Ratcliffian 2016 (LOWRES)

SPORT
GIRLS’
HOCKEY
1 st XI
The first team had a
great season, bonding
well together and
playing some superb
hockey. Though
the results did not
always go our way,
I am pleased with the performance and improvement of
the girls over the season. There was a good attitude at
training, and a pleasing overall effort and commitment.
Emma Milner worked hard as captain, training and playing
well, and giving her all on the hockey pitch. The team will
be much depleted as we say goodbye to several Year 13
players who have been members of the squad for a while:
Millie Ellis, Sibella Chew and Elena Wheatley, who had solid
performances in defence, and Emma Milner and Emma
Furlong, both midfield players who can play anywhere on
the pitch and have played for the First team since Year 10, a
fantastic achievement! It has been brilliant having an U18
England hockey player, Olivia Back, still only in Year 11,
in the team. She has been a real asset, and a role model
for the other girls. Working with such a talent has been
a pleasure, and I am looking forward to watching Olivia
continue to develop and grow on the hockey pitch. I look
forward to next season which, I am sure, will be even
better, continuing to develop
from where we have left off.
Miss A Stafford
1st 2nd 3rd U15A U15B U14 U13 U12A U12B
PLAYED 10 6 1 9 2 8 8 6 6
WON 3 3 0 5 0 3 2 4 3
DRAWN 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
LOST 7 3 1 4 2 3 6 2 3
2 nd XI
The Second Team had a 50:50 season, winning 3 and
losing 3. Overall, it was a pleasing year with a nice blend of
experienced and less experienced players selected throughout
the year. The team was well led by the captain, Charley
Flowers, who on occasion also stepped up to the first team.
The personnel for the second team changed on a regular
basis, with many getting an opportunity for a run out in the
first team. The girls played some excellent passing hockey at
times, unfortunately not always getting the results that their
play deserved. Issy Thomas, Lucie Prusinski, Mimi Lallo,
Caitlin Plummer, Emily Sellick and Holly Blount provided an
effective threat in attacking positions, helped by mid-fielders
Charley and Chloe Flowers and Niamh Delargy, who never
stopped running. No team can play without a good defensive
unit, and the seconds definitely had one of these. Alex Offer
and Lara Addison formed a formidable partnership in the
middle, with Isabelle Duckett, Beatrice Waters, Lois Jones and
Rebecca Astill playing as wing-backs. Behind this defence was
Nima Patel who kept the girls in some games and can be very
pleased with her year’s work. It will nice to see the majority of
these girls develop further next year.
Mr P Gilchrist
3 rd XI
The third team had a pleasing season, and it was a pleasure
to see so many girls enjoying their hockey. The girls showed
great desire to succeed, both in practices and games. All
those involved in the team this year have worked incredibly
hard to improve their skills, and we can honestly say that
each and every one of them has played a significant part on
and off the pitch. A number of these girls should really be
challenging for places in the second team next year. Well
done, girls - a really enjoyable season.
Mr D Willcock and Mr S Hunter
U15
The U15 team
had a good,
productive
season which
has provided a
great platform
for the future,
as the girls
move into
senior hockey
next year. Olivia Carpenter set a great example to the other
players and captained the side fantastically well, as well as
having a great individual season. Defensively this year, Amy
Baxter had a great season in goal. She was helped out by
strong performances in defence from Niamh Noble, Holly
Bown, Ellie-May Bullock and Katie Honey, with Jenna Pole
providing excellent cover by sweeping just in front of the
defence. Energy levels in the midfield were excellent, with
Izzy Hose, Molly Page, Nicole Spencer, Emily Grimmett and
Molly Edwards working constantly up and down the pitch.
The forwards also worked tirelessly, with Izzy Coombs, Olivia
Carpenter and Isabelle Pullen constantly making lead after
lead. One of the biggest
achievements is to have
witnessed, week on week,
the individual and team
development that the girls
have shown. This will
stand them in great stead
when they are competing
for senior places next year.
Mr D Willcock
U14
Despite a difficult start to the season, the U14 girls have
been an absolute pleasure to coach. I am very proud of
their achievement, and so should they be. All the players
showed that they wanted to develop not only their skills but
their tactics and understanding of the game. They have
always worked hard on match days
and continued to do so this season,
playing entertaining and competitive
hockey which the parents could
enjoy on a weekly basis. Spurred
on by ever-present support on the
side line, the girls achieved many
excellent results, particularly a
thrilling 4 – 2 victory over Denstone.
The season’s overall statistics were
not as impressive as perhaps they could have been, with
two frustrating draws and a loss to finish the season off.
Nevertheless, the girls should take pride in the progress
they have made, and look ahead with confidence.
Miss C Papadopoulou
U13
The U13 girls took immense strides forward this year with
their hockey. Their ability and willingness to learn has
been inspiring to witness, and it will be exciting to see how
they develop even further next year. The results of the first
few games did not reflect the ability of the players, though
results soon improved as the girls discovered their style
when they played a very strong Loughborough High School
side. The attitude and desire from the Ratcliffe girls were a
sight to behold as they came back from a difficult first-half
1 – 0 down, to dominate the second-half and almost come
away with a result. Although the girls lost 3 – 2, they took
enormous confidence from their performance as they not
only competed against but outplayed a good side. Following
this game, the girls went on to win 3 – 0 against Mount St
Mary’s, with a later 8 – 0 win against Oundle. The season
was a slow burner but the entire squad eventually excelled
themselves, both in terms of their hockey ability and their
desire to learn, improve and compete.
Mr S Hunter and Miss L Bowman
U12
The U12 teams had
a positive season in
which they won 7
and lost 5 matches.
The ‘A’ team was
held together by
the excellent play of
Elise Atkinson; she
inspired the others to
work harder at their
skills and fitness, to
which the whole ‘A’ team responded well. Their first match,
a 1 – 0 loss to Princethorpe, was a wake-up call, showing
what the season was to hold, but excellent wins
against Oundle and Loughborough gave them
motivation to persevere. After a loss in the
returning Loughborough fixture they then went
on to win. 9 – 0 and 6 – 0 over Denstone and
Northampton. Up front, Annie Rose Reddin
and Annie Bridgwood regularly got themselves
into great scoring positions. Amy Mason, in
defence, was a force to be reckoned with, and
her reading of the game was superb. Matilda
Cregeen was a real find as a goalkeeper,
making some spectacular saves. 4 wins from
6 matches was testament to their effort and determination
throughout the whole season.
The ‘B’ team worked very hard in lessons and in training to
improve every aspect of their hockey, and especially their
understanding of the game. Two early wins
over Princethorpe and Oundle gave them much
confidence as they approached arch rivals,
Loughborough. A win and a loss to Denstone
and Northampton respectively saw them finish
the season with a well-deserved 50:50 split of
wins and losses. Olivia Crawley and Marley
Totton were the pick of the season, earning
occasional call-ups to the ‘A’ team, while Victoria
Baggott had a great season in goal. Amy
Whitelaw was feisty in defence and Ella McNeeney’s work rate
and determination set the standard for others to emulate.
Mrs A Taylor and Miss R Lowe
SPORT
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