A Busy Week of Sport: Netball, Football and Swimming Success

Tuesday 13th January U9/8 Netball v Hereford Cathedral 

The U9 and U8 teams showed fantastic determination in their fixtures against Hereford Cathedral School. While the results didn’t go their way this week, both teams produced some excellent passages of play, demonstrating strong footwork and real effort in moving the ball confidently up the court. There is plenty of potential to build on, and the girls are ready to take the next steps—showing greater urgency, quicker reactions, and more assertive decision‑making. Upcoming lessons will focus on changing direction more effectively to create space and lose defenders. Despite the scorelines, both teams should feel proud of their commitment, teamwork, and growing understanding of the game. 

U9/8 Football v Hereford Cathedral

The U9 boys set off for their first football fixture of the year full of excitement, enjoying the journey chatting and laughing with their mates and clearly eager to get back out on the pitch. 

We started the match a little slowly and unfortunately conceded two early goals that we would normally expect to deal with better. Despite this, our heads never dropped and the game quickly turned into a very close and competitive contest. 

KSA showed great character to fight their way back into the match, producing some outstanding moments of quality. It was strange to have three contenders for goal of the term all in one game. Theo J produced a fantastic individual effort, taking the ball past three players before smashing a superb finish into the top corner to get KSA back in the game. 

Charlie W was also on the scoresheet after combining brilliantly with Ivan from a corner. The pair played a lovely one-two before Charlie struck the ball confidently past the goalkeeper. Ivan, who had an excellent game throughout, was strong in the tackle and consistently found his teammates in space. He capped off his performance by being played through and calmly finishing into the corner. 

Overall, it was a brilliant game of football for the boys’ first outing of the year. There were lots of positives to take from the performance, as well as plenty to work on in training. Player of the Match was awarded to Ivan for an outstanding all-round performance, and the team now look forward to our fixtures next week at The Elms. 

 

U9/8 Football v Hereford Cathedral 

The team kicked off the season with an impressive first run-out together, showing real promise and teamwork. From the very start, the players demonstrated energy, commitment, and a fantastic attitude. A solid base at the back laid the foundation for success. Magnus and Gabe were outstanding in goal, keeping a clean sheet with confident saves and excellent positioning. Milan and Akshay were rock-solid in defence, making strong tackles and limiting the opposition to very few chances. Sam was tireless throughout, running strongly and creating opportunities for himself and his teammates. The pick of the goals came from Archie, who struck a powerful shot from outside the area—a real highlight and a sign of things to come!
Overall, the team showed great spirit, strong foundations, and plenty of attacking flair. We look forward to seeing this group grow and develop together! 

 

U9/8 Football v Hereford Cathedral 

All of the Year 3 boys made the journey over the border into Herefordshire to take part in their first competitive school football fixture, playing a friendly match against Hereford Cathedral School. 

Despite it being their first match – and on quite a large pitch for their age – the boys were not phased and settled quickly. St Alban’s started brightly, working the ball confidently up the field, and Geoffrey took his opportunity to score within the first few minutes, giving the team a perfect start. With only five players, the boys rotated regularly in goal, showing great adaptability and teamwork. Hereford Cathedral School managed to equalise before the end of the first third, leaving the score at 1–1. 

After the restart, St Alban’s continued to show enthusiasm and determination, and their efforts were rewarded when Ben scored a well-taken goal. Heading into the final third with a 2–1 lead, the boys were keen to secure a win. Ben worked tirelessly throughout the match, Edward moved the ball up the pitch well, Geoffrey was excellent in both attack and defence, Rory showed great enthusiasm when tackling and dribbling, and Xander’s effort was outstanding throughout. 

Although Hereford Cathedral School equalised in the final third, St Alban’s responded superbly, applying sustained pressure and earning a number of corners. Geoffrey eventually found the back of the net once again to secure a well-deserved 3–2 victory for St Alban’s! 

All of the boys thoroughly enjoyed the match and gained valuable experience that will be invaluable in their upcoming fixtures this term. They were a pleasure to coach, and it was fantastic to see how much they developed over the course of the game. Thank you to the parents who came along to support the boys – as always, your support is very much appreciated! 

Player of the Match = Geoffrey. 

 

Wednesday 14th January U11/10 Netball v The Elms 

The U11 and U10s enjoyed their first netball matches of the season against The Elms this week. The U10s fought hard throughout their game, narrowly missing out on a win despite some excellent phases of play. The U11s followed with a confident performance, securing a well‑deserved victory through determination, teamwork, and strong decision‑making on court. 

Both teams showed excellent footwork, demonstrating real improvement in maintaining control under pressure. Their movement up the court was smooth and well‑timed, though players are encouraged to work on changing direction more sharply to lose their defenders effectively. Another key focus will be ensuring players only call for the ball when they are driving into space, helping to keep possession. 

A special mention goes to Iris for being awarded Players of the Match for their outstanding effort and contribution throughout the afternoon. Well done all! 

Thursday 15th January Swimming gala v King’s Hawford 

On Thursday evening we hosted King’s Hawford for an U11 and U10 swimming gala, and as always, the event created a real buzz throughout the day. There were lots of excited children eagerly anticipating the races, which added to the sense of occasion and energy around the pool. It was brilliant to see Vicky, Becky and Adam taking part in their very first gala for the school. They all rose to the challenge superbly and should be extremely proud of their performances. 

The gala itself was packed with close, competitive races, which helped to create a fantastic atmosphere poolside. It has been great to see the progress the children are making from gala to gala, clearly reflecting the hard work and commitment they are putting into their swimming. The final race of the evening summed up the spirit of the whole event perfectly. With lots of children cheering on their friends, the 4 x 25m relay was decided by an incredibly narrow margin of just 0.1 of a second, bringing the gala to an exciting conclusion. 

We now look forward to more competitive swimming coming up later this term.