Girls' Hockey - Unbeaten U10s

Date: Wednesday 5 October 2011

The Under 10 girls’ hockey team has had a first class start to the term. After 4 matches against some of the strongest opposition they remain unbeaten.

Rapidly gelling as a unit at the beginning of term, the girls achieved a resounding victory in their first match, a 4-1 win against Wellesley House. Particularly pleasing is the way they are using the wings to create both space and time. Perhaps following the termly fitness testing in Junior School they have shown a superior fitness and have been able to keep running and fighting despite the recent spell of very hot weather, enabling them to secure victories over Ashford School and Kent College Under 11s. A draw against the Junior King’s School in their first match on astroturf was well-deserved, however we are looking forward to the return leg when we can play them on our own pitch.

The attacking strength of Katherine Olo Wa Pango, Alex Millard and Rowan Bayly has been impressive and in particular their understanding of play and the coordination of moves between the three of them has been great to watch. In defence Helena Featherstone and Beth Ling, with Morgan Herndon in goal, have been strong and reliable, with drills and tactics taught the day before being well utilized, with the result that the ball has only entered our goal three times.

Finally, the power and speed of Emily Collard in mid-field has been amazing. Emily does not stop running and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. The team has also been supported by super subs Isabelle Matharu, Poppy Mansfield-Jones, Eloise Newman-Brown and Ellie Horder.

This team has impressed equally in their matches and in training. They are extremely keen, enthusiastic and skilful and this generation of games-players at St Edmund’s looks to have bright prospects for the future.