Prep School
Resilience and Success at the SW Schools Biathlon
The school week began with a significant event: twelve of our athletes travelled to Millfield Senior School to compete in the prestigious SW Schools Biathlon. This major regional event sees hundreds of competitors from Year 3 through to Year 11, creating an atmosphere that is both intensely busy and, for some, quite overwhelming. Our pupils navigated this high-pressure environment with remarkable maturity. We extend a massive well done to every child who participated. They all showed great resilience and focused determination in the face of stiff competition.
Notable achievements included:
Imogen S: A strong performance, finishing 6th in her challenging age group.
Jonty: Earned a superb 3rd place (Bronze Medal) in his age category.
The Year 4 Boys Team: Secured the Bronze Medal for their excellent combined efforts
Rugby
U8/9 vs King’s College Prep
In a wonderful fixture against King’s, the team produced a performance full of energy, skill and enjoyment, bringing a fitting end to the rugby calendar. It was hugely encouraging to see so many children thriving in the game, embracing the challenge and playing with confidence in every area of the pitch. The passing was sharp and purposeful, enabling the team to move the ball into space and build sustained pressure, while the running play was full of intent, with players carrying hard, supporting well and showing real ambition in attack. At times, the children produced some of their best rugby yet – combining teamwork, determination and a genuine love for the sport. It was a fantastic way to round off the term.
U10 vs West Buckland – In a hard-fought and highly enjoyable contest against West Buckland, the team rose to the challenge with real purpose and maturity. Jonah set the tone brilliantly with a tremendous early try, sparking the team into life and keeping everyone sharp from the outset. Players rotated confidently in and out of their usual positions, showing impressive adaptability while continuing to move the ball with growing fluency. There was clear progress in the ruck, with the group committing well and securing quicker, cleaner ball throughout the match. Arthur led the way with outstanding ripping skills, repeatedly disrupting West Buckland’s possession, while Jio ran superbly, carrying with strength and intent to drive the team forward at key moments. It was another excellent all-round performance as we move toward the end of the rugby term, full of the teamwork, spirit, and improvement that have characterised the season. It has been a pleasure to coach this group this year.
U11 v West Buckland
In the penultimate match of the season , the U11’s showed what brilliant progress they have made this term. They have improved hugely at passing the ball into space – or coast to coast as they call it! However, the major step forward this week was passing on the run, so support players took the ball running; moving forward and into space. There was also much improvement in passing the ball before contact. As a result, some super tries were scored, which were whole team efforts.
Hockey
U9’s and U8 V King’s College
On Monday, we were delighted to host King’s College for our return fixture. To maximize play time and development, the squad was organized into four separate teams, with each team competing in three challenging matches. The girls displayed tremendous effort throughout the afternoon. We were particularly impressed by the team’s responsiveness to coaching advice, demonstrating great focus and tactical application as the games progressed. It is incredibly rewarding to witness the significant improvement our players achieve across the season. Their collective commitment and hard work were truly fantastic and a credit to the school.
Leweston Fixtures (U10s & U11s)
Our U10 and U11 hockey squads faced a long journey this week, travelling a considerable distance to take on Leweston. The effort and enthusiasm shown by all the girls made the early start worthwhile, demonstrating great focus and skill across the age groups.
The U10A team played with impressive focus and tenacity. It was particularly pleasing to note how effectively the girls are beginning to transfer the ball around the pitch—a clear sign that practice is paying off! Emily’s work rate throughout the game was phenomenal, covering vast amounts of ground and pressuring the opposition constantly. We were also delighted to celebrate Meyline’s successful debut for the A team.
The U10B team delivered a powerful attacking performance. Matilda was a driving force, pushing the ball up the wing repeatedly and successfully putting several goals past the Leweston keeper, often assisted by Arianna, who linked up the play brilliantly.
The U11A team showcased some great hockey, working hard to create space and utilising the full width of the pitch to their advantage. Annabel scored a fantastic first goal, setting the tone for the game, and this was quickly followed by another two sharp goals, which was a terrific start. With a comfortable lead, we used the second half to experiment, swapping positions to encourage the girls to think more broadly about their responsibilities on the pitch. While Leweston scored one goal back, the team remained in control, and the opportunity to experiment was a valuable experience for everyone.
The U11B team played a very even and competitive fixture. The game was tight throughout, with Rebecca working tirelessly and effectively in the midfield to maintain possession. Annie showed outstanding determination and tenacity in every challenge. The team’s solid defence held firm throughout the game, eventually leading to a well-earned goal to seal the win! Overall, it was a valuable day of hockey, demonstrating excellent effort, great spirit, and notable progress in ball movement and tactical play across all four teams.
Senior School
Rugby
Queen’s U13 vs. Wellington U13 by Mr Bell
In challenging conditions of heavy rain and a strong, biting wind, the early morning kick-off proved a tough test for both teams. Queen’s won the toss and from the very first kick battled hard to establish control. Handling the ball was a real challenge, with the wet conditions leading to numerous scrums and turnovers. Despite the difficult start, Queen’s eventually broke through when Dillon dived over the line to score the first try. Freddie quickly followed up, adding another, before Mitch capitalised on a quick penalty to cross the line, leaving the opposition shell-shocked. Queen’s dominated throughout, showing resilience and skill in the face of poor conditions. The final score of 5-0 reflected another strong performance from the team, highlighting their determination and teamwork.
Hockey
1st Hockey Team Match Report – by Scholar Meg Rowswell
The Girls’ 1st Hockey match vs West Buckland delivered a determined performance in what proved to be a tough and competitive match. Although the first half challenged us, the team showed real resilience, working incredibly hard to pull ourselves together after the break. Our teamwork and focus improved noticeably, allowing us to win the second half through stronger passing, better communication, and increased determination. Overall, it was a good match and a valuable learning experience. We’ll take these lessons with us as we prepare for our final game of the season against Wellington on the 5th of December.
