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| Hockey Under 12 Girls Team 'Blog' |
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Eagle House U12A v Marlston House(away)Wednesday 11th November Eagle House 3 Marlston House 0(Sophie Corner 3) Squad: Katie Dennison (GK); Coco Thompson (Capt); Jennifer Edwards; Darcy Coop; Sophie Corner; Arabella Nunn; Georgina Walton On a pitch that resembled more like a rugby field the girls did very well to adapt, although it took them quite a while to do so. They dominated the game from the start and if the match had been played on a surface more conducive to hockey they would have scored many more than the three they did. For a side that has developed a fast attacking game using the skills required to play hockey on an astro they found the idea of 'wack it and see' not to their liking! Eventually they began to turn their possession and position into evidence that they were much the better side and Sophie was able to score two excellent goals from crosses made by Arabella. By the end of the first half the opposition had only made one attack into our area and this was carefully and efficiently dealt with by Katie. The side turned round comfortably in the lead, but Marlston House produced a spirited second half performance as they used a pitch they were used to playing on more to their advantage, but even so Eagle House continued to control most of the game and had numerous chances, but the opposition goalkeeper pulled off a series of outstanding saves to deny our attackers. We were eventually able to break down their defence once more and Sophie completed her hat-trick by scoring towards the end of the game.
Eagle House U12A v Lambrook Haileybury (away)Saturday 7th November Eagle House 8 Lambrook 0(Sophie Corner 3, Arabella Nunn 2, Georgina Walton 3) Squad: Katie Dennison (GK); Coco Thompson (Capt); Jennifer Edwards; Jemima Rawding; Darcy Coop; Sophie Corner; Arabella Nunn; Georgina Walton This was another strong performance by the girls and they quickly showed what a good side they are developing into as they scored three goals early on in the game through Georgina, Arabella and Sophie. with Georgina once again putting in a strong performance in midfield it meant that we were able to control the game and attacks were launched down both flanks through Darcy and Arabella. Georgina was given a rest after a while and with Jemima playing on place of Arabella on the right Arabella moved into mid-field. Lambrook greatly did not give up and in fact during this perod they were able to create some good scoring opportunities and Katie had to make several good saves, In the second half we continued to play with the same formation, but once Georgina returned the side regained its balance and with Darcy swoppuing with Jemima for a spell, before returning, the side scored further goals through Arabella, Sophie and Georgina once again. Once again there were solid performances in defence from Coco and Jenny. Half colours were awarded to Coco, Georgina and Arabella for their outstanding performances so far this term.
Eagle House U12A v Leighton Park (away)Wednesday 4th November Eagle House 8 Leighton Park 0(Sophie Corner 3, Arabella Nunn 3, Darcy Coop 2) Squad: Katie Dennison (GK); Coco Thompson (Capt); Jennifer Edwards; Jemima Rawding; Darcy Coop; Sophie Corner; Arabella Nunn; Georgina Walton This was our first game back after half term, but after the Monday training session when we revisted some of the skills we had learned in the first half of term and another games session on Tuesday the team were keen to get back on the pitch. It took a while for the team to get back into match mode, but once Darcy had scored a lovely goal with a reverse stick flick after a series of good saves by the Leighton Park goalkeeper it gave the side the confidence to press the opposition still further. The side began to play good flowing hockey and by half time Arabella had scored two more goals and Sophie had scored one and we turned round leading four nil. Jemima came on for Arabella in the first half and during the time she was on the pitch she produced her best performance of the term as she set up several chances and showed great tenancity. In midfield Georgina was having her usual strong game and in defence Coco and Jenny were able to break up any attacks that were launched. In goal Katie had her quietest performance of the season.In the second half the side began by failing to use the full width of the pitch, but once they did further goals came from Darcy and Sophie before Arabella finished off an excellent afternoon by scoring her third.
Eagle House U12A v Pangbourne College Tournament (away)Wednesday 14th October Squad: Katie Dennison (GK); Coco Thompson (Capt); Jennifer Edwards; Jemima Rawding; Darcy Coop; Sophie Corner; Arabella Nunn; Georgina Walton
Match 1 v Pangbourne College won 4 - 0 Match 2 v The Oratory won 5 - 0 Match 3 v St. Andrew's drew 2 - 2 Winners In the first of our three matches the team got off to an excellent start by playing some good incisive hockey and putting our opponents under considerable pressure. with strong performances from Coco at the back and Georgina in midfield the side were able to grow in confidence and with strong performances from Arabella and Sophie in attack we always looked capable of scoring. Our second match against The Oratory saw the team step up another gear and we never really looked likely to lose and ended up as comfortable winners. The third match proved to be our most challenging as we came up against a skillful and well drilled side. When we went behind it was from an excellent run from the half way line where we failed to close down the opposition and failed to make an important tackle, the result was the St. Andrew's player drove into our circle and scored an excellent goal. In goal Katie made several excellent saves to keep the scoreline tight and with Coco and Jenny also playing well in defence it always looked as though it was going to be a close game.In the second half we came back strongly and Georgina scored an equalizing goal from a penalty corner. St. Andrew's were not to be denied and they continued to play fast attacking hockey which resulted in a second goal for them. With less than two minutes to go Arabella set out on a run from half way and she weave her way into the circle to score an outstanding equalizer. Both sides deserve great credit for what was the game of the tournament. We now had to sit it out and hope that St. Andrew's didn't score more goals than us in the final game of the day. In the end they came up short of the required target and the girls ended up as winners. well done to all of them for their effort, commitment and skill which they showed during the afternoon.
Eagle House U12A v Pangbourne CollegeWednesday 7th October Eagle House 6 Pangbourne College 0(Walton 3, Nunn, Corner 2) Squad: Katie Dennison (GK); Coco Thompson (Capt); Jennifer Edwards; Jemima Rawding; Darcy Coop; Sophie Corner; Arabella Nunn; Georgina Walton After an excellent start to the season at the Cranleigh tournament and a couple of further weeks training, there was much to look forward to as the U12s travelled to Pangbourne College for their second hockey fixture. Unfortunately it was clear that the heavy rain had made the grass pitches unplayable so the sports hall became the venue of a hastily arranged indoor match. With a mixture of indoor and outdoor rules agree upon, the game began and it was soon clear that Eagle House were the stronger of the two sides. Early goals from Georgina Walton and Sophie Corner put Eagle House in front and after another goal from Sophie it was a comfortable 3-0 score line at halftime. At the back Coco Thompson and Jennifer Edwards made sure that Katie Dennison didn't have too much to do in goal as Pangbourne's opportunities were kept to a bare minimum. The second half started in a similar fashion with another well taken goal from Georgina making the score 4-0 and then further strikes from Arabella Nunn and Georgina again made the final result a convincing 6-0. Jemima Rawding and Darcy Coop provided good support from wide midfield positions to Georgina in the middle, who looked at home on the indoor court and was the instigator of a large number of Eagle House's attacks.
UNDER 12 Hockey Tournament @ Cranleigh Prep School (10 teams)Wednesday 23rd September Squad: Katie Dennison (GK); Coco Thompson (Capt); Jennifer Edwards; Laura Neat; Jemima Rawding; Darcy Coop; Sophie Corner; Arabella Nunn; Georgina Walton Pool Match 1 v Westbourne House Won 1-0 (Nunn) Pool Match 2 v Hawthorns Won 1-0 (Nunn) Pool Match 3 v Edgeborough Lost 1-2 (Corner) Pool Match 4 v Cranleigh B Won 3-0 (Nunn, Coop, Corner) Semi-Final v Danes Hill Lost 0-1 3rd Place Playoff v C.L.F.S Lost 0-1 Final Place = 4th (10 teams) With a mixture of nerves and excitement the U12s travelled to Cranleigh for their first hockey matches of the school year. For some of the girls it was to be their first ever experience of a formal hockey match, most notably for Jennifer Edwards, who had only played the game for the first time 2-weeks ago!! Despite this lack of experience, the first two matches were successfully won 1-0 against both Westbourne House and Hawthorns, with smartly taken goals from Arabella Nunn, who was proving to be one of Eagle House's key attacking players. Although a number of other scoring chances were created and missed it was goalkeeper Katie Dennison's excellent and brave performances which kept the opposition out and Eagle House's goal intact. An early goal from Sophie Corner couldn't prevent a strong and unbeaten Edgeborough side from winning 2-1, but a fine 3-0 victory over Cranleigh's B team in the final group match meant that Eagle House finished second in pool B and earned a place in the semi-finals. The goals were scored by Arabella, Sophie and Darcy Coop. The semi-final was a story of missed opportunities against Danes Hill, the eventual winners, who took an early lead and then held on as a number of chances were not taken by the Eagle House players. Final score was 0-1. Fine performances at the back from Coco Thompson and in the midfield by Georgina Walton gave Eagle House hope until the final whistle. The 3rd place playoff against C.L.F.S. was unfortunately a repeat of the semi-final, as C.L.F.S. scored early and Eagle House couldn't reply in time. In their first matches together the U12s have showed that there is plenty of ability in the group and that they could potentially be a very successful team. A fourth place finish out of ten schools was a good start to the season and there will hopefully be some even better results over the coming weeks. |
