Easter Term 2023 - Week 2 Sports Report

Hockey v Taunton

Last week saw the first block fixture of the term, against Taunton.

Always a tough opener, the 1st XI approached the game in a positive manner, following a useful and very enjoyable preseason tour to the Reyes Festival at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona. We started brilliantly, pressing high and denying our opponents space and time. Ozzie Berridge stole the ball in midfield and carried towards the D, before his pass was deflected into the path of Captain Monty Hooker, whose first time effort fizzed past the keeper. A 1-0 lead inside the first 3 minutes was ideal. We continued to create good chances for the next 15 minutes but didn’t win enough quality outcomes in the D. Dill Howell then got a ball in the face and we had to restructure our defence, which produced a wobble for us in our shape. Taunton equalised after a good Tom Barrett save and the half ended 1-1. We started the second period effectively, but then tried to play direct and lost the quality of our possession and touch in the third quarter, with Taunton taking the lead on an overload with a unmarked played converting at the far post. The final 10 saw us find our groove again, with two efforts cleared off the line and a real desire to find an equaliser. Alas, despite an outrageous solo effort from Hooker in the dying seconds which went agonisingly wide, we were left to reflect on what might have been in a 2-1 defeat, which sees 3 valuable league points slip away. Still, much to still be positive about, with Fin Craigen causing havoc with his silky skills on the left and Rohan Samra strong in defence. We go again next week. (MDC)

The 2nd XI came out on Saturday afternoon; with only one practice under our belts after a long break, we were feeling quite undercooked. Taunton would be a good side with very good players, nonetheless, we were excited to get our season underway. Both teams started very slowly, with scrappy hockey the best term to describe the first 25 minutes. Taunton had majority of the ball, but our defence stayed strong and our Captain and goalkeeper, Lucas Francis denied any opportunity they tried to take. We ended the half at 0-0, feeling very much in the game having missed a few good chances in the first half. A quick pep talk and a little rant about basics, and we were off again. A quick counter from another Lucas Francis save allowed Olly Peters to carry the ball and make a great cross field pass to Freddie Warrack. Freddie looked up and made an unbelievable diagonal slap pass, from right side of the field to back post, where James Harvey was waiting, before calmly first timing the ball into the back of the net giving us the lead. Taunton threw everything they had at us, but we stayed strong and held on for the 1-0 win. Good way to start the season. Man of the match - Lucas Francis, and noticeable performances from Freddie Warrack and Olly Peters. (AGF/RHJH)

Despite coming up against a very skilled Taunton side, who played controlled and effective hockey from the start, the Canford 3rd XI struck first with two extremely well taken goals in the first half. While Taunton controlled the middle of the pitch we looked strong when pressing forward and caused a number of problems in the opposing D. It was a match in which any number of goals might have been scored but excellent goalkeeping at both ends kept it close. In the second half the more structured attack of our opponents caused a number of issues alongside a well taken short corner and saw them pulling back by converting three times in the second half. It was a good first performance with a huge amount of energy and commitment by the Canford side, despite the 3-2 loss. Well done. (RMBS)

The 4th XI had somewhat of a mismatch with the Taunton 4ths, who needed reinforcements from several of their 3rd XI to make up their numbers. The fact that Taunton had returned to school a week before us showed, with more cohesion in their team and simply more minutes on the field training. We put up a valiant effort, but in the end were outclassed in a 5-0 defeat. Still with the opportunity to get more practise under our belts this week and next we can look forward to Clayesmore for our next outing. (CHJ/LTM)

The U15As headed off to Taunton on a wet, windy day with not a whole lot of practice under their belt since the start of the new term. As Bertie Cutler pushed back, there was a sense of anticipation in the air from boys for the first game of the season. If there were any pre-game nerves the boys did not show it. Straight off the bat Canford dominated possession with our ‘W’ press formation working well. It didn’t take long for it to pay off with our first goal coming through a lovely pull back from the baseline by James Law which was finished off with a placed flick into the corner by Massimo Brown. The domination continued and within five minutes of the first goal a quickly taken long corner by Seb Rowland finished in another well taken goal by the ever present Massimo Brown. Possession continued throughout the second half with Seb Rowland’s aerials bamboozling the Taunton defence. As the end of the half loomed, the possession game finally paid off with a beautiful reverse hit on the left of the D by Gabriel Davey. As the half time whistle blew, the sun was just starting to peak through the dark grey clouds over the Taunton astro and the boys left the pitch in good spirits followed by a banging team talk from Mr Douglas. Heading out with a 3-0 lead the boys were keen to stretch their advantage to a point where Taunton couldn’t come back. The first ten minutes of the second half were hard fought by both sides with good wide runs from Massimo Brown and Ralph Boldt feeding the wingers with chances whilst Seb Rowland, Gabriel Davey and Rhodri Whitehead intercepted well and stopped Taunton getting into our 23. With the threat of the game getting physical, Raffi Organ made a quick break down the right wing, fizzed it to Toby Lemans at the top of the D who passed behind his back to James Law at the back post and nutmegged the keeper to make it 4-0 to Canford with 15 minutes or so left. Filled with a fresh burst of adrenaline, the Canford boys seemed reinvigorated and within five minutes of our 4th goal, Gabriel Davey grabbed his 2nd goal of the game with a brilliant interception on the edge of the D followed by a hard hit into the top corner of the net. During the final ten minutes, we continued to relentlessly attack, before the final whistle blew, with a 5-0 Canford win secured. The boys left the pitch in good spirits and they lifted even higher by an unbelievable match tea of pizza, sausage and chips prepared by the lovely Taunton catering staff. In all, it was a very good start to the season which hopefully will continue on this good path. All the boys played well on the day, but man of the match was Gabriel Davey for his two goals and utter domination of the midfield. On to Seaford next week! (written by Ben Jack)

The 15Bs also got their season off to a flyer with a well-constructed 3-1 victory away at Taunton. The squad of 13 all contributed in a pleasing team effort, especially given the lack of time we have been on the field so far. The team showed control and fluidity going forwards and resilience defensively and can look to build on this next week at home to Seaford. (JEA)

This was a baptism of fire for the 14As, against a team who had been back a week longer than us and 9 of the squad had come through the Taunton prep school together. Their organisation in all phases of the game was far superior and this exposed us. Having said that there is huge potential in this team. Individually we have athleticism, skill and plenty of determination. At no stage in the game did our heads go down, and although we were disappointed to lose 7-1, we fought for the whole 50 minutes. Over the coming weeks we will work on our understanding of positional play and we will learn that the ball does not always have to be passed forward. Making that easy pass to the free player and building attacking possession will be the mantra. (NRB)

Although the 14B team lost 8-0, there is plenty to be positive about, despite such a heavy defeat. The team played so well and with such commitment. Having had only 1 training session it was always going to be a tricky task but the boys never gave up and gave it their all. Honourable mention to Luke Puzas who put up a decent defence in his first match as GK, Matt Wood for a solid defence in his first match for 4 years and Tom Hakes for a sterling performance in his first match ever! Player of the match goes to George Chetwood for being a rock in defence and never flinching! (VOG/HD)

This week sees the U16s in Tier 1 Cup action v Clayesmore and a block v Seaford College on Saturday.

Running / X-Country at Downside

This week runners were thrown into the thick of it with back to back race fixtures Thursday-Saturday. Unfortunately in the end the race on Thursday was cancelled due to poor weather but Saturday the squad travelled to Downside School for a race meet. Canford’s squad was the largest participating in the event and we had runners in both boys and girls from Fourth Form to Upper Sixth. Welcome returnees to running for the Easter term, Santi and Jemima, both had very good races considering that they only had one training session under their belts. Particular mention must go to Bella, Kunwho, Leo and Sam, all who made their running debut representing Canford. In the Senior Girls race, Abi was able to keep in the front group until the last lap but Ellie was superb in the final lap – doubling if not tripling the gap to those behind in the closing stages. In the Inter Boys race, Canford took 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th, with Tom coming home first with a good 30 second lead over Santi. All in all a great outing for those involved and well worth the trip to Somerset.

Netball v Bryanston

1st team

The team were eager to get out and blow away the cobwebs. We were faced with a strong Bryanston team who were very impressive under the post. However, this did not faze the team. We managed to make some impressive turnovers and started to put into our play what we have been practicing. Our attacking end took some time to settle. Once we did the opposition were not able to stop us. Lauren Corn, Dom Hudson, Esther Browning and Honoré Cutler were brilliant in defence. Turning over from fly’s, set plays and man to man. Set plays worked effectively and very exciting to see where this team can go.

We turn our attention to Wellington this weekend and then Regionals just on the horizon.

Joint player of the matches Georgie Boon and Honoré Cutler.

2nd team

The 2nds’ match against Bryanston was the first match the team has played together after being banded together this week. However, from the offset they showed excellent support for each other and real team spirit in their desire to win against Bryanston 2’s. There was some excellent mid-court play from interceptions to some excellent ball handling! The defence worked hard to prevent Bryanston shooters from scoring and did this with great success. The attacking end shot some magnificent goals and worked well with the mid-court to get the ball into the shooting end. This was an excellent match from beginning to end, ending with a victorious win of 32-27 to Canford. Player of the match goes to Bella Rose but a huge commendation to the rest of the team for all their excellent contributions!

3rd team

In the first quarter we didn’t look too confident as it was our first time playing together and we found it difficult to work the ball into our D. We went into the second quarter in need of goals. As the game went on, we worked together to slow the pace down and some excellent interceptions from Charlie Howell meant we went into the 2nd half drawing 7 all. We maintained pressure defensively and worked well together around our D managing to maintain a draw throughout the rest of the game as our teams were very evenly matched. Ending on 14-14. It was a promising first game with player of the match going to Lulu Thompson.

4th team

The match started well with a strong first quarter from both teams, with Canford taking the lead. The second quarter was more challenging however there was lots of strong passing between the mid-court. Some great interceptions from Allegra and Lara maintained the lead throughout the match with the attacking players shooting well. The final quarter was well fought ending with a Canford victory of 22-11 and player of the match being awarded to Erin Phillips.

5th team

The girls played a wonderful match, which we won 37-4 against Bryanston. The team dynamic was excellent, and the girls communicated well with each other. Our excellent shooters were Elodie, Bee, Lara C and Chloe, who all scored several goals and were extremely good at communication in the D. The defence was also very strong, with Ntemi, Hattie, Sophie and Liv, who all applied good pressure to the opposition and made some super interceptions. Our mid court were Jorgia, Lara E and Evie who were especially good at communicating with the rest of the team and helped to keep the morale high. Lara C got player of the match, which was well deserved and shown through her team spirit and enthusiasm through-out the match. (Written by Olivia Joll)

U15A

We started off strong with some good turnovers from the majority and with a 13-goal lead in the first quarter. We maintained a consistent level of play throughout with players of the match being Poppy White for attack and Delilah Reese for defence. Final score 37-14 to Canford (Written by Georgia Kenny and Jess Taylor)

U15B

After the first half the score was 11-9 to Canford with goals from Rose Sanderson and Poppy Machray. Great teamwork in mid court from Ella G and Tilly B, with some defending from Emily Kiff and Gigi G. In the second half Tess B and Hanna E did some great interceptions and defending. Pe. Y D, Emily V and Ella M worked hard up and down the court. Players of the match were Rose S and Ellie A (Written by Tess Byng and Rose Sanderson)

U15C

Our first match of 2023 took us away to Bryanston. Luckily the weather held off and it gave us a good opportunity to try out different combinations of positions. Bryanston were dominant throughout, but in our final quarter it looked like we have found a lethal combination in Kekoa and Martha, giving some promising shooting and D-work performances. The final score was 33-10 to Bryanston, with Martha and Zion being voted as opposition’s players.

U14A

Kicking off with a 37 to 22 win over Bryanston, what a great start to the netball season.

The game began quickly, as we matched the opposition's play and had a very even first quarter before the defence turned over a Bryanston centre pass, allowing us to pull ahead. The second quarter was one of our strongest. We were able to iron out our imperfections and held possession of the ball for majority of the twelve minutes. Esme Kinch and Oriana Bowater turned defence ball into attack and worked the ball effectively through the centre court. Through marking players and forcing faults, we were able to flip the play and win over plenty of centre passes, with a score of 24-16 at half time. Once back on court the energy had decreased, everyone had worked so hard and were beginning to tire. However, this was the defences' time to shine, with some wonderful interceptions from Poppy Young, Elsa Kenny and Phoebe Lewis. Upon this, the team calmed down and eliminated the frantic element of our play, bringing the ball back to the attacking end. The game finished on a high, with excellent attacking work from our centre court players, Bella Jenkins, Aoife Tarpey, and Willa Knatchbull, using the pockets to feed balls in around the D to Julide Kose and Chloe Pletzer. Elsa Kenny (GK/GD) and Julide Kose (GA) were the well-deserved players of the match, for their excellent work in attack and defence, voted by Bryanston team. The Players’ Player vote this week goes to Willa Knatchbull. A super game and I cannot wait to see how we develop as a team. Well played everyone. (Written by Captain Chloe Pletzer)

U14B

With lots of excitement we headed off to Bryanston. A smart, committed team stepped on to the court and under Caitlin’s supervision during the warm up and Elsa’s guidance in the ball skills section were ready to start the way they meant to go on. The first quarter was probably our best. With Elsa stopping much getting through and excellent shooting from Lily and Caitlin. The conditions were not ideal and both sides struggled with the wind. Jemima and Matilda battled hard in our defensive circle and were tenacious in making the ball theirs, despite the opposition having a height advantage. We often made the job more difficult than in needed to be in getting the ball down the court but competed every minute of the game. A great first match. Looking forward to a very exciting season!

Captain: Caitlin Wilmot, Player’s Player: Caitlin Wilmot, Coach’s player: Jemima Cullinan

Score 13-8

U14C

This week's netball match was tough, but everyone played very well. This was our first match ever playing as a team and we had some true beginner players who had to learn while playing - but did it willingly with a smile on their faces. By the third quarter most had found their positions and were becoming a lot more confident both as a team and individually. Possession was improving by the end and the team worked together after they had some great interceptions. It's a solid foundation to build on for the rest of the season. The team were captained and encouraged by Willa Benady, who also received player of the match from the opposition. L 6-24 (written by Willa Benady)

Rugby 7s

Training resumed this week with the rugby boys switching their focus to 7’s preparation. In the two sessions we have had so far, the boys have done an excellent job blowing away the Christmas holiday. Weather pending, we have a XV’s run out on Thursday vs a Sherborne XV which will give us a good chance to reintroduce some contact. Frederick Bowater has turned up to training looking fit and is leading the charge for the Lower Sixth boys. Max Firth and Thomas Kiff are not too far behind, Jasper Bowley is looking sharp in the Fifth Form.

Swimming

Some great results this past weekend from the Dorset County Swimming Championships. U6 pupil Robbie Hemmings continued to show why he is in the GB performance programme winning 5 golds in his races in the over 17 years age group during the weekend.

Freya Coupe (4th Year) and Ruby Hindell (Shells) also showed why they are higher ranked in the Swim England standings. Freya finished with three silvers and a bronze in the U15 year group and Ruby took home a gold and a bronze in the U14 events.

Well done all and we look forward to seeing further results as the championships continue over the next few weeks.

Centenary matches

This forthcoming weekend sees a number of our pupils engaged in friendly competition with Stowe school who are also celebrating their centenary in 2023. Our lacrosse and football teams are making the journey up to the magnificent school surroundings in Buckinghamshire this weekend, following fixtures between the schools in hockey, golf and squash last term. We will see more of these fixtures in the summer term also including hopefully a special event during Henley Royal Regatta.

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