Category: Sport
Won 34-13
This was a fantastic displays of some great netball by a large squad of players in the U13s. There were some great passages of play and we were always in control of the game. Olivia Buchanan, Emily Whyte, Ella Walker and Cordelia Griffiths shot well in the circle and they were well supported by some great defensive play by Issy Eaton, Ariane Bilgen, Molly Marshall, and Eleanor Wright. We looked after our turnover ball quite well but held it together in the centre of the court with Clara Simpson, who made some great interceptions, Rebecca Yardy who was cool under pressure and Jess Elmer who moved up and down the court effortlessly.
A great start to the season. Well done!
On Thursday 12th January, Woodbridge School hosted the County Schools’ cross country race. This race was the final competition for the County to select their cross country team for the Anglian Championships. After finishing in the top 50 at RHS in October and top 40 at Culford in December, this competition was going to be tough – however, having the home advantage gave each Woodbridge School runner the incentive, confidence and determination to do well. Coming in the top 12 would gain a place in the county team, so the competition was on!
37 runners made it through to this final round from Culford, but due to injuries and illnesses, only 30 ran – which was still a phenomenal number. 12 out of the 30 runners gained a top 12 place, which was just superb, and is evidence of the depth and level of performer we have at Woodbridge. The top 12 in each race will be selected for the County team to compete at the Anglian Schools’ and if a top 8 place is gained there, then the athletes will go on to represent the County at England Schools’ in March. Good luck to all!!
Special mention and congratulations must go to the following runners who all gained medals; Nathan Goddard, Sarah Barker, Amy Graham, Charlie Turner & Ruby Vinton. These athletes did the most amazing job gaining a top 3 place in their race, especially as they were all running a year up in their respective races. Well done to all the runners in what was an excellent and successful day.
Results:
Minor Girls: Ruby Vinton 1st, Amy Goddard 4th & Anna Jackson 32nd
Minor Boys: Edward Rufford 5th, Edward Buckingham 7th, Tommy Burrows 17th, George Na Nakhorn 29th & Tom Martin 41st.
Junior Girls: Bea Thomas 7th, Molly Marshall 8th, Sophie Graham 17th, Issy Eaton 22nd, Jess Elmer 24th, Emily Whyte 35th, Victoria Burrows 37th.
Junior Boys: Charlie Turner 3rd, Kit Evans Lombe 6th, Thomas Harper 19th, Nathaniel Gunn 20th, Will Franklin 26th, Tom Turner 33rd, Mauricio Corfe 38th & Billy Zhu 45th.
Inter Girls: Sarah Barker 2nd, Amy Graham 3rd & Milly Buckingham 12th.
Inter Boys: Nathan Goddard 1st, George Rufford 17th, Alex Evans Lombe 21st & Daniel Davies 22nd.
The event was brilliantly organised (a comment from the Suffolk Association Chairman), and the course was challenging and perfectly set out. Such a fantastic event could not happen without the help of so many people, so our thanks go to the following:
Mark Goddard, parents and volunteers on the day (and in preparation for the event – taping the course etc.), grounds staff for excellent organisation of the course, and all our staff for marshalling.
Last week Woodbridge School Sports Leaders hosted their annual Year 2 multi-skills festival. There was a huge turnout as 120 children from St Mary’s, Woodbridge, Melton and Queens’s house primary schools took part. The day was filled with Christmas cheer as the children all partook in festive themed sporting activities, that were aimed at improving their agility and coordination skills, taken by our year 11 sports leaders. The children had great fun trying out new activities and making new friends. Both teachers and children had the chance to tuck in to some homemade goodies and refreshments kindly provided by the school catering team. The sports leaders not only ran the event but the sports leaders Committee also planned the organisation of the event, by arranging things such as certificates and festive team labels which the children thoroughly enjoyed. Overall the afternoon was an astounding success and all parties involved seemed to go away with some fond memories.
Score: Won 36-7
Woodbridge 1st XV travelled to King’s Ely keen to finish their domestic season on a high. There were a number of forced team changes and this gave an opportunity for members of the Under 16 to step up to wear the 1st XV shirt. Calum Andrews opened the account for Woodbridge,bustling through the KSE defence. His powerful and direct running led to a try under the posts. Hugo Kelleway converted for a 0-7 lead. KSE operated their kicking game but the Woodbridge back three worked well on the counter attack. Captain James Bellhouse capitalised upon a quick ruck, after Kieran Saxton side-stepped three defenders, to score in the centre for a 0-12 lead.
In the second half Woodbridge looked confident on the ball and enjoyed plenty of direct running, however one pass wrongly placed gifted an interception score to King’s against the run of the play. 7-12… but Woodbridge rallied immediately and James Brown scored under the posts after punching through the flat-footed King’s defence.
Woodbridge raised the tempo again and Hugo Kelleway ran in from his 22 to score under posts. By this point the game was drifting away from King’s, and Tom Lomas was the next to cross the line and score out wide after powering through the last line of defence.
Now there were gaps everywhere and Hugo Kelleway scored under the posts after a kick, chase and spin out of a final flailing tackle to complete a well-deserved 7-36 victory.
Congratulations to Harry Hobday on his first start and also to debutants Louis Alexander, Ben Harper and Ollie Bacon.
Time now for a Christmas break… with one eye on the next Cup game in the National Plate quarter finals in the new year.
Tries Andrews, Kelleway (2), Brown, Bellhouse, Lomas
Conversions Kelleway (2), Clogg
A young Team of Ada Marson (Year 6), Perdi Ludgrove (Year 6), Olivia Lubbock (Year 7) and Fleur Ludgrove (Year 8) really pulled together in the final round to take 2nd Place in the NSEA Plate 75cms Show Jumping Championships at the College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe, Bedfordshire on Saturday 3rd December.
After the first round the Team were lying in 6th position going into the final round. The course increased in complexity and went up in height to 80-85cms, but the young team of Woodbridge girls held it together to produce a steady clear from Perdi, a fast clear round for both Fleur and Ada, and an exceptionally fast round from Olivia who unfortunately knocked 2 poles resulting in 8 penalty points
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The other teams suffered under the pressure and the Woodbridge Team ended up climbing through the ranks to finish 2nd Overall which was a fantastic achievement for all involved.
Fleur was also 2nd in the Santa Stakes competition earlier in the morning, and after the main Championship Finals, the girls were on a roll taking 3rd in the Eventers Challenge Qualifier with Fleur also awarded 6th place individually.
A superb way to finish an incredibly successful term for all Woodbridge School Riding Team members at Grass Roots, National Championship Finals and now Plate Championship Finals.
Miss Sanders reports: Three out of our four Cross Country teams travelled up to Liverpool on Friday 2nd December to compete in the ESAA XC National Cup competition. Departing Woodbridge School excitedly, the runners were looking forward to having a night away but it was evident they were anxious about the race the following day – especially as a number of runners had been off school ill during the week. Although every runner had done the hard work to get the Nationals, competing in the area and regionals rounds, they wanted to give it their all and do their best. Arriving in Liverpool, Mr Goddard and Mr Turner took the three teams for a quick jaunt (well, run) around the docks to stretch their legs, before we all headed out to Zizzi’s for a carb-filled dinner and birthday celebrations for Amy Graham.
Saturday morning arrived. All runners stocked up on breakfast as they knew they needed the energy for their race and we made our way to The Range School in Formby. Luckily, the weather was kind to us – although a little chilly with a bit of wind. After walking the course, the Inter girls were up first. With their numbers on and chips around their ankles, they were lined up in their pens and ready to go. We heard Woodbridge School mentioned on the loud speaker, the organisers explaining that Dr Challoner’s High School and we were the only two schools with three teams competing at the Nationals, which made it even more exciting. The start was difficult, with all 140 competitors trying to get to the front of the pack, but Sarah Barker managed to fight her way through. It was an anxious time waiting at the finish line to see Woodbridge vests cross, but finally they came in sight. With only the first four counting towards our final score, the other two runners knew they have to work hard to prevent the oppositions’ 3rd and 4th runners from getting a better placing. Finally our results were in, 10th (Sarah Barker), 33rd, 52nd & 96th, which put us 12th overall out of 24 teams. Well done!
The Junior boys were next – very excited and definitely up for their race! Again, waiting in their pens for the starting gun, the boys knew they had to work hard to ensure they got themselves in a good position at the start. All six got away well, and towards the front of the pack, and at the finish line, they crossed in great positions… top five perhaps?
While waiting for the Junior boys’ results to come through, as there had been some issues, the Junior girls were last to run and although anxious, they were all determined to do their best. All penned in and waiting in anticipation for the starting gun, the team looked ready. With Bea Thomas fighting her way through, along with Molly Marshall just behind, it looked promising. Finally the girls came through the finish line – shattered but glad it was all over.
Still no news for the Junior boys’ results… then the Junior girls’ came through – 52nd, 58th, 76th, & 99th, putting us 19th out of 24th, another great result. Well done!
Finally, the Junior boys’ results were in…. Not fifth, nor fourth, third or even second… We had come FIRST! We were National Champions (by just 1 point!)… what an extraordinary achievement. Placings were 14th (Charlie Turner), 22nd, 23rd, & 54th. The boys were ecstatic and couldn’t stop jumping around – tears were flowing too (from Miss Sanders mainly).
All three teams should be extremely proud of what they achieved on Saturday – just getting to Nationals is a superb achievement, but actually winning is just phenomenal. Bruce Andrews, Secretary of the Suffolk Schools Athletics Association, told Mr Goddard that as far as he is aware, no Suffolk School has ever even won a medal at the England Schools Cross Country Cup Finals, let alone gold!
Well done to all, and thank you so much to all the parents who travelled up to support. Special thanks, of course, to Mr Mark Goddard, whose coaching, dedication and belief enabled these runners to achieve.
Mr Graham and I had such a great time… Roll on next year!!
Runners:
Junior Girls: Molly Marshall, Bea Thomas, Amy Goddard, Isabelle Eaton, Cecily Royal-Dawson & Anna Jackson
Junior Boys: Charlie Turner, Henry Dinwiddy, Kit Evans Lombe, William Franklin, Edward Rufford & Thomas Turner
Inter Girls: Sarah Barker, Milly Buckingham, Amy Graham, Victoria Burrows, Sophie Graham & Charlotte Dinwiddy.
Nine Woodbridge School cross country athletes have gained their first County recognition for the 2016/2017 winter season.
Seven athletes have been included in the Suffolk County Team to compete in the South of England Inter County Cross Country to be held in Oxford on Saturday 10th December 2016.
Congratulations to :
U13 Girls – Amy Goddard
U13 Boys – Charlie Turner, Kit Evans Lombe and Edward Rufford
U15 Girls – Sarah Barker
U15 Boys – Nathan Goddard and George Rufford
Two further athletes are currently on the standby list for the U15 Girls – Amy and Sophie Graham
We wish them well in this event and the rest of the winter.
Ready to give their best for the badge, Woodbridge started with great intensity and verve, Hugo Kelleway taking control of the forwards and directing with great accuracy and detail. It meant that for 20 minutes the play remained in the Culford half. Eventually the pressure told and following a stolen lineout from the salmonesque Fynn Kiley, the ball fell loose, Keiran Saxton made excellent yards before Tristan Hilger took up the charge and scored under the posts. Tom Innes converted and celebrated with his now customary Viking roar of passion. 7-0 to Woodbridge.
Culford started the second half strongly and Woodbridge had to defend for a while before an opportunistic interception from James Bellhouse and a ‘bolt like’ 20 metre sprint saw him flop over the line under the posts: 14-0 to Woodbridge. Soon after Hugo saw a chance to kick over the top, Tom Innes somehow ended up with the ball in his hands and offloaded to Jack Grant who crashed over the posts. 21-0.
Culford re-organised and eventually entered the Woodbridge 22 for the first time, and the Culford number 8 finally crashed over from a scrum to score. The try was converted and Culford’s tails were suddenly up. Not for long… a huge hit, a dislodged ball and Tristan Hilger set off down the touchline for the team’s fourth try… but… the referee was collapsed with cramp in the middle of the field and, unable to see, could not award it. It mattered not. Soon after, Alfie Agar dummied through the opposition to crash over for a well-deserved 28-7. Game over and a win for a Woodbridge team excellent to a man in attack and defence.
The next round of the National Cup is on Thursday 1 December at home: 2.15pm kick off.
U14B v St Joseph’s U14A
Score: Lost 2-0
This was the U14Bs first match of the season, so the excitement of a competitive fixture lifted the girls spirits, especially as they had been training hard. The sun was shining and the girls were in for a good afternoon – or so we thought… As soon as the starting whistle went, the sky darkened and the heavens opened. This did not stop the girls as they continued to play in the torrential downpour. To say we were all soaked through to our skin was an understatement! Our defenders should be extremely proud of how well they defended; tackling with tenacity and clearing the ball away. We managed to break away from play and take control on a number of occasions, but we just couldn’t find the back of the net, unfortunately. The girls should be immensely proud of their performance, particularly given they were up against St Joseph’s A team. Framlingham next …. the girls are ready!
The Match started with great pace and intensity, with Woodbridge immediately on the front foot and on the attack, the forwards and backs working well together. The inevitable opening appeared and Hugo Kelleway dummied through a static defence to race over in the corner and make it 7-0 after 5 minutes. Straight from the kick off, and following a great set piece play and ‘quick hands’ to Rupert Clogg on the wing, another try was added: 12-0; 10 minutes; Woodbridge cruising and in complete control: keep composed, play to a structure and the game would be over by half time… But the opposition fought back, and the game became a little messy for the next 25 minutes, with lots of turnovers, lots of dropped balls and some muddled thinking meant that for the rest of the half Woodbridge remained broadly penned in despite some excellent work from James Bellhouse and Tristan Hilger late on. The second half would need fewer mistakes, and better preparation and organisation.
Kieran Saxton obliged first with two barnstorming runs, barrelling over numerous opponents to put Woodbridge into a fantastic field position. A poor defensive kick to Hugo Kelleway; a catch in the middle of the field… side-step one, then two defenders, chip over the defence, speed through, catch his own kick, outsmart the full back and ….score under the posts! Even his own team mates stopped to applaud a fantastic individual try. 19-0.
Next, our defensive lineout to put into practice recent lessons, with Fynn Kiley leaping like a salmon under the support of Belhouse and James Brown, winning the opposition ball, offloading to Tom Innes who passed to the now marauding Saxton who swatted aside tackle after tackle before finally succumbing to about five in one hit! But the ruck was won quickly and Tom Lomas jinked expertly to squeeze over in the corner leaving two defenders on the floor bamboozled by the speed of his hips and feet. 26-0.
The game effectively won, what could Woodbridge add? A quick tap penalty, a driving run by Bellhouse, 20m more gained by the irrepressible Saxton, quick ball at the ruck, and a Kelleway dummy and dive to score under the posts. Conversion made. 33-0. A great second half performance driven by an outstanding display by Kieran Saxton.
Woodbridge play Beaumont School next, date and time to follow.
