Sporting Round Up, September 2017
A summary of all the sporting action from the first month of the Autumn Term.
The rugby block fixture list has been busy and challenging throughout September, with matches against major rivals including Haileybury, Rugby, Clifton and Radley.
There have been impressive wins for Teddies on each occasion, including a convincing 45-12 win for the Junior Colts A against Haileybury, showing excellent early season form to go into the Leave Weekend undefeated, as are the Junior Colts B XV. The Colts A also picked up a convincing 19-5 win away from home against local rivals Radley College.
Elsewhere, a 20-0 shutout and a disciplined 22-19 win for the 1st XV against Rugby and Clifton respectively has set them on course for a strong season, receiving due praise in the national press and as one of the teams of the week by Fifteen Rugby.
The hockey fixtures have thrown up some tough early opponents, with the U14 A XI and U16B XI taking the plaudits for the first weekend with 3-1 and 5-0 wins respectively against effective Bradfield sides in the new Independent Schools Hockey League.
Pangbourne proved their usual tough opposition, but the teams deserve much credit for their perseverance, winning the block by five matches to four, including a strong 2-0 for the 2nd XI, with goals from captain Georgia Paymaster-Billington and Antonia Lewis, and a 4-0 win for the 3rd XI, with the goals coming from Kyla Haslett-Hawkins, Georgina Robson, Louisa Wates, and Lila Pollen.
The matches versus Stowe were equally challenging, but there were determined performances, with notable draws for the 3rd XI, U15 A XI and U14 B XI. Particular mention is owed to U14 B XI keeper Sasha Wolcough. In an end-to-end game full of chances Sasha held firm countless times to keep a clean sheet.
Meanwhile, squash is also underway for the season with the only fixture to have been recorded thus far a win for the boys’ 1st team away to Rugby. There are several key matches on the horizon, with league and cup matches also beginning shortly.
The first competitive public outing for the Harriers cross-country team of the term, the multi-terrain Longworth 10k, saw six members of the team in action. Lacinia Caesar and Cerelia Caesar were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the U18 event, coming 4th and 6th overall. In the boys’ competition, Matt Thornton was 3rd among the U18s and 5th overall, whilst Louis Leger and Joseph de Ferranti were 6th and 7th in the U18s.