4.3 MB - Blundell's School

Team of the TermUndefeated! 2nd XIIt has come to the end of a very successful hockey season for the Second XI and what a year ithas been! Unbeaten seasons, as Mr Bucknell said choking back the tears, don’t come aroundthat often within our strong fixture list. It was difficult to say who was more emotional, the U6girls, whose last Blundell’s match it was, or Mr Bucknell, who led us to our triumphant season.20“...the team hasgone fromstrength tostrength, notconceding agoal since the24th Septemberand only threein total...”‘Coach of the season’This season I am confident that I have hadthe best view on the pitch, poised as I was ingoal. I have seen before me ten players, all sohungry to win, playing some absolutelystunning hockey. I have watched MaddieSimonson take countless balls to the foot,witnessed Flora Dickinson injure players leftright and centre (3 in 1 match I believe - sorryMarlborough) and I have admired about 50beautiful goals being scored at the other end.Yes, there have been times it’s been a closeshave and Mr Bucknell has turned a violentshade of magenta, but the team has gonefrom strength to strength, not conceding agoal since the 24th September and only threein total. I can say this not at all conceitedlybecause there have been matches where theball has hardly even entered our D, largelythanks to the Dickinsons outstandinglytenacious defending.In fact, Thea Dickinson has proved herself tobe such an asset to the team that Mr Bucknellawarded her with a miniature hockey stick tocommemorate her time playing for him. SinceYr 9 she has been under his management,along with Sophie Scott, who was alsopresented with a mini stick. Time after timethis season we have watched Sophie strikethe ball and hit the backboard with a satisfyingthud; this was usually followed by a deafeningroar from the rest of the team, none louderthan our ultra-competitive leader, Dani Lunn.As captain this season, Dani has been quitesimply inspirational. Not stopping to take abreak at any point during a match, from centrefield she has motivated us all to keep onfighting, right up until the final whistle, and itwas through muffled sobs that Dani acceptedher hockey stick and congratulated the team.However, it must be said that Dani’s realtriumph was her notoriously delicious cake.It was the last training session and Dani hadbaked an absolute beauty, shaped like ahockey stick, complete with a ball coveredentirely in sweets. She even succeeded inworming a smile from Mr Bucknell.Other stalwarts from the U6 included LottieFree, Alexa Batting, Hannah Morris and acegoal scorer Harriet Sansom (when she wasn’tbeing dropped to the 1st X1!). Much of ourincredible team spirit must be attributed tothe experienced Westlakers.It has been a season we are all extremelyproud of and it will be a tough act to follownext year but those of us returning will give ita go.