U9A & B Hockey v Grantham Prep, 2:30pm

Venue: HOME

Coach: Miss Wood, Mrs Bonner-Mackenzie

Lunch Time: 12.40pm

Start Time: 2.30pm

Return/Finish Time: Approx 4.15pm

Peyia                                 Poppy

Lucy                                  Henrietta

Olivia                                 Grace

Verity                                 Phoebe

Sophie                               Amelie

Amelia                               Ailsa      

Peyton                               Scarlett

Florence                            Zoie         

Mahreen                                    

Notes: Change 1.50pm. Full tracksuit. Water bottles essential.

The U9 A team welcomed Grantham Prep on Wednesday in their first competitive hockey match played on grass. Grantham won the toss immediately taking the ball towards goal. Not knowing what to expect, the home team set up early in a defensive position hoping to capitalise on any counter attacks. This worked to St Hugh’s advantage, when Lucy tackled their centre forward, drove up the pitch and released the ball to Peyton who slipped it easily into the goal. The first quarter saw St Hugh’s drive fearlessly towards goal, passing the ball down the wing and into the D. Amelia was on hand after a fantastic cross from Peyia to shoot hard into the corners scoring the second goal of the game. The third goal for St Hugh’s came shortly before the end of the first quarter, when the ball moved from player to player, tiring out the opposition until Peyton finally found an opening in the D to shoot and score.

The second quarter saw St Hugh’s take on a defensive position, preventing Grantham from getting too close to goal. Some fantastic tackles from Florence and Verity at the back kept the away team’s chances of scoring low. The third quarter saw St Hugh’s pick up the pace once again, with hard work between Amelia and Olivia in the middle creating more and more chances.  A fantastic ball into the D saw Peyia shoot hard into the corner scoring goal number 4. Quickly after this, an excellent ball from Mahreen found Florence down the line who sent the ball to Olivia to turn and slip the ball firmly into the back of the goal.

The final quarter saw more impressive defending as Grantham began to press harder. Finding a gap in the midfield the away team scuffled in front of the goal and finally urged the ball past the St Hugh’s defence and into the goal. Keen to return strong once again, the St Hugh’s girls worked the ball all the way across the pitch, before Lucy sent it down the right wing to Florence, who made an excellent run towards goal. The 6th goal for St Hugh’s was not be, but the team work displayed throughout the match was an absolute joy to behold.

An incredible display of teamwork and determination from all the girls who played against Grantham saw St Hugh’s win 5-1.