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| Hockey 2nd Girls Team 'Blog' |
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Eagle House 2nd 0 Highfield 2nd 3 I must admit that I was rather looking forward to this game as of the two teams I had to take for an extra session yesterday, these were the ones who worked the harder, and although Alice and Lucy were now unavailable, Cressida was at last given her chance to prove that she should have been playing for this group. Yesterday, the girls really practised with heart especially in the possession exercise where it was necessary to give quick and powerful passes within and without the 'D' to keep the ball. This they did well despite increasing pressure from changing defenders. Disappointingly we rather lost our way from the first few moments and we looked tired and slow both on and off the ball. Our passes were too weak and with little direction, enabling the opposition to step forward to regain the ball. We then stood off the tackle, allowing Highfield to control and direct the game. Megan and Cressida (M O M), worked tirelessly throughout as Sarah did all that she could between the posts, but the support required was just too slow and just too inconsistent and Highfield, a well coached and hard working group, showed what can be achieved with the basics right. All of our players must make the tackles much more strongly and pass the ball into space more accurately. We must stop the ball more consistently, control it before releasing it more widely and quickly. Above all as none of this will possible, we must learn to hold our sticks more strongly, trying to keep the ball on the strong side and then step into the pass with our hands much lower. You cannot push pass with hands at the top of the stick. This was a disappointing way to finish the season and not really deserved after the hard work of most of you during the term. Do take on board the advice you are given and always follow it.
Pangbourne College B team Tournament v Oratory B: 0-0 v Cheam: Lost 1-3 v Pangbourne: Won 4-0 Play off v Cheam: lost 0-3 This was a lovely little four way tournament where everybody played four matches, made enjoyable by all the players, coaches/umpires and organizer. Eagle House started a little warily, packing the midfield and literally tripping over each others' shoelaces and as a result we were unable to break down a very resolute defence. We must get the ball into the D and then have a shot, which we must follow much more positively. Cheam proved to be worthy winners of the group, as they played with width, good hand position and early passes. When we tried to play in a similar way, we suddenly found that the fluency of our hockey improved and we opened up their defence for Sophie to score a very good goal. It was good because we did the simple things well, dragging back, passing after one touch and then moving into space. Going into the second half at one all, we seemed to stop and watch and our poor defenders were left rather high and dry. If we have the ball, then our wings must go wide and our forward stays on the top of their D, but as soon as we lose possession, everybody must track back immediately to win back and release possession. Pangbourne offered their usual hearty opposition, but we actually played some good hockey with Lucy and Alice linking up well on the right and it was good to see Megan up in attack. the 'final' was not as one sided as the score suggests, but Cheam were the better team. We kept on making good tackles and could (should?) have scored twice except for their great little goal keeper. All of you contributed something to the afternoon, and I hope that you took something back from it so that you can improve your own game to contribute to the team in the future - hockey is a great team game with quick passing and running and above all great covering defence. Have a good half term - with lots of hockey. Match 4 V Bradfield U14s Lost 4-1 (Elisa) Coaches player of the match - Sarah (Team - Lucy (c),Sarah, Magan, Daisy, Ella, Emily, Alice, Elisa) This was always going to be a tough match against opposition who are much older. However, we were definitely able to compete and the game was more even than the score-line suggests. Sarah made some excellent saves in the first few minutes of the game and Bradfield did not score until well into the first half. Alice worked hard in mid-field. However, we struggled to find space meaning possession of the ball changed constantly as Bradfield found it easy to intercept our passes and then we tackled back. We went into the half time break 2-0 down. Unfortunately, Bradfield scored another two good goals early on in the second half. However, the Eagle House girls kept fighting and were rewarded a penalty corner a minute before the end. Elisa received the ball outside the D, controlled it and struck a superb shot into the corner of the net...text book...and a great way to finish the game! Match 3 v St. Mary's Won 2-1 (Emily 1 Sophie 1) (Team: Charlotte GK, Emily, Ella, Sophie, Daisy, Georgia & Megan©) Opposition Player of the Match: Ella Dow Coaches Player : Georgia Valentine This was a good outing for this team who were without their striker. They took the ball on the attack from the first push, taking it wide and putting the pressure on St. Mary’s defence. Unfortunately our strikes at goal were not on target and the ball was sent back from the hit out. Megan and Daisy were continually strong in defence, tackling the oncoming ball with confidence and getting it up to Georgia who created space out on the wing. Georgia displayed some great stick work, feeding the ball across into the D, setting up for a good strike by Sophie. Ella played a pivotal role in the centre, taking the ball up into the attack but also sprinting back to aid the defence. We finished the first half with a goal from Emily but we should have been several goals into the lead by this point. St.Mary’s came out strongly in the second half and dominated the play. We seemed to lack the determination to score. The opposition tackled well and moved the ball around accurately and swiftly into the goal. Charlotte did a great job as GK coming out and making several great saves. We had a couple of breakaway passes but St. Mary’s managed to regain possession. Our defence worked well together as a team and kept St. Mary’s score down to the single goal. A good game, well done. Match 2 V Cranleigh Lost 3-0 Team: Lucy (C), Emily, Megan, Ella D, Sophie B-E, Georgia, Josie, Charlotte(GK) Women of the match: Lucy Although it was a lovely September afternoon, this was quite a frustrating one for the girls. In the first half we appeared to have lost our va-va-voom and tended to stand off the ball when Cranleigh were in possession. This gave them the time they needed to shoot when they were in the D. However, they were only in their D for a limited time as we had most of the possession throughout! We also won five short corners but we were unfortunately unable to capitalise on the chances. By half time, against the run of play, we were 2-0 down. After a wake-up, rallying call, the girls really pulled their socks up in the second half. There were some great shots from Lucy and she was unlucky to not score - she hit the post and the side of the goal but the ball just wouldn't go in! Megan and Ella also worked hard in both defense and attack. By the end of the game the the team were fighting for possession and passing well. It was a shame that they couldn't make the score more even as it would have been a better reflection of the match. Lots to be learnt girls about how easily a game can be lost, even when you are the more skillful team! Match 1 V Feltonfleet Won 5-0 (Lucy 3, Georgia 1, Ella D 1) Team: Lucy (C), Emily, Daisy W, Ella D, Sophie B-E, Georgia, Elisa, Sarah(GK) Women of the match: Lucy A really promising start to the season for the 2nds. It took a little while for the girls to settle into the game but as it progressed they began to work together very well. It was a game of one half...no really! We played 25 minutes one way, meaning that fitness was very important...something that we are going to have to work on! Lucy opened the scoring about ten minutes into the match with an excellent goal set up by Georgia. Lucy went on to score two more. Her final goal came from a short corner; a fantastic set play that we had practiced just half an hour earlier! The ball was pushed in by Ella to Georgia who struck it across to the far post, to be hit into the corner of the net by a perfectly placed Lucy - it is great when a plan comes together! Buoyed up by Lucy's goals, the team seemed to take their play up a gear with Georgia and Ella scoring two more. A mention should also go to Sarah for keeping a clean sheet in goal with some good saves when she was put under pressure. It was lovely to see such promising hockey being played so early on in the season. Well done, girls! Thanks also to all the parents who came along to support on a not so sunny September afternoon.
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