U11A Hockey V West Buckland – Mrs Gardner

It was a very even match where we lacked depth and looked a little ragged at times. The girls had not played together as a team for four weeks, and that rustiness really showed. However, we dug in well. Emily MB put in great effort working from the back into midfield, while Elsie S was determined and strong throughout. We earned three short corners and executed them brilliantly, scoring two clean goals from the set pieces. Overall, it was a great win, though we still have plenty to work on in training.

U11B Hockey V West Buckland – Mrs Foster

It was a confident performance by the U11B team. Despite having a large squad with plenty of rotations, the girls coped brilliantly. With Lydia and Katie solid at the back and well supported by Chloe, West Buckland struggled to get into our D. Meline and Frankie drove the ball well through the middle, while Alix’s pace caused problems up front. Things got a little muddled at times with the changes, but Aurora, Millie, Amy, and Paige all played their part. Eleanor made a number of great saves to keep a clean sheet, while the girls scored four goals at the other end.

U12 Rugby v St Peter’s/King’s College – Mr Smith

The U12 boys enjoyed a competitive triangular with St Peter’s and King’s College on Wednesday. The first match was against St Peter’s and, having not played for over three weeks, the rustiness showed. Despite some brave defending, St Peter’s scored three tries so there was much work to do in the second half. The Queen’s boys were up to the task however and came storming back. They moved the ball much better to space and supported attacks effectively. Two super long-range tries from Thomas, who slalomed in and out of the St Peter’s defenders, and a try for Alfie, who supported another mazy Thomas run, meant the game ended in an exciting draw. Against King’s, the team again took until the second half to put their opponents under pressure but great offloading out of the tackle nearly led to some well-deserved tries.

There was lots to be pleased about from the two games though more application in some areas will hopefully lead to a step up in performance in the coming matches. Top tacklers of the day were Xander, Alfie, Theo and William. 

U13 Rugby vs King’s College – Mr Bell

A stark contrast to our fixtures before half term, with wet, muddy conditions and a crisp chill in the air providing a proper test of rugby for both sides. It was also our first real taste of full contact this term, and both teams arrived ready for the challenge.

King’s College made a fast start, showing their attacking threat by breaking through the lines on three occasions to score early tries. However, Queens responded with growing resilience and determination. As the game progressed, improved discipline, hard work and some well-earned penalties helped Queens work their way back into the contest.

The breakthrough came just before half time. Awarded a penalty 10 metres from the line, Queens spotted their opportunity. A perfectly timed run from Sonny saw him break through the defensive line and power over for Queens’ first try of the afternoon, providing a well-deserved boost going into the break.

Queens carried that momentum straight into the second half. A sharp interception and quick transition created the opportunity for Luka, who showed great strength and determination to catch the ball, drive forward and finish brilliantly.

The impact of the two Georges was also pivotal as the game progressed. Their combination of pace, power and excellent tackle technique brought real energy to the side, with their influence helping Queens finish strongly and add another late score.

There was plenty to admire in the performance, particularly the resilience shown after a difficult start. The boys grew into the physical challenge, demonstrated improving discipline and showed real character in the face of some tough conditions.

A valuable first taste of full-contact rugby this term and plenty of positives to take forward. 

U10A Hockey Mrs Cooling

This was a tough game as West Buckland had a couple of very strong players who dominated their attack. Our defence improved quickly to work out solutions to enable opportunities from the back, moving the ball quickly from a free hit was key. We had a couple of chances on goal but their GK moved well to ensure the ball didn’t cross the line. The end score didn’t reflect the effort or improvements and we look towards addressing the lesser strengths in the training sessions to come.