PUBLISHED 14 May 2024
It may be the summer term but the hockey season was still reaching its climax for the AKS U13 Hockey team as they finished another successful year at the highest possible level with the National In2Hockey Finals in Nottingham.
Cheered on by many spectators and lifted by a good luck message on social media from the Ex England Captain and now England Hockey President Alex Danson, the girls took to the field to face the challenge of playing against the best young hockey players in the country for the second consecutive year, an achievement in itself!
Our first game of the tournament saw us up against St.Faith’s School (East) and we had the perfect start in only the second minute when Camilla W found the net with a superb strike after a driving run on the left. Lifted by the goal we gained in confidence and enjoyed a lot of the ball with Olivia W and Camilla W always a threat up front. Jenay G made some great saves to keep the scores level but St.Faith’s got on level terms before the break. The second half was close fought with both teams having chances to score and St.Faith’s sealed the points with a goal late in the game.
Having just missed out on securing points in game one we started the second game against St.John’s School, Leatherhead confidently. Isla C’s driving runs down the right put St.John’s under pressure and great defending from Lauren M and Emily F, along with more crucial saves from Jenay G kept the scores level, however, late in first half St.John’s scored from a corner to take a slender lead in to the break. The second half saw us really up our game and we threw everything at St.John’s to get an equalizer. Olivia W used her pace well on the right and Gabby H-S went close with two great efforts which were only kept out by the scrambling St.John’s defenders. Despite our best efforts we could not get the ball over the line and after closely fought match, which we deserved to get something out of, the score remained at 0 – 1.
The third game saw us against the group leaders Kingswood School and once again it was a close, hard fought affair. The skilful Kingswood players put us under pressure from the start and scored in only the first minute. We continued to play good passing hockey and created chances to score but it was Kingswood who found the net again before the break. The second half saw us again work hard but Kingswood thwarted our best efforts and added a further goal to secure their win.
Our final game was against Alleyns School, London. We started the game positively with Camilla W a constant threat with her driving runs forward but Alleyns scored from a corner and put us on the back foot. Alleyns attacked at pace but their efforts were thwarted by good defending from Victoria H, Lauren M and Isla C and some great saves from Jenay G. Despite all the teams’ best efforts Alleyns found the net again before the break and a tough second half saw AKS unable to get back on terms and so finish in 8th place.
At the end of another incredible day of fantastic junior hockey all the girls can take great credit for their superb achievement in finishing as the 8th best U13 Hockey Team in the country for the second consecutive year. They will have again learnt a lot from the experience of ‘ playing at a National Final’ and it is a magnificent achievement for AKS of which everyone is very proud. Well done to all the girls and coaches.
Many thanks to the sponsors who provided the girls with a special shirt, jumpers and socks for the tournament which not only saw them look fantastic but will also be a superb momento of their achievements and the day.
Squad: Lauren M, Emily F, Olivia W, Camilla W, Victoria H, Isla C, Jenay G, Esme M, Gabby H-S, Isobelle C.