1st Team vs Great Walstead School
The 1st team had a tough but competitive game at home to Great Walstead, who worked hard for their goals, but ultimately ran out comfortable winners. The highlights were an excellent breakaway goal for Finn and some outstanding defensive work from the back three of Tommy, Joseph and Ruben. The boys defended much better this week and worked the ball out well, creating attacking opportunities but unfortunately not converting many of them. Still, a much improved performance in only our second game of the season.
3rd Team vs Great Walstead School
This was another very competitive fixture against a skilful and well organised Great Walstead team. After a positive start, the team struggled to cope with the opposition forward play but, to their credit, the boys remained positive and earned a thoroughly deserved draw, coming from behind in the second half to level the scores at 3-3. Well done.
U11A vs Hurstpierpoint Tournament
The U11A boys put in a spirited performance at the Hurstpierpoint tournament, facing strong opposition throughout the day. Despite a challenging start with narrow 1-0 losses to Windlesham and Handcross, the team showed resilience, securing a 2-0 victory against Hurst. This momentum carried into the next match, where they delivered an impressive 3-1 win over Brighton. However, tough encounters against Cumnor (0-2) and Brambletye (0-1) meant the team finished with two wins from six matches.
Playing in a tournament is a great way for the team to learn and improve, with only a short amount of time to showcase their skills, the boys put in some great performances. It helps them get used to tough matches, try different tactics, and work together as a team. They learn how to keep going even when things don’t go their way and to enjoy their successes. No matter what the results have shown, the experience will help them grow and become better players.
Well played boys!
U11B vs Hurstpierpoint Tournament
The Under 11 B hockey team competed in the Hurst tournament and they had a fantastic afternoon remaining unbeaten, conceding no goals and ended up winning the tournament!
The played Brighton (won 2-0), Windlesham (draw 0-0), Handcross Park (won 1-0), Hurst (won 2-0) + Cranleigh (draw 0-0)
Well played boys!
U10A at the UKSA Hockey Tournament – The Triangle
The majority of our U10A squad travelled to The Triangle to compete in the UKSA Hockey Tournament, facing strong opposition throughout the day. The tournament provided a great opportunity to test ourselves against different styles of play and formations, and while results didn’t always go our way, there were plenty of positives to take from our performances.
Our opening match against Russell House was evenly contested, with both teams battling hard for possession. We held significant possession down the right wing, using our width effectively to create attacking opportunities. However, Russell House capitalised on a 1v1 chance, driving in from outside the D and finishing clinically. Despite conceding two short corners, we defended well, reacting quickly to launch counterattacks. Our movement off the ball was promising, but we were unable to find the decisive pass or finish to turn our possession into a goal.
In our second match against Reigate Prep, we saw much of the ball and put together some well-worked attacking plays. We countered effectively and created multiple scoring opportunities but struggled to convert our chances under pressure. They had a strong ball carrier who caused problems for our defence, winning two short corners, both of which we defended successfully with disciplined positioning. Unfortunately, in the dying moments of the match, they intercepted our 16-yard restart and capitalised on a 3v1 counterattack, catching us out of shape. It was a frustrating end to a game where we had looked the more dominant side for long periods.
Against Hazelwood 2, we looked to and created several promising counterattacks, working the ball well into dangerous areas. This led to multiple 4v2 and 4v3 situations, but we struggled to get clean shots off under defensive pressure. Their goalkeeper was in excellent form, making some spectacular saves to deny us a deserved goal. Despite our efforts, we couldn’t find the net, highlighting the importance of taking our chances when they come. Our defensive structure held firm, keeping Hazelwood from mounting any threats of their own.
Our fourth match against Bede’s was another display of strong possession-based hockey. We built attack after attack, distributing the ball nicely across the pitch and forcing their defence to stay compact. However, our finishing let us down once again, as we struggled to apply the final touch in front of goal. Bede’s punished us for some unfortunate handling errors on the edge of our D, capitalising on our mistakes to score twice. It was a tough result to take, but we remained composed and continued to play our style of hockey.
Against Skippers, we maintained our patient build-up of play, keeping the ball well and working into attacking positions. This time, we managed to stay composed in the D, and Albert Oliver scored in the bottom right corner. After taking the lead, we defended resolutely, staying organised and keeping them out of our D. It was a well-earned victory that showed our ability to stay calm and execute under pressure.
We then faced an aggressive New Beacon side who came out pressing high and looking to control the tempo. They were clinical in the D, using powerful reverse-stick shots to punish any defensive gaps. Despite breaking through their press a few times, we were immediately under pressure from their dynamic midfielders, who worked hard to recover possession quickly. We had a few chances to get on the scoresheet but were unable to get convincing shots off, resulting in a 3-0 loss. The match highlighted the importance of decision-making under pressure and not shying away from attackers winding up for a shot.
In our penultimate match against Cumnor, possession was shared relatively evenly, making for a competitive encounter. However, we struggled to find openings in their D, often being forced wide or intercepted before we could create clear-cut chances. They made the most of their visits to our half of the pitch, with one of their key players able to take on multiple defenders before striking with power. Henry Johnston had a fantastic game in goal, making several crucial saves and clearing the ball well. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t keep them from scoring three goals, but the team continued to battle until the final whistle.
Fatigue set in during our final match against Hazelwood 1, and we found it difficult to maintain our intensity. Exiting our D proved to be a challenge at times, as our opponents pressed aggressively to force turnovers. Despite this, we still managed to build several attacks and work the ball into good areas. However, our finishing let us down again, as we struggled to get accurate shots off on target. Hazelwood eventually broke through, scoring after a well-worked move down our right wing. It was a tough way to end the tournament, but the players gave their all despite the tired legs.
A tough tournament but plenty of positives. We dominated possession in six of our eight matches and showed excellent passing and movement throughout the day. However, converting our chances remains a key area for improvement, as scoring just one goal did not reflect how competitive we were. Moving forward, we’ll focus on improving our ability to take quick, single-touch shots in the D to increase our goal tally. The team worked hard and showed great resilience—well done to all involved!
U9 vs Lingfield College Prep & Cumnor House
The U9 boys had a great day of hockey, with four teams playing matches against Cumnor House and Lingfield. All teams showed fantastic effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship. There were some excellent attacking moves, and strong defensive displays all round. As the games went on, the boys grew in confidence and improved their passing and positioning. It was a great experience for everyone, helping them develop their skills. Well done to all!
U8 vs Cumnor House Sussex
The U8s travelled to Cumnor to take part in a triangular tournament, where we split into groups of four to play a round-robin format. This setup ensured plenty of time on the ball for all players, allowing them to develop their skills and gain valuable match experience.
We started strongly against Cumnor, dominating possession and using the width of the pitch effectively to create attacking opportunities. The boys showed great awareness, spreading the play well and setting up numerous attacks in front of goal. Our passing and movement was sharp, and we were able to control the tempo of the game, keeping the opposition under pressure throughout.
However, the Lingfield teams demonstrated excellent stick control and moved the ball well, making it difficult for us to regain possession. They were also clinical in front of goal, finishing their chances with confidence. Despite the challenge, our teams remained resilient, working hard to close down space and defend as a unit.
It was a fantastic afternoon of hockey with plenty of match play, allowing the boys to put their skills into practice in a competitive but enjoyable environment. All teams showed brilliant effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship, supporting each other. There were some outstanding attacking moves, with quick passing combinations leading to goal-scoring opportunities, as well as strong defensive displays to keep the opposition at bay.
