Glorious Hockey for Woodbridge this Week 

It’s been quite a week of Hockey, with our Senior 1^st, Junior, U14A, U15A, U15B team in full action!  With almost 100 girls representing the School in competitive features, you can read more about our teams, players and their matches in the reports below. 

Senior 1^st team through to Regional Finals at County Cup 

The Senior 1^st team were outstanding at the County Cup on Tuesday, securing their place at the Regional Finals with two wins and a draw.  Every goal and every save counted in the end, as the final place was decided on goal difference, Woodbridge just one goal ahead of rival RHS.  

The first match of the day was against RHS, and they definitely came out the blocks quicker.  Woodbridge was under pressure and camped in their defensive area most of the first half, but Year 12 GK, Freya was to deny every shot RHS took.  

In the second half Woodbridge had more play higher up the pitch but it was still RHS that dominated, until the closing minutes when Woodbridge looked like a completely different team.  Year 12’s Bea made a couple of chances and this time it was RHS who had their goalie to thank to maintain the draw.  

Woodbridge stormed ahead against Finborough with three goals in the first half, courtesy of Year 12’s Charlie and Bea, and Year 13’s Nancy.   

The start of the second half provided one of the day’s highlights when the team executed the perfect push back set piece, to release Year 11’s Amelie down the right flank; Amelie played the ball into to Bea, who made no mistake 23 seconds into the second half.  Two more goals from Year 11’s Izzy’s made for a resounding win.  

Woodbridge continued their good patterns and decision making against Ipswich High School.  Bea and Year 11’s Eve scored from penalty corners, before Bea scored a second field goal.   

The second half saw Woodbridge pushing for more, now hungry to win the County Cup.  Charlie got out fourth to set up an intense final match.  With three goals better goal difference, Woodbridge had a small cushion, but will it be enough against Culford with their England superstar? 

Woodbridge stunned the onlookers two minutes into the match when the perfect transfer by Year 12’s Lyrah and Millie fed the ball to Amelie on the left shoulder of the D.  Amelie casually got herself in and placed the perfect past the GK’s outstretched left foot.  1-0 Woodbridge.   

Our defensive plan was working well and Lara, Charlie and Year 13’s Georgia had to be alert and run their socks off.  Freya was again on fire as was Year 11’s Georgia in deep defence.  Culford got two in the first half, and one more in the second, many more being denied by guts and determination from every single played in the pitch and the side. As the final second counted down, the team knew they had done enough – second place in the County and off to Regionals! 

Player of the Day was Lara! 

Woodbridge Junior Teams vs IHS 

On Wednesday four of our Junior teams (Year 7 and Year 8 players) played against Ipswich High School, for many their first game for Woodbridge School – and it was a clean sheet of wins! 

The Junior ones started well but struggled to convert, and perhaps not fully using the width of the pitch.  Year 8’s Martha’s clever push into the corner meant Woodbridge went into half time with a well-deserved lead.   

Things flowed much better in the second half and the team played with real energy, purpose and knowledge.  Three more goals followed – another field goal from Martha, a superb penalty corner strike from Year 7’s Sofia and then the highlight of the game – a perfect corner set piece to the right, started by injector Year 8’s Chloe and slotted into the goal by her from the P-spot as the ball came back across.   

Chloe was duly voted Player of the Match.   

The Junior 2s and Junior 4s both won their games.  Goals from Year 8’s Grace and Year 7’s Coco made the difference.   Year 8’s Ava was voted Player of the Match.  Year 8’s Ellie’s goal was the one that gave the Junior 4 team their win.  

Mr Flat enjoyed his first match with the Junior 3s team, as did the players.  Woodbridge took the victory in an entertaining game, with one goal in each half, both of the stick of Year 8’s Isabella L.  Year 8’s Elodie was awarded Player of the Match.  

U14A Team at County Cup 

The u14A team (Year 9 players) took part in their own County Cup on Thursday.  Special mention to Year 8’s Martha and Matilda and Year 7’s Issy P and Sofia for their selection into this team.  

Woodbridge started really well against Finborough, dominated but just not converting, thanks to some great goalkeeping.  Finally Issy scored a really good reverse finish from the 9-yard area to give us the win.   

It was a similar story of dominance and much better structural play against RHS, but the goal(s) just didn’t come, despite a few balls flying past the face of goal.  Very frustratingly, RHS had a solo breakaway a couple minutes from the end which ended in a cracking goal.  A bit of a blow!  

A short rest and the team was ready to take on Ipswich High School, which they knew would be a battle and a half!  Woodbridge defended like trojans and goalkeeper, Year 9’s Clem saved everything that came her way – high, low, wide, close, far, fast, slow.  It was incredible.  

A 0-0 draw that felt like a big win, considering the loss to Ipswich High School last week.  

The last match came, and Culford was a bit too strong in the first half; but we started to see forward rotations and midfield wide play which bodes well for the rest of the season.  Clem was again outstanding; consistently very good, and so undoubtedly Clem was the Player of the Day! 

The U15A and B teams (Year 10 payers) played against Ipswich School and Holmwood House respectively.  The A team faced a tough afternoon being a bit off the pace in the first half but coming back strongly in the second half which saw a goal from each team, ours score yet again by Eirran.  Tabby was the Player of the Match.   

The B team out played their less experienced opponents in a very well spirited and welcomed match, which we hope we can do again, to bring Holmwood House into the hockey family.  Sophia P is our first hat-trick hero of the season.  Goals were also scored by Layla-Jane, Ella E, Abigail C and Isabella G. 

Well done to the near 100 girls that represented the School in competitive fixtures this week!