Hockey Galore with 10 Fixtures and Two County Cup Events
Last week was a very busy one for hockey indeed, with no less than 10 fixtures played and two County Cup events competed at! There was lots to celebrate and performances developed and built on.
While the 1st XI took part in the U18 County Cup, the 2nd and 3rd XI travelled to Framlingham College for late matches. Mr Pineo and Mrs Scahill report from these matches respectively:
Woodbridge School 2nd Team
The first seven minutes, Woodbridge played fantastic hockey and worked to be defensively strong. However, despite an early goal, the team didn’t carry on with what was working and we became our own worst enemy! Framlingham took advantage of our lapses in and made several good attacks. Half-time was a good reset, with some promising hockey played after the break, but the team unable to convert possession and chances. Despite the narrow loss, lots of learning and a game which will ultimately see the team become stronger for it.
Senior 3rd Team
The first outing for the senior 3rd team was he proverbial ‘game of two halves’. Woodbridge were rusty and getting used to playing together in the first half, going two goals down. A much improved performance followed in the second half, pressing better and controlling possession better with good passing. There were promising attacking runs and through balls, breaking the defensive lines, which created opportunities to score. Goals were scored by Year 11’s Libby and Year 13’s Phoebe to level the scores and give the team a deserved draw in their first match.
Junior 1st Team
Wednesday saw our Year 7s and 8s play their first matches of the season. Five teams were able to play against RHS, matching the five teams they could field. Lots of excitement followed in the afternoon, with good performances and outcomes.
At RHS, the Junior 1st team achieved a come from behind draw, despite being the superior team. Woodbridge showed their skill and tactical structure, playing some very attractive hockey. Some good saves in goal by Year 8 goalies, Clem and Imarah, kept things at bay, but RHS still managed to score two goals against the run of play. Not deterred and sticking to their process and systems, Woodbridge continued to push and were rewarded for their efforts. A well-taken penalty corner goal by Year 8 Lottie closed the gap, before Year 7’s Chloe slotted an excellent team goal into the net to draw the game. Chloe and team captain Year 8’s India were voted Players of the Match by the opposition and Woodbridge teams. A shout out to Year 8’s, Ella, Alexandra and Lottie who showed their experience and skill with influential performances.
Junior 2s: Mrs Johnson reports
A good sound game with lots to work on in our first game versus RHS. We started working well as a team, putting our press together and putting RHS under pressure. They took the lead in the first half and after half time we applied the pressure with Imogen scoring our equaliser; a clinical receive in the D and clever reverse push past the GK. Clem secured the draw with an awesome save in the dying seconds!
Junior 3s: Miss Hinton reports from the convincing win against RHS
An excellent display of moving the ball down the right and winning the ball up the pitch, the Junior 3 team started strongly. Year 7s linked up on the right, Daisy and Issy to get the ball down to the baseline and fired across for a tap in from Katherine. The next goal was a piece of art; a team passing it with purpose on the short corner for Year 8’s Bella to fire in at the post, perfect example of Tuesday’s deflection practice!
In the second half, a strong run into the D from Year 8’s Ellie and a powerful shot from the top was enough to surprise the goalie and a final goal from Year 7’s Issy capped off a wonderful team performance where every player contributed wonderfully, and captain Mariella was voted our player of the match.
Junior 4, 5 and 6: Miss Hinton reports
The Junior 4 and Junior 5 teams completed the afternoon of wins for Woodbridge School. The 4s ran away with it and dominated and camped in the RHS half. Year 7’s Georgie and Year 8’s India B each scored a brace, while Year 8’s Lilia was the players’ Player of the Match. The Junior 5s, playing at home, competed well and came out the winners by narrow margins, each player putting in their best effort and learning fast, including Year 7’s Emily in goal, playing well. The deciding goal was scored by player of the match, Year 7’s Sarah.
The Junior 6 group hosted a team from the Prep School, getting match practices before a first fixture. Year 7’s Nina was the star of the afternoon, playing super well in goal.
U15A Match: Mrs Johnson reports
At the end of the week two U15 teams travelled to Magpies to play against Greshams. Traditionally a strong opponent, Greshams proved a real test. The U15B team learned loads from the game and have identified areas to improve to become a challenging opponent themselves.
A physically strong Greshams side put us under pressure from the beginning of this game and although we went two goals down within the first 10 minutes, we rallied and started to work better as a team. A slow start in the first half for our Year 10 players, took the game out of reach but there were some positives and sound performances from a number of players, including Rosa, Eve, Amelie in the outfield, and Eva and Emma our two goalkeepers were kept busy in goal!
A strong second half performance from Woodbridge saw them match their tough opponent and the scoreboard unmoved, until right at the end when Greshams scored at the final whistle from a penalty corner.
Lots to learn from and lots to build on. Well done to all the Year 10 players on the day, for their resilience and determination.
U14A County Hockey Cup
Our U14A team of Year 8 and 9 players had a productive and successful day at the U14 Hockey County Cup last week. The first match against Ipswich High School proved frustrating, with Woodbridge unable to score half chances, and just allowing the key playmaker for the High School too much space and time. Goalkeeper, Year 9’s Bay, reached top form so early in the season and made powerful save after powerful save. She was finally beaten by an unfortunate deflection off a defender right in front of her – nothing could be done. With Woodbridge pushing they conceded two more penalty corner goals and there was not time to get goals back.
With the first game out the way, so were nerves and worries, and great flowing hockey followed. Woodbridge outplayed RHS in terms of skill and tactics and walked away worthy winners; goals scored by Year 9’s Amelie and year 8’s India. The last line of defence of Year 9’s Bay, Ella, Charlie, Jemima D and Tabby showed so much composure which gave our team confidence to attack – this lasted all day. Great individual defending and distribution forward, sideways and back helped Woodbridge have a lot of possession to play with.
A change of pitch left little time to talk before the third game on the trot against Culford. Woodbridge created chance after chance and entertained all those watching. The “oohs” and “aahs” were many as Woodbridge game agonisingly close to scoring too many times without making it count. Year 9’s Eirann snuck an important chance to secure the win, but Woodbridge would come to rue all those missed chances.
Going into the final game against Finborough, Woodbridge knew they needed to win by at least five goals to progress to Regionals. The team worked so hard, and peppered the Finborough goal; saves, near misses, hitting the posts, and goals! Year 8’s India scored two in the game, Year 9’s Tabby scored a cracker from a PC to set us off and Year 9’s Eirann scored her second of the day. In the end the clock ran out and Woodbridge was one short.
Sharing top of the table, it all came down to the goal difference, we needed one more goal in one of those matches – so close but so great too. A very promising display of hockey by the team, whom everyone watching named as the best team on the day and best team they played against.
The defenders have already been mentioned, but special mention also to our co-captains, Year 9’s Jemima B and Annabelle who controlled the midfield and ran endlessly, Amelie who led the forward line. Special mentions also to the three Year 8 players, Ella, Lottie and India, who made such a positive impact.
The future is bright with our young Hockey players.
