Thrills and Spills! Netball, Hockey, and Rugby Football?

Date: Thursday 4 March 2010

Senior girls' netball teams ventured outside for the first time in the inter-school season, and found the courts cold, blustery, and very slippery. Spills aplenty left grazed knees as both the St Edmund's sides registered good wins over our visitors from Sir Roger Manwood's School.

The 2nd VII fixture pitted Mrs Wilkinson against her twin sister, and it was our Joanna who came out on top with an 18 - 8 win. Charlotte Lench and Deveena Pithia controlled the match in midfield, and Olivia Thrush scored consistently well in attack.

The 1sts, with Arabella Pemberton and Ellie Blanning reunited in attack, had skipper Natasha Hopper returning to Centre, and dominating the midfield with Katie McNie and Lulu Summerfield. In the absence of Helen Sabine, Gina Zahn returned to the defence, and with Sam Catford kept the powerful Manwood's forwards under control.Well in control at the three quarter stage, the SES girls had to withstand late surge from Manwood's, who won the final quarter, but the home side finished 20 - 15 to the good.

Two excellent results for the St Edmund's seniors!

In response to the requests from a number of Sixth Formers, Antony Jones, the Head of Boys' PE, has introduced a Rugby football activity on Thursday afternoons. Today they went to Dane Court GS for their first competitive outing, and held on to lead of 15 - 0 to claim a 15 - 12 win, as the Dane Court boys knocked on in the final play of the game with the line at their mercy! Tries from Callum Morgan, Will Marsh, and Max Anglin produced a lead which was eroded by two tries and a conversion, but hold on we did. Who would ever have thought of St Edmund's playing the oval ball game?

The traditional Lent Term game, hockey, was well represented with junior matches against Norton Knatchbull School from Ashford. The Under 15s won their second match in a week with an excellent 2 - 0 win over a good side. Two late breakaway goals from Andrew Pittard sealed the victory in which Max Bungay was outstanding in midfield. Coach Leigh Millard enjoyed the afternoon, sharing the touchline with long-time colleague and rival Chris Challis.

The only setback of the day was the defeat suffered by the Under 14 boys. NK had several good players with experience of playing for Ashford HC; this told in the end, as, after an even first quarter, goals started to come. It was probably 0 - 8 at the final whistle. A shame after such a good winning performance against King's Rochester earlier in the week.