On the netball scene AKS enjoyed a great day on competitive netball against Stonyhurst coming out on top in 3 of the 5 matches played with the other two being close fought games.
Great performances by AKS U12 A & B teams saw them win both matches but in completely different situations, the A having a battle to win by just one goal whilst the B team had an easier time proving too strong for their Stonyhurst opponents.
The U12A team had a fantastic away fixture at Stonyhurst, coming away with an exciting 11–10 victory in a game that went right down to the wire. The team played brilliantly together, showing great teamwork, passing and determination throughout the match. Despite some very strict umpiring, the players stayed focused and kept their composure. It was a closely contested game from start to finish, with both teams battling hard. In the end, the U12A side held their nerve to secure a well-deserved win.
Whilst the A team game was close the U12B team wasn’t and a superb performance from the U12B saw them dominate their match to win 28–0. The team worked brilliantly together with excellent link-up play across the court to constantly win possession and move the ball down the court. Georgiana D-D and Elsie M shot superbly, while Winnie v- R was opposition player of the match with great contribution in a fantastic all-round team performance.
The U13 team played some superb netball to come out on top in a fast and furious battle against Stonyhurst team. The first quarter saw the teams closely matched and both took time to settle giving away possession a great deal. As the quarter progress we got our noses infront with some good shooting from Arabella C and Amelie Y and went into the break 2 goals ahead. The second quarter saw both sides gain more control and accuracy and we started to get free more effectively and pass the ball down the court well but were often matched by good Stonyhurst marking so at half time we still had a narrow 2 goal lead. In the third quarter we played our best netball of the match and forged into a 7 goal lead. Great defending from Harriet B & Grace W regained a lot of possession in our defending third, superb link play from Emily B, Penny A and Freya W moved the ball into our attacking circle where Arabella & Amelie were again on target to make the score 16 – 9 at the final break. With all to play for Stonyhurst started the final quarter on the front foot and three quick goals without reply saw our lead cut to just 4. More great defending by Lottie T and Grace W made scoring difficult for Stonyhurst and with Penny A and Neve A always available for a pass we started to regain some control. Nerves were settled when we scored two quick goals and with us playing patient controlled netball and passing accurately down the courts we matched the Stonyhurst scoring goal for gaol and at the final whistle were celebrating a hard earned 21 – 15 win. Players of the match were Amelie Y and Penny A.
The U14 team played a thrilling end-to-end match against Stonyhurst on Saturday afternoon. Both teams showed great intensity throughout, creating an exciting contest for spectators.
AKS produced some fantastic attacking play, with Izzy H, Louisa B and Gracie S working brilliantly in the shooting circle. The centre court players Evie G, Alyssa W, Sophia T and Charlotte R controlled much of the play with excellent movement and distribution. Defensively, Sadie A and Evie B put in a solid performance, making key interceptions and working tirelessly to disrupt Stonyhurst’s attack. Despite a narrow 2 goal defeat, 19 – 21 the girls delivered a fantastic performance in a highly competitive match.Player of the Match: Izzy H
The U15s also faced Stonyhurst at home and made a positive start to the game. Although the team dipped slightly during the second quarter, they showed great determination and resilience to pull the game back strongly in the fourth quarter. The defence was outstanding, with Lilly P, Kathryn S and Gabby H-S putting in a commanding performance and applying constant pressure to the Stonyhurst attack. Through the centre court, Adrianna E, Isla J and Georgie W worked tirelessly to transition the ball down the court, while Lucy S fed the circle effectively. In attack, Esme M delivered excellent shooting to keep AKS in contention.
The team showed great character to close the gap late in the game, eventually finishing with a narrow defeat in what was another fantastic match. Player of the Match: Adrianna E.
The U11s Football Team travelled to take part in the AJIS U11s Football Tournament and produced a fantastic day of football, showing great teamwork and determination throughout the competition. The boys made a strong start in the group stage, finishing with an impressive record of two wins, two draws and one loss. Each game was closely contested and the squad worked extremely hard, showing resilience in defence and creativity going forward to secure valuable results and progress from the group. Their performances were enough to see them reach the semi-finals, where they faced a strong Bury Grammar side. The team battled brilliantly against a very talented team and gave an excellent account of themselves, but unfortunately fell short of reaching the final. Despite the result, reaching the semi-finals was a fantastic achievement and a real credit to the squad. The players represented the school superbly throughout the day with excellent attitudes, teamwork and effort in every match.
It was a busy week of Rugby 7’s with tournaments for all age group U11 – U16.
At Merchant Taylor 7’s the U16s grew into the day, making huge improvements. After beat Stonyhurst in the group games we progressed into the plate final, where we lost a very close battle with Wirral GS 24-21. The boys put a great shift in, with only 10 men. Stand out players were Henry F and Jack W with honourable mentions Tom C and Fin L.
The U15’s took part in the Wirral Grammar 7is and it was a positive and successful day. The team ultimately lost to Lancaster Royal Grammar in the semis, having beaten them earlier in the day. The team performed admirably and put a number of teams to the sword on the way to the semis.
Giggleswick 7’s proved a learning day for the U14 squad who never gave up and improved throughout the day whilst in the Wirrall 7’s the U12 squad worked reall hard and improved throughout the day. Notable performances and some great 7’s played
The AKS U13’s were also at Wirrall. After a defeat in game 1 against Kings Macclesfield the boys raised their game to win the next two games against Altrincham ( 5-0) and hosts Wirrall ( 5 – 3) to progress into the semi-finals. In the semis they came up against St.Ambrose who proved too strong for us and we had to settle for 3rd/4th play-off. In the final match the boys played Lancaster Grammar and despite their best efforts they had to be happy with a 4th place finish.
The U11 Boys Rugby Team travelled to compete in a fantastic rugby festival at Rossall School, producing some excellent performances and playing an exciting brand of rugby throughout the day. From the first match, the boys showed great confidence with the ball, playing some superb catch-pass rugby and moving the ball coast to coast to stretch opposition defences. Their willingness to use the wide areas created plenty of opportunities, with several impressive team tries coming from quick hands and good support play.
As the festival progressed, the team continued to grow into the competition, combining strong defensive efforts with positive attacking rugby. Their teamwork and communication were excellent, and it was great to see the players backing themselves to move the ball and keep the game flowing.
The day finished with a 2nd place play-off match against St Ambrose, playing with great energy and confidence, they moved the ball brilliantly and came away victorious, finishing the day on a real high.
All of the squad represented the school superbly with fantastic attitudes, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the festival. It was a brilliant display of attacking rugby and a very enjoyable day for everyone involved.