Hockey Hattrick Heroes Run the Show in Wins Against Orwell Park

The Wednesday before half term saw five of our Junior hockey teams host Orwell Park School. This is always a much anticipated block fixture and this season the matches and results were dominated by Woodbridge, with four wins and one draw on the day. What makes it an even more exciting day is that we had no less than FOUR hattrick heroes!

Scoring one goal is hard, but getting three is amazing! And for four of our players to do so in four different matches even more impressive, especially against our esteemed opposition. Well done to Year 7’s Josh from the Junior 1 team, year 7’s Otis from the Junior 3 team, Theo D from the Junior 4 team and Year 7’s Lewis from the Junior 5 team on this great display of goalscoring.

Woodbridge Junior 1s vs Orwell Park 

The Junior 1s set out against Orwell Park with a specific plan and purpose. As has become the norm for this young group, they executed the tactics very well and followed this up by impressive individual skills and decision making. The team moved the ball in every direction with slick passing and eliminating their opposite number with skill when this was needed. Year 7’s Otto put Woodbridge ahead in the first half, but Orwell replied before half time. Throughout the game both teams’ goalkeepers were on top form (Year 8’s Arthur for Woodbridge), making numerous saves and entertaining those watching.

In contrast to the Woodbridge passing game in their own half, the opposition regularly relied on individual carry to get through the press in front of them; this resulted in numerous turnovers with instinctive goal scorer Year 7’s Josh taking full advantage. Through good ball winning, leading to get free for a pass and clinical finishing, Josh racked up a hattrick of unanswered goals in the second half to seal the very satisfying win for Woodbridge.

Woodbridge Junior 2s vs Orwell Park

Mr Walsh reports from a very exciting draw:

After watching the Junior 1s put on a masterclass of hockey in the fixture before, the Junior 2s were up for the challenge of replicating the hockey seen. The whole game was tight with both sides enjoying good patches of play in attack and solid defending. Orwell Park took the lead against the run of play in the first half with a well struck penalty corner. Woodbridge kept their heads up and played some lovely attacking hockey down the right-hand-side. The second half was more of the same and both teams enjoyed some success but Woodbridge kept their composure and managed to score a wonderful reverse scoop goal from Year 7’s Frank. Fantastic fast thinking from a young player to take advantage of the goalkeeper having gone to ground to make an initial save. The game ended with some great defending from Woodbridge and a draw the final score. Well done to Year 7’s Alfie P playing his first game for the Junior 2s and winning players’ Player of the Match.

Woodbridge Junior 3s vs Orwell Park

Miss Hinton reports from a dominant performance and win:

A team full of new faces and returning old ones hosted Orwell Park on a grey but ideal hockey playing day. We never let the visitors settle, pushing hard in the press and following, to the letter, the coach’s team talk encouraging just that, an aggressive and impenetrable high press. The combination of Year 8’s Oscar W, Alex H, Pranav and Jacob across the middle backing up Year 7’s Alfie R and Otis, led to numerous attacking opportunities and goalkeeper, Year 7’s Olly B didn’t touch the ball once in the first half. The goals were shared around the team and more impressively, so were the assists to those goals.

In the second half, Orwell came out positively and our second half keeper, Year 8’s Seth M, made the save of the match, reacting in a millisecond to keep a clean sheet. The defence were given the target of staying tight to the attackers and being calm on the ball and team captain, Year 8’s Theo L did just that and led by example to his two younger teammates, Year 7’s Otto P-S and Matthew H. This was a perfect all-round team performance which resulted in a dominant win. The following boys got on the scoresheet: Alfie R and Otis from Year 7 and Oscar W, Theo L, Pranav and Jacob from Year 8. Very well played to all the boys!

Woodbridge Junior 4s vs Orwell Park

Mr Gage reports from another great win:

The Junior 4s put on the performance of their season so far in this fixture. Woodbridge were quick off the mark in the first half. Piecing together some excellent attacks down the wing with some great crosses only to be saved by the goalkeeper or miss the target marginally. Woodbridge did however go ahead first with an excellent run from year 7’s Tom C down the wing pulling the ball back to Year 7’s Oliver C to score first. Orwell Park held their own for the next ten minutes putting the defence under pressure and managing to put a great ball through to draw level. Woodbridge worked hard in attack and soon doubled their tally with some fast-moving hockey for Year 8’s Theo D to score his first. Year 7’s Tom C and Year 8’s William kept challenging the defence allowing Theo D to get his second of the game. Year 8’s Digby managed to score an excellent volley of his own from a rebound after the Orwell keeper kept out several shots in quick succession. Theo D ended his afternoon with a hattrick of goals. However, Orwell Park did not give up and managed to score one more before the final whistle. An excellent win for the Junior 4s to go take them into the halfway point of the season.

Woodbridge Junior 5s vs Orwell Park

Mr Davis reports from the first game of the day, setting our teams off on their winning ways:

A new look 5th team had an enlarged squad to give some game time to as many boys as possible. Woodbridge were always in control of this match but a lack of finishing in the D meant that at half-time there was only one goal in it, despite Woodbridge having nearly all the possession and territory. The second half display was much more efficient and Woodbridge scored regularly to take the game away from their opponents. Year 7’s Lewis had his hard work and enthusiasm rewarded with three decent goals. Well done to all those boys on display and Year 7’s George L and George T on their goals too.