Sports Round Up of the Week

Netball

U9 Netball Tournament

Mrs Butt’s Team 

The U9 King’s Hawford team took part in their first competitive netball tournament on Tuesday, hosted by RGS The Grange. It was a fantastic opportunity for the girls to test themselves against strong opposition and to experience the excitement of tournament play.

Across the afternoon, every player completed full rotations through all positions, gaining valuable insight into both attacking and defensive roles. Each girl also took on the responsibility of being team captain for one of the matches – a challenge they embraced with confidence and maturity.

King’s Hawford made a superb start, showing excellent movement and some beautifully timed attacking play to secure a thrilling draw against Hereford Cathedral School. The standard of netball in this opening match was exceptionally high, and the girls rose brilliantly to the occasion.

Despite facing five back‑to‑back matches, the team continued to display positive, fast-paced netball. Their determination paid off with a well‑deserved 1–0 victory over hosts RGS The Grange, showcasing real grit, teamwork, and intelligent play.

There were many individual highlights throughout the tournament; Rosie and Alice linked superbly in attack, demonstrating excellent spatial awareness and finishing confidently with some accurate shooting. Martha and Bella impressed with their tight marking and ability to intercept the ball, repeatedly breaking down the opposition’s play. Tanith and Emily provided enormous strength in the centre court, showing quick decision‑making and a developing tactical understanding of the game.

Overall, it was an excellent tournament performance from this enthusiastic and hardworking group. They enjoyed every minute on court and relished the opportunity to challenge themselves against strong teams.

Although all the girls impressed Mrs Butt with their attitude and progress, Emily was named Player of the Final Match by the opposition for her outstanding contribution—a wonderful achievement and very well deserved.

A brilliant day of netball for the U9s, who should all be incredibly proud of their efforts!

U9 v Moor Park

Mrs Beech’s Team

King’s Hawford U9s, captained by Aoife, played an exciting match against Moor Park with excellent end-to-end play from both teams throughout the game.

There was superb shooting in the D from Georgina and Lily, who consistently converted chances and kept the scoreboard ticking over.

In defence, Sadie and Syrenna worked tirelessly, applying great pressure and making important stops.

Through the centre third, Maddie, Georgina and Aoife were outstanding.

They made numerous interceptions, linked play effectively and produced some dynamic runs to move the ball quickly up the court.

It was a super game with many positives as we approach the end of term.

All the girls worked incredibly hard, creating turnovers and opportunities with great teamwork and determination.

Player of the Match: Aoife W – for excellent leadership, energy through the centre court and a fantastic all-round performance.

Miss Cook’s team

The U9 team played really well in their match against Moor Park, showing great teamwork and effort throughout the game.

In attack, the team scored goals through Jessica and Isla, who both showed great accuracy in their shooting. The team also worked hard in defence, gaining lots of interceptions and putting Moor Park under pressure. Indie had an excellent game, sticking closely to her player and working hard to get free on back line passes. Bonnie was another standout player, making some brilliant interceptions and playing with great enthusiasm. Captain Bonita-May led the team well, giving lots of positive encouragement and putting in plenty of effort to get free and support her teammates.

Isla was deservedly named Player of the Match for her fantastic performance at shooter and in the centre court, bringing lots of energy and always making the effort to get free. It’s great to see how much the team are improving each week, and this was another really positive performance from everyone.

U10 Netball v Winterfold

Mrs Beech’s team

Our U10 team, captained by Vivienne, played a fantastic match against Winterfold School this week. The game was played with great energy and teamwork from both sides.

From the first centre pass, our centre court players, Vivienne, Tilly, Ffion and Aurelia showed excellent effort and determination.

The attacking players worked hard to move the ball down the court with quick passes, creating several great shooting opportunities for Ellie H and Tilly. In defence, the team of Eleanor, Amelie, Simi and Elise stayed focused and made some important interceptions that helped regain possession.

Winterfold were strong opponents and kept the game competitive throughout. However, our team continued to support each other, communicate well, and keep the ball moving. There were some excellent passages of play, with players demonstrating improving footwork, spacing, and teamwork.

A big well done to the shooters for their confidence in the circle and to the defenders for their strong marking and pressure on the ball. Every player contributed with great effort and positive attitudes.

Overall, it was a brilliant team performance and a great example of how much the squad is improving each week. Well done to everyone who played!

Player of the match was awarded to Amelie B

Miss Cook’s team

The team showed great determination in a closely contested match. After a steady start, they worked hard together to build momentum and made a fantastic comeback, finishing the game with a strong and confident performance.

In the shooting circle, Fliss was outstanding and showed great accuracy with her shooting. She remained calm under pressure and did a fantastic job converting the team’s chances. Alanna worked tirelessly around the court with brilliant movement to get free and support her teammates. She showed superb resilience throughout the match, never giving up and battling for every ball, which earned her a well-deserved Player of the Match. In defence, Connie had an excellent game at GK. She defended her player very well, making it difficult for the opposition to receive the ball and helping to disrupt several attacking plays

Overall, it was a really positive team performance with great teamwork and effort, especially in the way the team came back and finished the match strongly

U11 v Winterfold

The U11 girls enjoyed another excellent fixture against Winterfold as part of their preparations for the upcoming IAPS tournament.

A dominant first half against the U13 team saw the girls settle quickly, controlling possession and dictating the pace of play. The second half proved more competitive, but the girls responded superbly, rising to the challenge and maintaining their intensity throughout.

It was particularly pleasing to see the team working hard to implement the key focuses from Monday’s session with Miss Cox. Tight marking and disciplined defensive work limited Winterfold’s driving runs, while excellent communication and teamwork ensured pressure was applied across the court. The girls’ effort and concentration were faultless, resulting in a truly all‑round team performance.

In defence, Rosie and Zara once again showed great composure, holding their players strongly. Zara was especially influential, picking up several interceptions and turnovers that proved crucial for the team. Through the centre court, Adelyn, Florrie, Valerie, Bella and Charlotte worked confidently together, moving the ball with precision and pace to create attacking opportunities.

In the shooting circle, Izzy, Ariana and Jasmine were as reliable as ever, taking every opportunity at goal and challenging themselves by attempting more difficult shots, all while maintaining excellent accuracy.

Players of the Match were awarded to Jasmine and Zara, as chosen by the opposition – very deserving nominations for the cousins that recognised outstanding performances in both attack and defence.

A hugely positive performance from the whole squad as preparations for IAPS continue.

 

Football

U8 & U9 Boys Football Festival at Winterfold

On Tuesday afternoon, the King’s Hawford U8 and U9 teams travelled to Winterfold School to take part in an enjoyable and competitive football festival. The boys faced strong opposition from King’s St Alban’s, Winterfold and The Downs Malvern, and the matches provided an excellent opportunity for the players to continue developing their skills in a positive, game-based environment.

Mr Hodgkins’s team worked extremely hard across all of their fixtures, demonstrating great determination and teamwork throughout the afternoon. The boys focused particularly on improving their decision making in possession, showing increasing confidence in when to pass, dribble and support teammates. Equally impressive was their developing shape when out of possession, as they worked together to defend and regain the ball effectively.

There were several memorable moments across the festival. Archie scored a well-taken goal after a confident attacking move, which was a deserved reward for the team’s positive play. At the other end of the pitch William C produced a number of superb saves in goal, showing excellent reactions and bravery to keep his team in the game during several key moments.

Overall, the afternoon was a valuable learning experience for the players. The boys represented King’s Hawford with enthusiasm and sportsmanship, and it was pleasing to see their continued progress as they applied the skills and principles they have been working on in training.

U10 v Hereford Cathedral School

The under 10 A team played their best football of the term in a lively match against Hereford Cathedral Junior School.

Their passing stood out throughout, combining flair, imagination, and confidence to move the ball effectively and create chances. At the back, Cassian W, Charlie P‑W, and Will P provided outstanding defensive solidity, reading the game well and keeping the opposition at bay.

The boys showed impressive resilience during challenging moments, maintaining their focus and determination. This performance highlighted the progress they have made and the exciting promise they carry into upcoming fixtures and next year’s season.

U11 Matty Thacker Football Tournament

On Wednesday afternoon, the King’s Hawford U11 team travelled to Winterfold School to take part in the Matty Thacker Football Tournament. The boys demonstrated faultless work rate and effort throughout the afternoon, competing with great determination in a strong group that included RGS The Grange, Blue Coat, Hereford Cathedral, The Elms and Beaudesert. Their commitment and teamwork were evident in every match as they defended resolutely and worked tirelessly for one another. This attitude was personified by Harry, whose energy and passion in midfield set the tone for the team across the tournament.

There were several highlights during the group stage. Austin scored a well-taken goal, while Harry came agonisingly close with a superb effort from the halfway line that cannoned off the inside of the post. Arthur also produced a truly outstanding performance in goal against Blue Coat, making a series of excellent saves to keep the team firmly in the contest. The boys finished the group stage with five points, placing them joint third and securing a place in the Plate semi-final.

In the semi-final against Moor Park, the team once again showed tremendous determination. Charles produced a moment of real quality, embarking on a solo run from his own defensive area before calmly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to equalise. The match went to penalties, where Hawford held their nerve, converting confidently through Harry, Charles and Will to secure a well-earned place in the Plate final.

The final against The Elms was another closely contested encounter that ended in a stalemate and was also decided by penalties. Despite two excellent saves from Arthur, the team were unable to secure the victory on this occasion. Nevertheless, the boys represented King’s Hawford superbly throughout the tournament, displaying excellent effort, resilience and sportsmanship in every match.

U11 Boys ISFA Football Regional Tournament at Clifton College

King’s Hawford’s U11 football team travelled to Clifton College in Bristol last Friday afternoon to compete in the ISFA regional tournament, where they produced a determined and hard-working display across four matches against strong opposition.

Throughout the afternoon, every member of the squad demonstrated superb work rate and commitment, representing the school with great energy and resilience in a highly competitive environment.

The boys began with a challenging opening match against a very strong Bournemouth Collegiate side, who went on to reach the final later in the day. In the second group match against local rivals Blue Coat School, King’s Hawford made an excellent start and took a deserved first-half lead when Sam finished confidently after a well-timed assist from Joshy. Despite a spirited effort, the team were unable to hold on for all three points.

The boys responded positively to this setback, rallying to pick up well-earned points in their remaining matches against Llandaff Cathedral School and Shebbear College. The latter featured a superb individual goal from Harry, capping off a strong team performance, although the results were just not quite enough to secure a place in the semi-finals.

There were several standout performances across the afternoon. Goalkeeper Arthur was outstanding throughout, regularly producing impressive double saves to keep the team in contention. Joshy also deserves special recognition for stepping up to the challenge of playing a year above his age group and rising to the occasion with a confident display. In defence, Charles and William provided a solid and dependable partnership, helping the team remain competitive against strong attacking sides.

The boys should be very proud of their efforts and the way they represented King’s Hawford across a demanding afternoon of football.

Swimming

Year 5 & 6 IAPS Swimming Regional Gala at Shrewsbury School

King’s Hawford’s Year 5 and 6 swimming team delivered an excellent performance at the IAPS regional gala held at Shrewsbury School last Thursday morning.

The squad approached the competition with outstanding work rate and focus throughout, representing the school with great determination and enthusiasm. In total, 19 King’s Hawford swimmers took part, giving us the largest squad of any of the junior schools competing on the day. The team should be incredibly proud of the way they conducted themselves both in and out of the pool.

Across the individual events, several swimmers achieved personal best times in their chosen strokes, reflecting the hard work and commitment they have shown in training. The relay teams were equally impressive, producing faultless changeovers and demonstrating excellent teamwork, while cheering each other on throughout the morning. Their support for one another created a fantastic team spirit and helped ensure a memorable event for everyone involved.

We will now wait for the remaining regional galas to take place before the final results are confirmed. At that point, we will discover whether any of our swimmers recorded times fast enough to qualify for the national finals, which will take place in the summer term. Whatever the outcome, the entire squad has done themselves and the school proud.