Last week, 19 Lower IV students travelled to Reading Hockey Club to take part in the Under 13 County Championships.
With two teams entered into the 7-a-side competition, it was to prove a busy day.
In the morning groups the A team achieved two wins (1-0 against Charters and 4-1 against Licensed Victuallers) and two draws (0-0 against The Marist and Lambrook) to advance to the Cup competition in the afternoon. The B team achieved two draws (0-0 against St Mary’s and 1-1 against Downe House) and two losses to move into the plate competition.
In the afternoon groups, the A team continued their fine form with two wins (2-0 against Newlands and 1-0 against St Andrew’s) to advance to the knockout stage, however a narrow 0-1 defeat in the final game against Cheam, meant that the team faced the winner of the second group in the semi-final. Despite another close game against Lambrook, the team fell to a 0-2 defeat when trying to score an equaliser in the final stages of the game. A final 3-0 win against Holyport ensured that the team finished third overall and secured the bronze medals.

The B team continued with creditable performances in the Plate groups, but two further draws were not enough to reach the knock-out competition. But this did not curb the girls’ enthusiasm as they cheered on the A team in the later stages of the competition.
A great performance by all concerned and certainly something to build on as this cohort moves to 11-a-side hockey from September.