Easter Term 2023 - Week 6 Sports Report

Rugby – U15s National Cup Quarter-Final v KCS Wimbledon

The Canford U15s travelled to Wimbledon on the Thursday prior to half term for what promised to be a stern test against an unbeaten KCS side.

Unfortunately for the boys they came up against an outstanding outfit. KCS’s fundamental skills and ability to play at the line caused our defence many issues while their line speed halted our attack. It was certainly a tough start and the first half saw Canford struggle to get a foothold in the game. 31-0 down at half time left a mountain to climb but some good messages from Mr Bibby gave the necessary clarity to alleviate the obvious frustration. The second half showed a large improvement and the boys showed huge resilience and kept battling to the end. They got their reward with Freddie Jackson crashing over the line from short distance and were unfortunate to lose the second period two tries to one. The boys should be immensely proud of their efforts having got as far as any Canford side ever has done in the U15 National Cup. There will be a lot to learn from this performance, it will only make them stronger and provides a lot of excitement for their future years playing rugby at the school.

Hockey v Sherborne and Clifton College

In the week preceding half term, there were a couple of away matches for our U16s and 1st XI.

On Tuesday 6th Feb, the U16s travelled to Sherborne to contest their National EH Tier 1 Cup R3 match. A newer look team this time around as a few players were away due to the rugby National Cup QF.

U16s

The new players took their opportunity and didn't disappoint. We fell behind early, but within minutes were 2-1 up, with goals from Freddie Warrack and Jack Flegg. All of a sudden, their best player took it upon himself and slotted another very good goal into the back of our net to take it to 2-2. A swift response from Canford, meant we went into half time 3-2 up, with Flegg the scorer once again. The second half was a stalemate to start with and both teams weren't at their best. This was before Gabe Davey hit the top cornet to give us a 4-2 lead and ultimately the win, despite their key player grabbing his hattrick from a short corner. We held on for a 4-3 away win in a rollercoaster of a match played in good spirit. Player of the match; Jack Flegg. On to the last 16 against Millfield at home next week. (AGF)

1st XI

On Thursday 8th Feb, the 1st XI embarked on a long road trip away to Clifton College. With a closely fought Tier 1 league campaign so far leaving needing back-to-back wins and other results to go our way to make the last 8, we knew we had to be on the front foot against a Clifton team who had themselves been scoring freely, but also shipping goals regularly. The long journey perhaps caught us cold, as a mazy run wasn’t dealt with and despite a good save from Lucas Francis (deputising for Tom Barrett who was absent on a cricket tour to Dubai) one of their forwards jumped on the rebound to leave us trailing 0-1 after four minutes. However, what then followed was pure magic. Almost from the restart we were level, with Leo Vorobyev intercepting the ball and feeding Monty Hooker, who drew the last defender and squared to Will Pickard to bang in his second reverse stick effort in as many games. Vorobyev then slotted direct from a PC to give us a 2-1 lead and a few minutes later Ed Timberlake anticipated a well-timed cross to deflect the ball in first time to send us into the break with a 3-1 lead. We recognised that we needed to keep pressing a testing their nervy defence and decent keeper, who was keeping them in it. Clifton threw everything they had at us, and after we survived a poor 10 minute spell at the start of the second period, when Dill Howell marshalled the defensive unit well and ran down the corners, Ant Leung finally broke his goal drought with a well taken first of the season. Ten minutes later it was 5-1, when Vorobyev smashed past the onrushing keeper before two more goals in a few minutes through an expertly worked PC routine saw Timberlake get his second with a smart deflection. Man-of-the-match Vorobyev then grabbed his hat-trick goal following a pinpoint aerial from ESB and cute reverse pass from Monty Hooker, who grabbed his fourth assist of the game. A dominant 7-1 victory could have been even more emphatic with some greater composure at times in the D, but we were excellent throughout and must use this as a springboard to carry on the momentum in a tough series of fixtures after HT, starting with Peter Symonds in the league. Well done to all the squad. (MDC)

This week sees the aforementioned match, plus senior games v Dauntsey’s and a block with KES Southampton, as well as the annual U15 Dorset Cup. Busy, busy!

Football v Bryanston

Oaks 0-0 Bryanston

The Oaks hosted Bryanston on the Thursday before half term in a much-anticipated fixture for the boys. Bryanston dominated the ball in the early exchanges but were restricted to shots outside the box, which either flew wide or straight into the arms of Alex Landale. We showed glimpses in the first half of what we could do, with Geng, Ransom-Esposti, Kwan and Okubanjo combining well on the left-hand side. As the half continued, Bryanston continued to pile the pressure on, but the back four stood firm. Bryanston crossed the ball in from the right-hand side, and the ball fell to their striker. An incredible stop by Landale kept the scores 0-0. Minutes later another cross from the same side, this time a Bolland touch deflected the ball onto the post and as the ball trickled on the line, it was cleared.

The second half started much like the first, with Bryanston on the ball. Symes put in the performance of his life, pocketing the Bryanston winger for the entire second half. We showed a lot more attacking intent in this half, with some great play down the left hand side again. Gill and Bolland put their bodies on the line to stop any chance of Bryanston taking the lead. A well fought draw for the boys, which hopefully has shown what they can do when they all work together as a unit.

Top performances from all the boys out there but Symes, Landale and Okubanjo were the real standouts for the Oaks.

Running / X-Country – Bryanston Relays

Three teams visited Bryanston School to take part in a relay event; one Senior Girls and two Inter Boys. Jemima, Charlotte, Bella and Abi put in a great effort with Jemima and Bella competing above their age group. Special mention to Jemima for an above par performance and the girls managed to secure 5th place, less than a minute adrift from 4th in a 45 minute race. In the Inter Boys races, the Canford B team of Adrian, Henry, Harry and Tito ran a very consistent pace, all four runners running their own leg no more than 40 seconds apart from each other and managed to come in 10 seconds behind the Senior girls. In the Canford A team, Santi, Alex, Sam and Tom, they managed to break the 40 minute mark with a 38m 51s time. This was again good enough for another 5th place, managing to just beat Winchester by 8 seconds!

Rowing

Boston GB-U19 Trials 18/19th February.

Dan Coupe and Imy Woodcock.

One of many opportunities for juniors to perform is the February GB trials held in Boston Linc’s and it was great for Canford to be represented by Dan Coupe in rowing and Imy Woodcock as a potential cox.

This year’s trial saw a change from the two 5 kilometre pieces to three 2.8 kilometres in coxless pairs and was held over two days, with a matrix involving a change of partners would prove testing.

For the first race Dan Coupe partnered Matthew Roberts from Bedford Modern and finished 40th. A step into the unknown for their first race but a decent start. In the second of the matrix later in the day Dan partnered Hugo Killian-Dawson from Winchester College, finishing in 39th. On the final day of racing Dan partnered Rupert Apps from Bedford school where they finished in a higher position of 33rd.

It was a great experience for our Canfordians to meet others from all over the country and become known to the selectors. Thank you to Bedford Modern and Bedford schools for suppling boats and oars.

Netball v Godolphin & Latymer, Winchester College and PEDSSA U15s

1st team

Godolphin and Latymer - ISNC Plate Last 16

What a game, we started the game and faced an early 7 goal deficit. The defence played out of their skin, to bring this ball back. Dom Hudson and Lauren Corn worked together to shut down a very strong shooter. The court attack were consistent and brilliant with Georgie Boon playing a vital role in linking the two ends together. Every single member of the team played their part and allowed us to close down the gap and take away the win. We turn out attention to the quarter final on the 7th March at home against King’s Worcester.

6th team v Winchester College

On the Thursday before half term we had the pleasure of playing Winchester College’s first team in their first match of the season. Although the game moved from start to finish at an incredibly rapid pace, we all worked well together to maintain balance on the court and stayed in control of the ball, resulting in a well-deserved score of 17-12 to Canford! Mid-court attackers Lara Edsall, Elisabeth Koppert and Kitty Wright did an incredible job of keeping the ball in our possession while working it down to shooters Lara Crorie and Alice Denby, who with great skill and agility scored many amazing goals. Defenders Tiegan Hulbert, Hattie Jinks and Sophia Westberg worked hard to intercept from the opposition and defend goals, with a special mention going to Kitty Wright who was awarded player of the match, go Seagulls!

U15A - PEDSSA

A great afternoon of netball with lots of matches to qualify and a really fun afternoon for the girls. The team qualified in 1st place securing a place at the County final which is being held at Canford on the 9th March. Canford’s U15Bs also participated and finished in 4th position, a great finish amongst lots of A teams.

Real Tennis v Wellington College

Canford 4 – 1 Wellington College

Archie Brown & Jack Gao won - 5/1

William Trotter & Toby Flegg lost: 1/5

Hector Chissell & Will Hickey won: 5/0

Archie Brown & Toby Flegg won: 5/3

William Trotter & Jack Gao won: 5/4

Overall a another great fixture for the boys and a well deserved win. We started very strong with Archie and Jack sticking in rallies and playing some great returns. William and Toby had a slow start getting stuck down the receiving end and found the return of serve difficult at a new court. Hector and Hickey got us back on great form with some great serving and back wall shots from Hector. A couple of tight games next but we took the victory in both, cementing our 4/1 win.

MVP: Jack Gao - has developed very quickly over the past couple weeks really understanding the fundamentals of the game. Keep it up!

Other news:

• Court secure their place in the senior boys house squash final
• Junior Boys House Squash final next Tuesday 28th Feb
• U14s Boys National School Doubles this Sunday at The Oratory School
• Home squash match vs. Sherborne on Thursday
• Home U18s real tennis match against Wellington on Thursday

Cricket

Congratulations to Eddie Jack (L6) on his return from a successful England U19 tour to Australia. Against strong opposition, who they will face again at home later this summer, the team shared the test series 1-1, lost 2-1 in the 50 over matches and lost the only T20 fixture. Eddie featured in both of the Test matches picking up wickets and also featured in the 3rd 50 over game which saw an England victory.

Congratulations also to 5th Former Tom Barrett who in half term toured the UAE with the Wiltshire County side and hit his maiden century as part of a very successful tour

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