Woodbridge School and Sixth Form
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U14A hockey v Culford
Thursday 27th November
Won 4-0

A hatrick for Maddie Felton and another goal by Flora Johnston made our victory over Culford quite convincing although they put a great deal of pressure on us at times.  We played well from the beginning; passing well, supporting each other and encouraging each and very member of this squad. Millie Cave,  Rosa McInerney and Jemima Hill made their debuts for the A team and did not look out of place, working hard and doing everything asked of them correctly.  Mollie Biddle, Mia King and Chloe Outen had very good games and we now need the same for Saturday and RHS.

U14A hockey v Ipswich School
Saturday 22nd November
Won 1-0

This was always going to be a close match but our girls dominated the play and Maddie Felton converted an excellent field goal with a great pass from Mollie Biddle.  We held Ipswich until half time and we knew they would come out hard after the break. Their marking was tighter but their goalie played amazingly.  Georgia Harrold,  Georgia Martin, Maddie Craig and Maddie Felton had some great shots on goal, as did Mia King and Mollie Biddle, but all we were denied by the pads of the Ipswich goalie over and over again.  We will happily take a 1-0 victory though!

Friday 21st November saw Phil Skinner, OW of ten years and now banker in London for UK Green Investment Bank, popping in to have lunch with 6 interested potential financiers. Our students greatly appreciated the chance to chat with Phil about his career path and pick up tips and ideas for the future. Phil also kindly offered to be there for them with information in the future should they need it.

If you have a particular field you could talk about or would like to see one covered, please speak to our Head of Careers, Isobel Tyndale-Brown.

There’s something marvellous about school reunions. People go for years and years without remembering moments from their classroom past and then suddenly the smallest incident is recalled in almost cinematic detail! That’s what makes the OW Dinner such a great occasion. Stories that have not been heard for decades are given an outing – often greatly improved in the telling – and for a moment an entire school and its community is glimpsed through a swirl of affection and amusement.

The OW Dinner took place in the dining hall – sorry, that should be Tuckwell Room – which had been splendidly decorated for the purpose. Gone were the long Oliver Twist benches we all remember, and in their place were the posh green chairs on loan from The Abbey. It looked a picture as the guests filed through from the School Hall, drinks in their hands, having enjoyed the music of the excellent School Swing Band. This was a gathering of young and old, from pre-war pupils down to modern era. Some of the present staff were mingling with former pupils and it is great to see how easily they mix and chat. Surely that shows how good relationships are at Woodbridge?

For most people the evening carried the added bonus of getting a look at the new Headmaster, Neil Tetley, who had been in the job for all of three weeks and so was expected to know everything and have a policy on much more besides! His report on the School was full of good news and showed how successful it continues to be – academically, culturally and socially. Many guests expressed the thought that Stephen Cole was going to be a hard act to follow, but Neil shows signs of being an impressive performer too. The School is in good hands.

Long after the meal was over the tales rolled on, and for someone who has spent his career at Woodbridge School it was extraordinary how much I had missed. There were stories which made us laugh and squirm although perhaps it was kindness which prevented us recording the details!

I always loved Christmas at Woodbridge School. I found the whole experience of those last weeks in December to be delightful. There were the various concerts, always performed with skill and joy, but also sometimes in Father Christmas bobble hats which was thought to be quite daring! The Christmas Dinner was always a special occasion – more bobble hats, of course – and that sense of a community which has survived another year, and emerged stronger than before. Of course the Carol Service(s) was the perfect way to close a term: all those beautiful carols, the Choir on top form, familiar readings (often by people you had not thought of being public readers!) and just that sense of all being right with the world. Memories are made of such things, and the OW Dinner reminded me how important and long-lasting they can be.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

God Bless you all.

Mark Mitchels

A The U15 team had a good win against St Felix U16 team. They were supported by a few U14 players who played very well. First goal was from Emma Harrington who put away a cross with great force. Mia King scored the next and later scored another. Lucinda Cope scored one on the post, after a superb run by Vicky Williams down the length of half the pitch, before crossing the ball. Chloe Outen having never played on the forward line came on as centre forward to score too! Captain Georgina Warren, as always worked very hard to distribute the ball in midfield and Josephine Pryor controlled the back line. A final score of 5-2. Thank you again to the above mentioned U14 players plus Eleanor Berridge, Flora Johnston, Harriet Spence and Issy Cory in goal.

A lovely note just in from a glowing mother about her son, Arthur Green, who followed up a letter to Barclays Bank that he wrote in the Summer Term. He had a ‘meeting’ with the Bank Manager yesterday after school. Arthur was given a tour of the branch and allowed to help cash up a till. He was also given the opportunity to ask lots of questions throughout his visit.

 Arthur was very impressed that his initial letter had been posted on the staff noticeboard and when we went to make an appointment all the staff knew his name! The staff were very welcoming and Arthur learned a lot! He was a credit to all of us!

Well done Arthur and many thanks to Barclay’s Bank!

Woodbridge took on Ipswich High School on neutral grounds at Tuddenham Road.  The players were excited about this opportunity and their performance did not disappoint.  Hermione Hatfield stole the show, scoring 4 goals – all from penalty corners.  The last of these goals was possibly the best, scored from a well executed penalty corner back to Hermione who injected the ball.

The team managed to keep sustained pressure on Ipswich High school, winning plenty of ball in the midfield, initiated by good pressure from the pressing forwards.  Hermione Hatfield and Lorna Bennell dominated the center of the pitch causing problems for the opposition.  The forwards finally had a match in which they could again stretch the play and have more opportunities to attack.  An aim at the start of the match was to win more penalty corners and the team achieved this well and were rewarded with the goals scored from these.

The second half saw the team passing the ball more effectively and they played some attractive hockey… some of the best passages of play this season.  Olivia Woodmansee found her goal scoring form again in front of goal, scoring 2 goals in the last 7 minutes of the match.

This 6-0 win is a great score line for Woodbridge but it was not a one-sided match at all.  Credit to the defenders who managed to deal with IHS attacks well and credit to players who stayed determined to score despite great saves from the opposition goalkeeper.  Imogen Bacon had another good match at center back and is improving every match.  Imogen Craig again ran her heart out and Rosie Cooper took on a new role hitting the ball at penalty corners with much success.

Player of the match: Hermione Hatfield

Score: Won 6-0

We have had a very challenging season and we were intimidated by the physically imposing older opposition before the kick-off. We defended with our usual dogged determination in the first half which saw no score; the slope would be in our favour in the second half and we were hoping to show more flair in attack. However, it was RHS who scored first and the fear among the faithful spectators was that another loss was on the cards. Judicious use of the boot and slick handling saw us strike back with tries from Jake Henry and Sam Garrington. We gained some security later when Will Pilkington fly-hacked a ball through the opposition defence before gathering it and sliding in for a great try. Well done to all the boys who took part!

Score: Won 17-7

The Junior 3rds had a very nice hockey game against RHS’s U13B team. The Woodbridge girls were very positive in their approach, passing the ball wide and making good runs into space to receive the ball. The majority of the first half was Woodbridge attacking the RHS goal, but many attempts were wasted with shots going wide. Finally, Verity Hobday managed to convert a lovely pass across the goal into the goal. The half-time score was Woodbridge 1-0.

The whole team came out enthusiastically in the second half wanting to secure their win. RHS had more possession in this half and Natasha Doole, GK, had to work hard at clearing her line. However, the defence stayed solid and Woodbridge had another set of chances to enhance the score line but again the efforts went wide. After a beautiful pass out wide and then another pass across the goal Laura Golding scored the second goal. The final score was 2-0 to Woodbridge.

The junior 6s travelled to RHS for their 1st away fixture, where they spent the first part of the afternoon watching and supporting the junior 4s and 2s before making their way on to the pitch to play. Although a little apprehensive in the first half, as neither team had scored, after a positive team talk at half-time, with one of their main aims – ‘to win’, the girls put everything into the second half. Lizzie Boynton should be commended on her defending as she had 100% success tackling and distributing the ball effectively. Amelia Kirkham fought tirelessly on the wing, bringing the ball down into attack and getting back to help defend. Maddie Cheshire and Emma Trebilcock had a great game up front, with Cheshire scoring both goals after being set up by Kirkam and Trebilcok from a short corner. Lily Peto, Judith Cope and Lauren Wilkes defended well, ensuring they closed down the RHS attacking players. Eleanor Petheram and Beth Turner made some great saves, preventing RHS from finding the goal.  All in all a great team effort and a well-deserved win from a determined and motivated group of girls who have definitely improved both individually and as a team. Well done!