SPORTS ROUNDUP
The latest roundup from Mr Lyons.
The pupils have hit the ground running upon their return from half term last week.
The U15 rugby team made the trip across the Mendips to Sidcot school for the first round of their National Vase campaign. We took a large squad and were able to make lots of rotations in players. The team played well and booked themselves a home fixture next Tuesday in round two with Monkton Combe.
The 1st XV are currently enduring something of an injury crisis! Whilst challenging for Mr Ball and the boys, it has given lots of pupils the opportunity to play at that level – the way they have approached this has been hugely impressive. They were able to defeat Westonbirt last Thursday and will host King’s Gloucester next Thursday in their second-round tie.
On Saturday we played a full rugby and hockey block with Embley school in Hampshire. When logistics allow, I always love playing the same school across both sports on the same weekend – we had almost half of the senior school pupils playing sport on Saturday!
On Tuesday I joined Mr Evans with our U16 boys’ indoor hockey team at Canford for their west qualifying round. Whilst my indoor hockey knowledge is somewhat limited, even I could tell the boys played brilliantly. They were victorious over far larger schools in Sherborne and Canford, with only a narrow defeat to King’s Bruton putting them into 2nd place overall.
Thursday afternoon will see our senior netballers host Kingdown as they continue to prepare for the season in the Spring. This year we have put a real focus on preparing for the sports in the upcoming term, in netball and boys hockey, at the same time as playing our core sports.
On the same theme, next Tuesday our U14 netballers will compete in the county tournament at Marlborough College. I believe that this is a first for the school and a real testament to the hard work and ambition that Mrs Walsh Jones has brought to the netball programme! The U14 girls also have the small matter of their hockey county competition this Friday, where Mrs Venner will take them across to Dauntsey’s to play the hosts, along with Stonar and Godolphin.
This weekend we once again have a packed schedule; hockey fixtures with Downside and Millfield Prep and rugby with Clayesmore and Leweston.
Please also check out Mr Deane’s Staff Spotlight. Mr Deane has been an extraordinary addition to the sports department at our school. He might be the hardest working coach on the circuit – working with Bath Academy, Midsummer Norton, Godfather’s Sevens and Jamaica national team! He is a source of constant humour (as referencee by Mr. Ball in his recent assembly!) and has made a fantastic impact in both the Prep and Senior School since he joined last September and we feel very fortunate to have him.
Dave Lyons, Director of Sport