U11A vs Brighton College
The U11A boys produced a dominant display to beat Brighton 4-1. Playing with confidence and composure, they controlled possession throughout, moving the ball smartly with accurate, well-timed passing. Three excellent goals in the first half rewarded their early pressure and teamwork. Brighton managed to pull one back after the break, but the boys stayed focused and organised. A late goal sealed the victory, capping a thoroughly deserved win built on discipline and teamwork. DG
11B vs Brighton College
The mighty undefeated Colts B team were on their travels once again this week and this time they ventured further west along the coast from Eastbourne last week, to Brighton. Never an easy journey nor match, but the boys waited patiently for the completion of the earlier round of matches on the Astro and they were ready for the start. Never an easy fixture after a long journey, but they created chances but could not find the back of the net. 0-0 at half time, despite dominating the territory and possession. Finally, a goal came – big celebration but an unusual lapse in concentration and defensive errors led to a Brighton goal. Holmewood drove forward looking for a winner and playing on from an advantage managed to squeeze a winner in at the far post with two minutes left. Scenes of jubilation – not their best performance as a team but “an away win, is an away win.” Some things to work on in training this side of half term and after we return from the weeklong break. I am off to find some sunshine, I hope, in sunny Spain on the Years 7 and 8 Sport tour…PM-J
U10A vs Brighton College
The team left straight after classes finished and had packed lunches in the mini bus down to Brighton in order to get there for a 2.00 start. Naturally it was windy, but it was not raining! We had a great match, and although we dominated possession and territory , we just could not score! There was great spirit in the team and the basic skills improved on a particularly good surface. It has been a good start to the first half of term!
U10B vs Brighton College
Most of the U10 B team travelled to Brighton to face Brighton College in two matches.
The first game was one-sided in our favour and provided an excellent opportunity to put into practice the strategies developed in training. We focused on quick restarts, spreading the ball wide, driving to the goal line and picking out players in strong positions in the D. Our play was quick and decisive, resulting in early goals. Positions were rotated to provide others with attacking opportunities, yet we still dominated possession and saw the game out with discipline.
The second match proved more challenging. Brighton broke through early but were denied by sharp thinking and dynamic defending. We opened the scoring on the counter-attack with a clinical finish. Both sides created further chances, with Holmewood enjoying the better opportunities. We became more direct in our attempts to penetrate the D, and this paid off as firm passes deflected off defenders and still reached Theo, who was excellent in building strong attacks. Frustratingly, at times we struggled to find the composure needed to finish in front of goal, and one of our goals was disallowed. Neither side found a second goal and the match finished 1–1.
Despite the long journey home, the boys were buzzing, proudly recounting moments from two very enjoyable and competitive fixtures.
Senior Inter-House Hockey Competition
The U13 Boys’ House Hockey competition proved to be a fantastic afternoon of competitive and high-quality hockey, with all six houses showing great commitment and spirit throughout.
Ash were the standout performers, finishing as worthy champions with an impressive 10 points and a goal difference of +13. They were consistent across all fixtures, combining strong attacking play with organised defence to remain unbeaten. They were led by Jonathan, with a supporting cast who shared the goals around and played some superb hockey.
Yew and Oak both finished on 6 points, but Yew claimed second place thanks to a superior goal difference (+6), with Oak taking third (+1). Both houses produced some excellent hockey and were firmly in contention throughout.
Cedar secured fourth place with 6 points, battling hard in every match and staying competitive across the afternoon. Cob finished fifth with 2 points, showing resilience and determination, while Beech placed sixth. Although results did not go their way, Beech continued to work hard and demonstrate positive teamwork, playing with enthusiasm and determination right to the end of the final game, when Samuel scored a late goal to finish the day on a high.
Overall, the standard of play was excellent, with strong defending, quick transitions and determined attacking on display. It was pleasing to see such enthusiasm, sportsmanship and house pride throughout the competition.
U11D and U10BC indoor Hockey Tournament
The U11D and U10C squads combined to form four teams for an indoor tournament against Brighton College. It proved to be a fantastic, action-packed event played at a consistently high standard. The format encouraged healthy competition not only against Brighton College but also amongst our own teams, raising the intensity and focus throughout.
There was excellent energy on display, with quick transitions, brave defending and confident attacking play evident in every match. The boys adapted well to the fast pace of the indoor format, showing strong teamwork and resilience. Overall, it was a hugely positive and competitive afternoon of hockey.
U8 vs St Michael’s
The U8s team travelled to St Michael’s for their first match of the season, playing in very wet and challenging conditions.
U8A
We reviewed restarts before the game, which proved valuable as St Michael’s applied early pressure. The boys handled this well, and both teams created meaningful attacking opportunities. We spent periods defending, and one restart error led to a counter-attacking goal. The team responded positively, and much of the match remained evenly contested. Arlo had a goal disallowed for a shot taken just outside the box, which sparked further chances that we were unlucky not to convert.
A second passing error from a restart allowed St Michael’s to score again on the counter. However, heads never dropped, and the boys continued to show resilience and determination. There were moments of very mature play, particularly when we spread the ball wide and attacked from the goal line, with one effort rolling agonisingly across the face of goal.
Although we were unable to finish as clinically as we would have liked and ultimately lost the game, it was a brilliant and encouraging start to the season.
U8B
A fantastic performance from the U8B team saw them secure an impressive 4–1 victory. From the very start, the boys showed excellent discipline, sticking to their positions and maintaining possession for the majority of the match. Their structure allowed them to control the tempo and build attacks with confidence.
Charlie set the tone with two well-taken goals, followed by a strong finish from Aurelian just inside the D. Oscar’s relentless pressure then forced an own goal, capping off a dominant display. A superb team effort and a very well-deserved win.
U8C
The U8C team made a superb start to their season with a well-earned 2–1 victory against St Michael’s. The boys showed great enthusiasm and determination throughout their first fixture, working hard for one another and competing confidently. It was a closely contested match, but their teamwork and positive attitude made the difference. A fantastic way to begin the season, and a result they should be very proud of.
