Category: Sport
1st beat Wymondham by 3 wickets in a T20.
Woodbridge won the toss and put Wymondham in to bat on a very damp pitch. The first 8 overs went extremely well, with the opening pair of Matt Sutton and Ollie Whiting bowling tightly. In the last 8 overs one of the opposition swung the bat, scoring a quick 49, which elevated their score to 90 for 6 at the end of 20 overs – a competitive total given the conditions.
Woodbridge in attempting the run chase slowly lost wickets along the way. Fortunately Callum Askins found form with the bat, scoring 55 not out, including 5 sixes, the last of which was the winning runs in the final over. Callum batted with intelligence and determination, hitting out when necessary and carefully watching and playing the variable bounce on the good balls. All in all an excellent way to start the season.
Huge crowds; hundreds of expectant children from across East Anglia; so many schools represented. Woodbridge School’s second hosting of this major regional event on the sporting calendar was if anything even more brilliantly slick than last year’s triumph. Mr Lubbock, Mr Goddard, Miss Sanders, Mrs Richardson and their wonderful team of staff, parent and pupil volunteers spirited up a glorious day of endeavour and achievement, making light of the relatively grey skies, and the attempt at drizzle –nothing was going to dampen proceedings!
Each race went off at blistering pace, the thunder of the feet rolling down the initial slopes into the valley. And then the woodland hill… but even here the attack of the athletes was great to behold. No quarter given to mere gradient. One lap, two laps, Tollers or not depending on age or gender… everyone had a course perfectly matched to their experience and strength, and the challenges posed gave the fastest just the right amount of time to demonstrate their skill. Medallists were almost invariably medallists by a good few metres and not by heartbreaking widths-of-singlets; and teams won their honours thanks to consistently outstanding performance and not through the agony of others’ distress.
After over two hours of racing, one event seamlessly proceeding to the next, it was time to regroup in the Dome for delicious cakes, sandwiches and hot drinks (very welcome indeed!). Mr Brett welcomed and thanked, Mr Lubbock and Miss Sanders praised and distributed: and it was a great day for Woodbridge School: overall team champions! Overall boys’ champions! Overall girls’ champions! Under 11 boys’ champions! Under 12 boys’ champions! Second in under 12 girls, under 13 girls and under 10 boys! Ruby Vinton won U10 girls’, Henry Dinwiddy won U11 boys’, Kit Evans-Lombe won silver in U12 boys’, and Will Frankin (U12B), Edward Rufford (U11B) and Bea Thomas (U12G) all won bronzes. Brilliant stuff. Many congratulations to all the athletes, wherever you placed – everyone counted in the team event – and what a team we were!
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.