Category: Sport
Woodbridge School organised the 20th NSEA Inter Schools Annual ODE at Poplar Park on Sunday 20th March over the Poplar Park BE XC courses for 80cm, 90cm & 1m classes. As ever, the day was a great success, and our sincere thanks go to Ms Theobald and her brilliant team of helpers.
The 80cms class was run as a Hunter Trial for children 13yrs and under. This was won by the Woodbridge School Junior Team of Ada Marson (4th individually) riding Rolly Rascal, Neve Walker (9th individually) riding Heritage Zena and Fleur Ludgrove (10th individually) riding Aston My Time of Warleigh. This was a very fine performance as all three riders were making their Cross Country debuts on new mounts.
The 90cms was very well supported with eleven school teams competing with 41 individuals. Woodbridge’s team of Tabitha Wilson-Smith riding Ruby Queen of Diamonds, Lydia Sida-Page riding Corrin Hill Clover (6th individually)) & Georgie Warren riding Autumn Gold (7th individually) took seventh place overall.
The 1m class saw a brilliant double for Woodbridge’s Lye sisters; Zara Lye won her section riding Jana de Cavaignac & Tessa Lye won her section riding Dawns Glen. Bella Regis riding Forever Unique secured a fine second place in her section, to round things off in excellent style, helping the team to a convincing win overall.
Woodbridge School organised the 20th NSEA Inter Schools Annual ODE at Poplar Park on Sunday 20th March over the Poplar Park BE XC courses for 80cm, 90cm & 1m classes. As ever, the day was a great success, and our sincere thanks go to Ms Theobald and her brilliant team of helpers.
The 80cms class was run as a Hunter Trial for children 13yrs and under. This was won by the Woodbridge School Junior Team of Ada Marson (4th individually) riding Rolly Rascal, Neve Walker (9th individually) riding Heritage Zena and Fleur Ludgrove (10th individually) riding Aston My Time of Warleigh. This was a very fine performance as all three riders were making their Cross Country debuts on new mounts.
The 90cms was very well supported with eleven school teams competing with 41 individuals. Woodbridge’s team of Tabitha Wilson-Smith riding Ruby Queen of Diamonds, Lydia Sida-Page riding Corrin Hill Clover (6th individually)) & Georgie Warren riding Autumn Gold (7th individually) took seventh place overall.
The 1m class saw a brilliant double for Woodbridge’s Lye sisters; Zara Lye won her section riding Jana de Cavaignac & Tessa Lye won her section riding Dawns Glen. Bella Regis riding Forever Unique secured a fine second place in her section, to round things off in excellent style, helping the team to a convincing win overall.
The Junior 1s lacked their usual goal scoring form at the Orwell Park tournament. This turned out to be the difference on the day, when the team played well as a unit and did some great things… apart from score enough goals despite having the chances.
The team started slowly, after a late change in the tournament schedule meant they had to play in the first round of matches rather than the second. Despite this we played some good hockey against Brandeston Hall. Getting stuck in channels was to be the downfall of Woodbridge in the game as turnovers led to two goals against the run of play. Alfie Franklin made some double saves in goal, but we failed to clear off his pads, allowing Brandeston to capitalise. Woodbridge lost 0-2.
Next up we took on the formidable Orwell Park. Having lost to them last week, the boys had a point to prove. Showing much more determination than before, we closed Orwell Park down to limit their attacking options. We were denied a few times by good goalkeeping and the teams had to settle for a very exciting 0-0 draw.
Next was a strong Culford team. Woodbridge had the better of the most of the match but again was frustrated by Culford’s defenders and goalkeeping. The best chance of the match came when Hugo Thomas cleverly flicked the ball over the goalkeeper as he went to ground, only to be denied by a defender steering it away. We could not convert the resulting penalty corner. Again a very exciting 0-0 draw.
Woodbridge then faced Barnadiston, the winner destined to claim the Plate. Half way through the short match Barnadiston scored the best mini-hockey goal ever, and you can only applaud such talent. A 30 plus yard diagonal aerial, collected on the bounce, and smashed into the sidenet on the far post. Well played boys. Woodbridge came back strongly, now shocked into action, and Hugo Thomas scored a spectacular goal of his own. However we relaxed for a minute and conceded an uncontested goal soon after. In the hunt to draw level again Barnadiston, used the space left behind, to score a third to seal a deserved win.
The Woodbridge boys did themselves proud with some good hockey, as well as representing the school impeccably off the pitch too. Our thanks to all the parents who came to support again on a cold afternoon.
Reports by Tobias Juszt
On a cold afternoon, the Woodbridge J2s competed at Old Buckenham Hall (OBH) in the U13 Hockey Tournament. There were five teams in total, with each match consisting of 15 minutes.
GAME 1:
Playing against Newhall, we got in to the game right from the start, with good communication and passing by our players. Our defensive line was solid, and Tom Turner and Seb Gifford worked the ball well, feeding the play out wide, to our wingers. The first goal came from a break up the wing which then saw Tobias Juszt tuck the ball away at the near post. Not long after, we scored a second goal, with Prem Pohl securing it with a similar finish to the first goal.
Game 2:
Up against OBH, a good side which liked to dominate the centre, we fell behind, trailing 1-0, after losing track of a speculative long ball they sent up the pitch. After that goal, we created far more chances than them, and after some good dribbling by Mauricio Corfe and scrappy defending by OBH, we levelled the score. After chances created and heroic defending at the back, the match finished all square at 1-1, to finish top of our group.
Game 3:
This was the decider, the final against Brandeston Hall; a game we wanted to win! Again, we started well, creating some excellent opportunities to open the scoring. Our opponents defended superbly and managed to keep out some great shots by Mauricio Corfe. They in turn came back at us and if it wasn’t for some great saves by Giles Kelleway, we’d have been down at least one goal by full time. As it was, it went to extra time. We kept knocking at their door with more chances but in the last 30 seconds of extra time, they snatched a late winner. We tried to find an equaliser but Brandeston defended well and took home the gold medal.
The weather did not affect the level of netball played as the U16 A team strode to victory against the St Joseph’s sixth form team. Excellent defending from Nancy King, who proved to be a wall against the St Joseph’s attack, and also Mia King for stepping up and considerably adding the team’s defence, proved crucial. Georgina Warren, Lucy Frank and Emma Harrington once again dominated the centre court, eliminating the St Joseph’s defence. Team work, precision of movement and ball placement, along with the superb shooting of Millie Leith and Chloe Neall, led Woodbridge to come away with a comfortable win of 19-10.
Despite an afternoon of tiring exams, the U16 A team were not fazed by the strong Kesgrave side. Nancy King and Jemima Potter united to form a solid defence whilst intercepting nearly every pass and turning over the play on a number of occasions. Lucy Frank and Emma Harrington also were a vital part of both the defensive work and in the centre, bringing the ball smoothly down the court. Millie Leith and Chloe Neall secured our win with excellent shooting in a nail-biting finish. Overall there was a high work rate, despite some over-ambitious throws, and we came away with a thoroughly deserved win.
The U15A netball team finished their season with an exciting tournament held at Woodbridge. Early games saw the girls win 22-2 against East Bergholt, 7-1 Ipswich School, 13-9 RHS and one loss against Ipswich High 7-11. With Ipswich High losing a game against RHS it meant that Woodbridge in their last game needed to score 22 goals to win the tournament. Despite 11 scored in the first 6 minute half they only scored another five in the second half. So they finished as runners up with a goal average of 13 while Ipswich High had an average of 14. All nine squad members played really well and have increased their goals scored this season to 221! Shooters Maddie Felton, Katy Garnett and Jemima Hill have been brilliant. Captain Chloe Outen has been continually outstanding, with defensive players Eleanor Berridge, Louise Farthing, Mia King and Mollie Biddle always working hard to break down the play of the opposition. Georgia Harrold and Flora Johnson have helped to feed the ball into the circle. A good team effort from a super set of girls – well done!
Reports by Katherine Bye
The U14A had a tense match against St Joseph’s College. At the start of the first quarter we picked up the pace and scored 6 goals in quick succession, putting us into the lead. However, St Joseph’s started fighting back and we finished the first quarter 7-4 to us. During the second quarter St Joseph’s scored 8 goals and Woodbridge scored 5. We held our nerve and great delaying down the court prevented them from going ahead and we held them level at 12-12. Holding our heads up high we went into the third quarter determined to take a strong lead. Great movement in the centre and goal third meant the ball travelled quickly down the court allowing us to increase our score, while good defensive interceptions prevented St Joseph’s from scoring many goals. At the end of the third quarter the score was 19-14. In the final quarter, we were determined to finish off the last league match of the season with a strong win. We worked well together as a team and with great play by all, we ended the tough match 28-20 to us.
Woodbridge School had a record five pupils, all from Year 9, represent Suffolk at England Schools National Cross Country Championship on Saturday 5 March in Nottingham. 44 counties each sent their best 8 athletes, so over 350 of the fastest children in England were competing in each race. The races are so competitive that there are often a half-dozen athletes crossing the line in a single second. The setting was perfect: cold but sunny conditions on an undulating but not too muddy course.
Suffolk finished 16th in the Junior Boys and 20th in the Junior Girls. Nathan Goddard finished an amazing 25th with George Rufford 260th in the Junior Boys, while Sarah Barker finished 88th, Amy Graham 192nd and Millie Buckingham 297th in the Junior Girls.
There are just two cross country fixtures left for this winter, the Inter Counties in Birmingham on Saturday 12 March and the East Anglian Prep Schools Cross Country Championships which Woodbridge School is hosting on Sunday 20 March. Please come and support your school as defending champions at this final event!
Nathan Goddard reports:
On Saturday, 5 February, eleven pupils from Woodbridge School made their way to Boston Lincolnshire, where in wet and windy conditions, they would compete in the East Anglian Cross Country Championships.
The first race of the day was the Minor Girls. Bea Thomas finished eighteenth, Isabelle Eaton twenty-fourth and Amy Goddard forty-fourth helping Suffolk to a team victory.
The following race was the Minor Boys where Kit Evans Lombe finished joint third, the School’s best result of the day, Henry Dinwiddy finished seventh, Charlie Turner twenty-third and Will Franklin twenty-sixth aiding Suffolk to another first place.
Junior Girls came after that race with Sarah Barker finishing in tenth place, Millie Buckingham thirty-second and Amy Graham thirty-fourth.
The final race with Woodbridge School interest was the Junior Boys. In this race Nathan Goddard finished fifth and George Rufford nineteenth. In both the Junior Boys and Girls, Suffolk achieved second place in the team competition. Through all the different races Suffolk managed a narrow team victory.
On Saturday, 5 March, Nathan Goddard, George Rufford, Sarah Barker, Milly Buckingham and Amy Graham have all been selected to compete for Suffolk at Nottingham in the ESAA Cross Country Championships.
