Hockey Highlights for our 1st XI, 3rd XI and Junior 1, 2, 5 and 6 Teams
Another week of fantastic Hockey! Our match reports below hold details of teams, matches and players.
Woodbridge 1st XI vs IHS
The 1st XI continued their good run of form with a convincing win against Ipswich High School. The team was determined not to let the home ground advantage count by making sure their ball pace was good and they kept the ball moving fast through the midfield. The focus for the game was to get the press exactly right and improve ball winning skills. This the team did brilliantly, and Ipswich High struggled to break through the zonal press. Woodbridge went ahead courtesy of a goal by Year 12’s Charlie after relentless pressure in the opening ten minutes. In the closing minutes of the first half a burst of speed on the ball by Charlie left the opposition stranded followed by a good ball into the D to Year 12’s Bea, who showed real strength on the ball to get a flick away and double the lead.
Woodbridge scored at regular intervals in the second half, being rewarded for their good defensive work and then focus to try maintain the ball by moving it around comfortably, also practising deep and midfield transfers. Year 11’s Rosa was influential up the right flank, being available to continue an attack time after time and feeding the forwards. Year 13’s Nancy worked tirelessly in the press and was duly rewarded with a brace of goals, one finishing off the best counterattack which started in front of our own goal. Year 11’s Eve and Year 13’s Georgia scored a goal each, before Bea and Charlie each got a second. Rosa was voted as Team Player of the Match.
A great match to play and win, before a small break in matches, as a number of players in the team embark on the County Netball Tournament.
Woodbridge 3rd XI vs Fram College
The 3rd XI played their first match of the season, against a big squad of Fram College. With the advantage of bringing on lots of fresh legs, Fram just pipped us by one goal but it was a good, tough match, in front of a rowdy Fram College crowd. Well done to our girls for their resilience in tough conditions. Year 11’s Felicity and Romilly were our goal scorers on the day.
Midweek it was our Junior teams taking to the pitch for matches against Fram College and Ipswich High School.
Woodbridge Junior 1st vs Fram U13A
The Junior 1st team started in style in their match against Fram U13A, stunning the home side in the opening minute. The perfect press, and pressure from vice-captain Martha (Year 8) saw her win the ball off a doubtful defender, get herself into the D and calmly push the ball past the goalie. A great start!
Woodbridge continued to dominate the first half but just could not get the finishing touch in the attacking D. At the other end Year 8 GK Najma and defenders, Year 8’s Juno and Year 7’s Lily dealt with long ball counterattack Hockey. But the hard work had to be done to keep Fram at bay and not let them build confidence. Finally, Year 7’s Sophia played a classy reverse sweep into the goal, on the rebound, to give Woodbridge a cushion going into half time. The team knew they would need to kill the game by getting another goal, or Fram would keep believing they can get back into the game.
A stronger, faster, and slicker Fram team came out in the second half, but Woodbridge kept putting on the physical and mental effort to not concede! Year 8’s Matilda and Chloe and Year 7’s Issy and Darcey ran their socks off in midfield to not give an inch! When Fram did break through the trusty trio at the back did their job again! Year 8’s Juno was awarded Player of the Match for her great game tackling, intercepting and finding the gaps with passes to her midfield and forwards. Well done to the team who are playing some very nice hockey and are very entertaining to watch!
Woodbridge Junior 2 vs Fram College U13B
The Junior 2s had an equally great start in their match against Fram College’s U13Bs. Year 8 Captain, Grace, scored in the opening minutes and nearly had a second soon after. This time she was denied but it did not stop Grace from becoming the day’s ‘Hattrick Hero’, scoring twice more in the half.
In the second half, Woodridge peppered the opposition goal, but were denied by good goalkeeping, or good aiming by us to hit the GK. Year 7’s Coco put an end to this with a fantastic deflection in front of the goalie’s pads, to seal the big win for the Junior 2s. Year 7’s Chloe Y was voted Player of the Match.
Woodbridge Junior 5 vs IHS
The Junior 5s started their season with a win against Ipswich High School. A goal in each half by Year 7’s Sophie M and Year 8’s Ellie D secured the win, while Year 8’s GK Kitty stepped in well to keep the clean sheet. Well done to this team and especially players who played their first match for the School.
Woodbridge Junior 6 vs IHS
The Junior 6s came close but had to settle for a draw in their opening match. Each team deserved their goal and to share the honours, Year 7’s Lola D scoring for Woodbridge. Year 8’s Iyla was player of the match.
Both these team look forward to testing themselves against strong team of Norwich School next week.
Smiles, scoring, spirit, saves, support for each other and 100% effort have been seen again this week it’s clearly helping our teams deliver their best. Keep it up, girls. Well done so far.
