Another full week of sport for the girls saw us compete in three tournaments which started on Tuesday with the Lancashire U14 tournament.
Fourth place in Lancashire is an impressive result for the U14's playing some excellent hockey against the top schools in the County.
Our first game against on form Arnold was a culture shock but we worked very hard and came off with our heads held high despite the scoreline. We lost 0-4 against Kirkham but played out of our skins to record a well deserved draw against Stonyhurst in the final match.
On Wednesday the Yr 8 netball teams played some superb netball in the local tournament and finished 4th (A team) and 3rd (B team) out of 13 schools.
The format of the A team tournament meant only the winner of each group progressed and we can take great pride in the fact that we only lost by 2 goals to eventual winners Lytham, following wins over Baines, Cardinal Allen and St.Aidans.
The B team went one better progressing into the semi-final as section winners after wins against Millfield, St.Bedes & Lytham. In the semi they lost to Arnold and had to settle for 3rd place.
Thursday saw us back in league action with our final match in the Yr 10 Netball league against arch rivals Kirkham. It promised to be a close game but unfortunately we were not up for the challenge and provided no serious opposition to the tall, skilful Kirkham team. We started really slowly and Kirkham went several goals ahead before we had got into the game. We then did start to play some controlled netball but all too often we wasted possession or goal scoring opportunities. Kirkham were comfortably in the lead at the break but we did start the second half well winning a lot of the ball but all too often we failed to get it to our shooters, giving possession away in the final third. By the final whistle Kirkham were worthy winners but this scoreline does not reflect the potential we have within the team and hopefully we can recapture the desire and teamwork before the tournament later in the term.
The week finished with a block fixture against Archbishop Blanch and the Arnold U12 Tournament on Saturday.
Fresh from the excellent performances of last week all the teams recorded creditable wins against our Liverpool opponents.
Many of the senior side were playing their last school match at home and it was fitting that one of these, Katie Holder ended in fine style with all four goals in their 4-0 victory, deservedly earning her the POM accolade. The 1st XI now looks forward to their very last game away at Merchant Taylors next Saturday.
The U15's were the top scorers netting 12 with Captain Sophia Crawshay leading from the front with seven! Two apiece from Elle Anderson & POM Katy Alderson added to the total which was rounded off with a goal from hardworking midfielder Ruby Lawson.
Hollie Cornwall was another to grab a bag full of goals scoring 6 for the U13 B team in their 8-2 win, while the U13 A team spread the goals amongst 3 players with Mady Horsfield on target again scoring 2 supported by Laura Stokes(2) and Beth Ker.
Rachel Hirst was top scorer for the U14 side scoring a hat-trick in their 7-0 win, their biggest of the season, and there were further goals from Lily Chadwick, Georgina Fox & Abi Gitsham.
At the U12 tournament it was definitely a case of what might have been as we played some superb hockey and were good enough to progress into the semis but lost out by one goal!
We started with an excellent performance against Kirkham playing some superb moves down the right, with Emily Grey dominant, but we just could not get the ball in the net and were beaten by a late Kirkham goal.
The second game against Altrincham saw us go behind due to poor marking but after the break two goals from Emily Grey earned us the win. Confidence was high and we started well against Scottish opponents Mary Erskine and went two up with excellent interplay between Georgia Raines and Emily Grey. In the last game we only needed to draw but St.Marys Hall went ahead in the first half. We tried everything in the second to get back on terms and progress into the semis but again the final pass or shot went begging and we had to settle for 5th place.
