disappointment, the boys realised how well they had done and were enthusiastically discussing whether ‘joint fifth in the country’ or ‘top eight in the country’ sounded better! A huge thank you to the travelling support who could be heard experiencing every moment throughout the day."

The U11 boys performed brilliantly in very wet and cold conditions at Haileybury School for the IAPS Regional round. Head of Sport, Mr McComb, explained, "We got the tournament off to a flier with two quick goals straight off the whistle in the first game winning 3-1 against Winchester House. We then beat Chigwell Junior 2-1 and drew our third group game 0-0 with New Mount. After lunch we entered the Cup Competition and faced Aldwickbury in the Quarter Finals. A very tight game saw us 1-1 at full time which went straight to 3 penalty flicks each and we won 2-0 on flicks."

Next up was Gayhurst in the Semi-Final which got off to a cracking goal from one of the SJCS U11s with the boys ended up winning 4-0. They took on St George’s Junior in the Final and lost 4-0 to a team that had not conceded a goal all tournament.  Mr McComb commented, "The boys were played an impressive standard of hockey throughout the day and kept their concentration and motivation, despite the inclement weather conditions." The U11s have now  qualified to compete in the National Finals on the 18 March at Rugby School.

Fresh from their win earlier in the term when they were crowned County champions, the U13 Boys' 1st team successfully competed in the IAPS Regionals on 20 February and secured their place in the National Finals on 6 March at Cheltenham College. Assistant Director of Sport, Mr David Millward, commented, "The boys travelled to Bedford School with high spirits and plenty of optimism and were ready to work as a tight team. The weather forecast predicted that it was going to rain all day but this certainly didn't dampen the boys' levels of motivation."

The team started well against Old Buckenham Hall and Witham Hall, winning both games 1-0. A narrow defeat to Bedford Prep, the eventual runners-up and a 1-1 draw with Bilton Grange and an emphatic 3-1 win against Town Close House left the team second in their group. This position secured the team's entry into the afternoon's Cup Competition. The Quarter Final proved to be tough but six teams were able to qualify for the National Finals and the boys' following play-off match against Winchester House was essentially a final in itself. A win meant a place in the National Finals and a loss meant going home early. It took a period of Golden Goal extra time before one of the boys skilfully squeezed the ball across the line.

The day was rounded off with a win on penalty strokes against Westbourne House School which left the team finishing proudly in fifth with their place secured for the Nationals. Mr Millward commented, "It is a fantastic result for the boys to get through such a hard-fought tournament and a great experience for all of them."