Back in Action: First Week of Sport

Rugby 

U11A – Mr Jenkinson 

The first rugby festival of the year for the U11 boys took place on Wednesday 10th September at Slingpool Walk playing fields. All of the Year 6 boys from St. Alban’s joined forces with their counterparts from King’s Hawford to create two combined teams, proudly representing the schools together. 

The U11 A team played two competitive matches during the afternoon, facing strong sides from The Elms and Winterfold. 

The opening fixture against The Elms provided a stern test. The boys defended with determination and resilience, working hard as a unit to keep their opponents at bay. Every player committed fully to their tackles, showing a good understanding of how to secure possession at the breakdown. The deadlock was broken by Hugo, who marked his first rugby match for St. Alban’s with a superb individual try, ploughing through several defenders to touch down. With confidence growing, the team added further scores to secure a deserved and comfortable victory in their first outing. 

After some constructive words of advice from Mr Cook and Mr Jenkinson, the boys carried their momentum into their second match against Winterfold. Although they conceded an early try, the team demonstrated fantastic determination and composure, turning the game around through some excellent team tries. Adam and Hugo impressed with their commitment in defence, while Ben and Max tackled tirelessly and worked hard on the flanks. Zack showed his power in attack, driving through defenders and capping off a fine display with a strong solo try from a free pass, sealing another well-earned win. 

Overall, this was a hugely encouraging start to the season. The boys showed great teamwork, resilience and skill, while also identifying areas to build on in the weeks ahead. Well done to Adam, Ben, Hugo, Max and Zack, along with the rest of the King’s Hawford boys, for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of rugby. The coaches were full of praise for the boys’ attitude and performance and are already looking forward to their next fixtures against RGS The Grange and Bluecoat School next week. 

U11B 

Joshua and Pip joined forces with King’s Hawford to form a KSW team against Winterfold on Wednesday afternoon. The boys impressed with their commitment, making strong tackles and moving the ball effectively. Most impressive was their ability to offload to teammates in better positions, showing real awareness and teamwork. Overall, it was an excellent start to the rugby term. 

U10A – Mr Grimsey

Our U10A team played in a rugby festival at Kings St Albans against The Elms, Winterfold, and Hawford. The boys showed great commitment across all the games and worked hard as a team. Mathew B helped the team move forward in attack and kept us on the front foot, while Haadi F stood out in defence with some important tackles that stopped the opposition. Dylan M was strong and carried the ball well, often finding ways through the defence, and Monty was brave when taking the ball into contact and always looked to keep play moving. Jack C gave excellent support from the sideline, encouraging his teammates throughout the day. Although the scoreline didn’t go our way, the lads improved from the first game to the last, showing progress in both attack and defence. As a team, we now need to keep working on taking the ball into contact, forming rucks, and making sure someone goes over the top to secure the ball. Overall, it was a positive festival where everyone put in a big effort and showed real determination. 

U10B – Mr Hooman 

The U10B team began their rugby season with great energy and enthusiasm in their first match of the term against Winterfold. As it was a first competitive outing for both sides, the game was split into thirds, gradually building up to full contact rugby. 

The opening third was played as a touch game, encouraging the boys to move the ball quickly and find good positions both with and without possession. In the second third, the focus shifted to tackle-release rugby, allowing the players to build confidence in contact. The final third saw the introduction of full contact rugby with rucking – a new and exciting challenge for the team this year. 

George made a strong impact throughout, showing great pace with the ball in hand and scoring several well-taken tries. Jeremiah impressed with his power and determination, driving through tackles and adding to the team’s try count. Eli was outstanding in his very first contact rugby match – his tackling technique, determination, and agility with the ball stood out. It was also brilliant to see Jack J make his school debut; he worked hard throughout and, even late in the game when fatigue was setting in, chased back superbly to make an excellent tackle on an opponent. 

It was a fantastic start to the term, full of promise and progress for the season ahead. 

Players of the Match: George and Eli 

 

Hockey 

U11A Mr Khan & Miss Ingles 

The U11 A hockey team enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of hockey this week, showing fantastic enthusiasm and determination throughout their matches. They played with great energy, moving the ball quickly and looking to work together as a team. There were some excellent passages of play in both attack and defence, with plenty of skilful stick work, accurate passing, and brave tackling on display. Special mentions must go to Romi T and Thea H for great drives towards goal and Nell D for finishing off the day with a brilliant goal from a short corner. Also Millie W for her excellent defensive work along with goalkeeper Martha N who made some fantastic saves throughout the afternoon keeping the matches competitive right until the final whistle. Overall, it was a great afternoon of hockey and we are super excited for the season ahead. 

U10A – Miss Jordan 

The U10A team delivered a superb performance against King’s Hawford, showcasing both determination and skill from the first whistle. The girls started strongly, combining excellent attacking play with solid defensive work that kept the opposition on their toes throughout the first half. 

Poppy had a fantastic game in goal, confidently guarding the net and making some crucial saves. Up front, Lillianna was a dominant force in the attacking end, consistently creating opportunities and applying pressure to the Hawford defence. Despite several promising chances, we were unlucky not to convert them into goals. 

In the second half, Hawford managed to break through and score, but our team continued to battle with great spirit and teamwork. Lillianna’s outstanding performance earned her the well-deserved title of Player of the Match. 

In their second match, the U10A team put in another spirited performance, this time against Bromsgrove. The first half was evenly matched, with both teams showing great energy and skill. Maddie made a strong impact after moving into attack, using her speed and awareness to drive the ball into the D with confidence. 

Her efforts paid off when Lillianna capitalised on one of these attacking plays, scoring a superb goal to give us a 1-0 lead at half time. However, fatigue began to show in the second half, as this was their second game in quick succession. Bromsgrove equalised early and continued to apply pressure, eventually scoring two more goals to take the final score to 1-3. Well done to Lillianna for her second player of the match award. 

The team should be proud of their efforts and resilience. There were many positives to take away, and the girls continue to grow in confidence and skill with each game. 

U10B – Mrs Hand 

The U10 B team played their first hockey matches of the season in a friendly triangular fixture at Bromsgrove School. They faced Bromsgrove in the first match and King’s Hawford in the second. With some of the girls new to hockey, all the players made great progress, improving their skills and teamwork throughout the afternoon. Iris, Henrietta and Aria made lots of excellent tackles in defence while Sophie and Amber made some exciting breakaways in attack. In midfield, India demonstrated perseverance and a positive attitude in her first hockey match. As goalkeeper, Sofia made good progress, including an excellent save. 

The team were unlucky not to score against Hawford but were happy to come away with a draw in a closely contested match. The atmosphere was supportive and positive, and it was a fantastic start to the season.