Sporting Highlights of the Week

It’s been another action-packed week of sport at KSA, with our pupils showcasing fantastic skill, determination, and team spirit across a range of fixtures and events.

Tuesday 2nd December 

U8 Rugby v The Downs

The U8s produced their most complete performance of the term on Tuesday afternoon against The Downs. From the very first whistle it was clear how much progress the boys have made, not just in their rugby but in the way they have grown as teammates. 

They put into practice so much of the work we have been doing on being good team players. Their teamwork was outstanding: they congratulated one another, ensured everyone was involved and had a fair share of the ball, encouraged each other throughout, showed great respect to the opposition, and did not let small setbacks affect their attitude or effort. It was wonderful to see, and I was genuinely impressed. 

Then came the rugby itself, which was equally fantastic. The standard of play was excellent. The boys quickly realised that moving the ball down the line created space, and they used this to great effect. Rory H scored his first try of the term with a superb run. Ivan and Theo combined brilliantly, attacking gaps with confidence and purpose. Mikaeel organised the team well, communicated superbly, and finished off a strong performance with a brilliant try of his own. 

Sam seemed to be everywhere, making tag after tag, hitting the ground and springing back up to make another. His work rate contributed to three turnovers, a fantastic achievement for the team. Xander grew in confidence, carrying the ball well and making valuable metres. Geoffrey made excellent use of his pace, flying down the wing to score another impressive try. Wilf showed his usual excellent reading of the game, choosing smartly when to pass and when to take on the space himself. 

It was a truly outstanding display and a fantastic way to finish the term of rugby. Well done to all the boys! 

 

U9 Rugby v The Downs

The Year 4 boys made the short journey over the Malvern Hills on Tuesday afternoon for their final rugby match of the year, taking on an enthusiastic Under 9 side from The Downs. With the opposition a player short, after a brief warm up our boys immediately demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship by volunteering to rotate through and support The Downs for five minutes each. 

From the opening whistle, the team played with confidence and energy, scoring several early tries to set the tone for a strong performance. Archie, Charlie, Magson, Hugo, Gabe and Finley worked tirelessly in defence, making important tackles and ensuring that The Downs had to work hard for every metre gained. 

Meanwhile, Archie H and Akshay delivered their best performances of the term, showing a real desire to contribute throughout the match. Both players actively called for the ball and carried it forward with increased determination, when they received it. One of the main highlights of the match came in the very last play of the game when Akshay came agonisingly close to finishing what would have been a superb solo try, only to be bundled into touch by an excellent cover tackle just before crossing the line. 

The whole squad combined well, supporting one another in attack and defence to secure a comfortable and well-deserved victory. Their progress over the term has been impressive, and this match served as a fitting conclusion to their rugby season. 

A big thank you goes to all the spectators who came along to cheer on the team. Congratulations to Archie H, Archie M, Akshay, Charlie, Finley, Gabe, Hugo, Magson and Milan for their efforts – not only in this match, but throughout the term. It has been a pleasure to support the boys as they have developed their skills and teamwork, and their improvement over the past few months has been highly rewarding to see. 

The Boys’ Games team is already looking forward to helping them continue their rugby journey in Year 5. 

 

U9/U8 Hockey The Downs 

Our U9/U8 team put on a fantastic display against The Downs, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory. From the first whistle, the girls showed determination and teamwork. Tiegan was outstanding as centre forward, giving the team great shape and leading the attack with confidence. Olivia’s effort in attack kept the opposition under pressure, while Alice impressed with her versatility, contributing strongly to both attack and defence. At the back, Molly and Maren were rock-solid, making crucial tackles and ensuring our lead was protected. The match was competitive throughout. Every player played their part in this excellent team performance. Well done, girls – a brilliant result and something to build on  

For next year’s fixtures! 

 

U9/U8 Hockey v The Downs

Our U9&8 team played a fantastic match today, showing great resilience and brilliant teamwork from the very first whistle. Everyone worked hard for each other, never giving up and always looking for the next opportunity to attack or defend. Luna H was deservedly named Player of the Match for her excellent defensive work, stopping attacks with confidence and keeping our team calm at the back. Leen I made powerful, determined drives towards goal and linked up beautifully with Hibah R, and together they created some wonderful chances and scored some brilliant goals. It was a brilliant all-round performance and a match the whole team should be proud of! 

Wednesday 3rd December 

U11 Rugby v Winterfold 

The Under 11 A team travelled to Winterfold School on Wednesday afternoon, joining forces with the Year 6 boys from Hawford for what proved to be a true Christmas cracker of a match. Facing a strong and determined Winterfold side – and having already beaten them twice this term – the King’s boys arrived full of confidence…perhaps a touch too much?! 

After a tense and hard-fought opening, King’s eventually broke the deadlock with a superbly constructed team try, featuring excellent interplay between Hugo, Adam and Max. Moments later, Adam showcased outstanding pace and footwork as he powered through several tackles, sprinted down the left wing and dived over for a brilliant individual score. Unfortunately, he took a nasty knock to the head in the process and had to leave the field; we wish him a speedy recovery. 

With Winterfold short on numbers, the boys once again demonstrated admirable sportsmanship, with two boys volunteering to play for the opposition in ten-minute rotations. Whilst this ensured valuable game time for all players from St Alban’s and Hawford, the constant changes naturally disrupted the team’s rhythm and made it harder for them to maintain consistency. Winterfold capitalised on this, gradually clawing their way back into the match. 

Heading downhill on the slope and with momentum behind them, Winterfold pushed hard in the closing stages. However, the King’s boys responded brilliantly, showing tremendous passion, teamwork and resilience. Their defensive effort in the final minutes was outstanding and ultimately ensured the match finished in a well-earned draw – a fair result given the intensity, physicality and commitment shown by both sides. 

As the final fixture of the rugby year, this match offered invaluable lessons about the importance of staying grounded, maintaining composure, and showing grace and good sportsmanship regardless of the result. 

A huge thank you to all the spectators who came to support the boys. Well done to Adam, Ben, Hugo, Max and Zack for their efforts – not only on Wednesday, but throughout the entire term. It has been a pleasure to work with this group and witness their impressive development in teamwork, confidence and rugby skill. 

The Boys’ Games team is already looking forward to the exciting opportunities ahead after Christmas, when St Alban’s will take part in the annual Hymers College and Rosslyn Park 7s rugby festivals. 

 

U10 Rugby v Winterfold 

The U10s travelled over to Winterfold for the final fixture of the term, and they truly saved their best performance for last. From the first whistle, it was clear that all the hard work put in throughout the season had come together. The boys were outstanding in defence, making big tackles and holding strong, disciplined rucking positions. Their effort, determination and teamwork shone through from start to finish. 

Despite an impressive first half, the boys found themselves 4-1 down at the break, a scoreline that did not fairly reflect the balance of play. In the half time team talk, everyone agreed that a huge second half was needed, and they delivered exactly that. 

The response after the break was exceptional. Haadi F led the comeback with a superb hat trick of tries, showing incredible bravery and commitment in both attack and defence. Monty was fired up, producing some enormous tackles that lifted the whole team. Every player, Max C, Haadi F, Eli G, Dylan M, Matthew B, Jack C and Harvey M, played their part and showed real heart. 

With the score level at 5-5 and the final minute of rugby of the entire term ticking away, the boys kept their composure. Jack C spotted a gap, accelerated through it and scored a brilliant winning try to seal a memorable 6-5 victory. 

It was a fantastic game and the perfect ending to the term. I was proud of every single one of them. Well done boys! 

 

U10 Rugby v Winterfold

The U10Bs rounded off the term with an excellent performance against Winterfold, showing determination, teamwork and real passion for the game from the first whistle to the last. 

The lads demonstrated outstanding commitment throughout. Daniel R in particular stood out for his relentless drive and refusal to go to ground easily, consistently carrying the ball with strength and purpose. George N showed great rugby intelligence, spotting gaps in the Winterfold defence and taking full advantage with some well taken runs that resulted in tries. 

A special mention must go to Max M, who celebrated a brilliant milestone by scoring his first try for the team, well deserved and a proud moment. 

In defence, Bertie W was exceptional, putting in several strong tackles and helping to keep Winterfold under pressure throughout the match. 

It was a superb all round team performance and a fantastic way to end the term. Well done to all the boys! 

 

U11 County Hockey Tournament 

On Wednesday, our U11 hockey team travelled to RGS The Grange to compete in the county tournament, facing strong opposition and showing great resilience throughout the afternoon. The opening match against Bromsgrove proved challenging. We struggled to find our usual shape and structure, which allowed Bromsgrove to dominate the game. Despite the girls’ hard work, we conceded several goals and were unable to recover. It was a tough start, but the team showed resilience and a positive attitude moving forward. 

In the second match against Hawford, the girls regrouped and produced a much-improved performance. With better positioning and teamwork, we created several chances and scored a superb goal to secure a 1-1 draw. This was a real turning point, restoring confidence and energy. 

The final game against RGS The Grange was excellent. The team played with excellent shape and discipline, winning 2-0. A textbook short corner goal highlighted the quality of play and teamwork on display. 

Congratulations to Nell, Thea, Romi, Hannah, Elizabeth, Millie, Martha, Kasvika, and Cerys for their fantastic effort. Their determination and improvement throughout the tournament have earned them a place in the regional finals – a brilliant achievement! Well done, girls! 

All the girls were proudly presented with commendation certificates during Celebration Assembly in recognition of their outstanding hockey achievements. This season, they have competed in six tournaments (including two joint events with King’s Hawford), winning an impressive four and finishing as runners-up in the other two. Such consistency and success reflect their hard work, teamwork, and determination – a truly superb accomplishment! 

 

U11/U10 Hockey Hawford and MSJ 

In their final fixture of the season, the King’s St Alban’s U10 A and B teams took part in a well-matched triangular event against King’s Hawford and Malvern St James. The A team had two closely fought contests, drawing 1–1 with Malvern St James before facing King’s Hawford, where an early goal against them proved decisive despite a very competitive performance. With illness leaving them without subs, the girls worked extremely hard throughout. Aria G and Lillianna W were awarded Opposition Player of the Match.  

The B team began the afternoon with a challenging opening match against Hawford Bs. They quickly found their rhythm and went on to enjoy two tight matches, conceding just one goal to Malvern St James in the final seconds of an evenly balanced game. They continued to improve as the afternoon went on and finished with a well-earned 0–0 draw against Hawford. India C was awarded Opposition Player of the Match. The progress in the girls’ individual skills and teamwork was clear to see. Well done to all on a super term of hockey. 

Thursday 4th December 

U11/10 Swimming Gala v King’s Hawford and Pitmaston 

King’s St Alban’s proudly hosted a fantastic U11 and U10 swimming gala on Thursday, welcoming teams from King’s Hawford and Pitmaston. From the moment the first race began, the poolside buzzed with excitement, enthusiasm, and a wonderful sense of sportsmanship. It was clear that every swimmer was there to enjoy the experience, and the standard of swimming on display was truly impressive. 

A standout moment of the afternoon came from the Year 5 girls’ medley relay team. Lillianna, Elodie, Maddie and Poppy delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing superb technique and teamwork to secure a memorable victory in their event. 

The competition remained incredibly close throughout, with all three schools pushing each other right to the finish. KSA swimmers showed tremendous determination and spirit in every race, and their efforts were rewarded as they clinched the overall win by just 15 points. 

It was a brilliant gala full of energy, smiles and exceptional swimming. Well done to all who took part!