The Chronicle, Autumn 2018

26 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

County Hockey Success By Will Griffiths, Media Manager

The Hockey Club has enjoyed sensational success at county level this term with all three competing age groups progressing to the regional tournaments. St Edward’s U16 XI were the first of three sides to see county action earlier this term, encountering Cranford House, Cokethorpe, Tudor Hall, Headington and Oxford High. The girls scored an incredible 17 goals in total without conceding a single one in reply, with the indomitable Anna West top scoring with eight goals. Izzy Rees scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 opener against Cranford House; Anna West followed this up with one of her own in the 3-0 victory versus Cokethorpe; and Tudor Hall were beaten 4-0 before Headington and Oxford High were taken at 2-0 apiece. The U16s concluded with 17 goals scored, none conceded – and the County Championship. The following week, it was the turn of the 1st XI. They opened with a 0-0 draw against Tudor Hall, before Phoebe Cain swept them to a 1-0 victory over

d’Overbroeck’s, and returned the same score against Cokethorpe, courtesy of a goal from joint Vice-Captain Jess MacLeod. There followed a heart-in-mouth semi- final against Headington, with the deadlock unbroken in normal time. The game was in the balance to the last with penalty flicks eventually deciding it, Maddie Catchpole playing an important role between the sticks and Jess MacLeod holding her nerve to seal the win. As runners up, following a tightly-contested final v MCS, the 1st XI progressed to the Regional tournament. In blustery conditions, Cokethorpe played host for the U14 county tournament, where the girls faced Bloxham, Headington, Cokethorpe and Tudor Hall. Lucy Peperell provided the victory in the first game against Headington, converting from a penalty corner, before scoring again in the 2-0 win against Bloxham, Jemima Paganuzzi adding the other with an emphatic finish. A dominant second half display against Cokethorpe wasn’t enough to overturn the

0-1 first half deficit, meaning the pressure was on for the final games of the day against Oxford High and Tudor Hall. Oxford High were beaten 5-0, Alice Spencer scoring one of the goals and two apiece for Lucy Pepperell and Florence Spackman, meaning it all came down to the last game. The girls were more than matched to the task, coming away 4-0 winners and retaining the U14 County title in the process. Congratulations to all the girls, ensuring a clean sweep of Teddies sides competed at the Regional tournaments. Unfortunately the strong runs of the U14, U16 and U18 XIs in tournament play came to an end in the regionals. The U16s came closest to progressing, but were unable to find the last goal they needed, combined with the other result in the final round not going the way they needed it to. The girls should be proud of their progress and how they competed at the county and regional tournaments, with the future of the Hockey Club looking very bright indeed.

U16 County Champions – back row, left to right: Ruby Freeland, Ruby Faulkner, Sophie Tompkins, India Courage, Macy Jilla, Gini Hope, Florence Howard, Charlotte Churchman and Grace Flynn; front row, left to right: Lila Howard, Tiggy Jones, Anna West, Sasha Withers Green, Izzy Rees, Maddy Powell and Bea Nicholls. The team is coached by Kate Newson and John Taylor.