Hockey Season Now in Full Flow
The hockey season is now in full flow, having started well with the Junior 1s playing in the annual Orwell Park U13 pre-season festival and all of our Junior girls teams playing against RHS on Wednesday 21 September.
Orwell Park pre-season festival – match report
Saturday 10 September was a wet and wonderful afternoon during which so much learning took place. It was an honour to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen in a two minute silence before matches started; our team conducted themselves perfectly, understanding the occasion throughout the afternoon.
Each player played in three or more positions during the six short matches, to gain maximum learning, experience and exposure, apart from Eva who was in position as goalkeeper, and on great form all afternoon.
Year 7s, representing the school for the first time, impressed with their open minded approach, never saying, “I don’t know how” but instead, “I am keen to try” or, “Yes, I can!” when challenged outside their comfort zone – to much success.
Tactics and principles were learned and how exciting it is when it works perfectly like when Ella (Y7) and Rosie (Y8) scored great team goals.
A fantastic start to the season with great questions asked, telling personal reflections done and loads of fun had.
RHS, seven teams play against RHS – match reports
On Wednesday 21 September, we had our first full block of junior girls hockey fixtures, featuring seven teams against RHS. Every girl in Year 7 and 8 played in a match, and for many this was their first taste of representing Woodbridge School. It was a great afternoon, home and away with both schools doing ever so well and the spoils very much shared. Below are some individual team reports.
The Junior 1st team delivered a near perfect performance in their first full match outing of the term. The Year 7 and 8 debutants were nervous before the match but soon started to flow, led well by captain, Georgia (Y8), who delivered a player of the match performance at left back.
Things got off to a speedy start again when a training ground set piece was executed perfectly and Amelie P (Y8) ended up putting the rebound away with her first of two goals in the match. Going into half time 2-0 the team knew they would have to dig deep. RHS came back strong after half time, but Eva (Y8) made the important saves in goal.
Eventually on minute 12 in the second half RHS got a goal which could prove telling, but two minutes later Rosie (Y8) restored the lead. More flowing and exciting hockey followed, Woodbridge passing the ball with confidence, defending with more assertiveness and continuing to fill the right spots.
The match was sealed in the dying minutes when Felicity scored a far post deflection, lobbing the ball over the GK’s head.
A great start to the season, showing so much progress as a team and learning as individuals already.
The Junior 2 girls started the season with an extremely entertaining 3-3 draw away at RHS. There were some great passages of hockey on display by the girls in their first outing of the season. Amelia (Y8) scored to make it 1-0 before RHS grabbed an equaliser soon after, to make it 1-1 going into half time.
The girls came out with great energy and strung some nice passes together, which led to Amelia’s second goal of the day.
RHS then scored twice in quick succession, before Amelia completed her hat trick to pull the score back to 3-3.
A very promising start to the season!
The Junior 4 girls played a good game to start the season, with excellent effort for their first match. Much improved play in the second half and Pip’s (Y8) perseverance paid off with a well-deserved goal.
Well done Cleo, Mrs Scahill’s player of the match who worked tirelessly in defence, and also to and Millie (Y7) who was picked player of the match by RHS.
