Sporting Highlights: Tournaments, Festivals & Fixtures

It has been a busy and hugely enjoyable week of sport, with our pupils taking part in hockey tournaments, an U9 rugby festival and a fantastic range of fixtures.

 

Saturday 26th September 

U11 Hockey Tournament at Bromsgrove school 

The U11 girls enjoyed a busy and competitive morning at the Bromsgrove School Hockey Tournament, facing some strong opposition throughout. The girls opened against Hawford and, despite working hard and creating opportunities, were defeated 3-0. They responded brilliantly in their next match with an exciting 3-3 draw against Bromsgrove. It was an end-to-end game full of energy, with both teams creating chances. Savannah was outstanding in goal, making a series of superb saves and showing excellent movement and bravery throughout the match. 

The girls then narrowly lost 2-1 to Warwick in a closely contested game before coming up against a very impressive RGS side, who went on to win the tournament, losing 5-0. 

Defensively, Maddie, Aria and Poppy worked tirelessly, with Aria in particular showing excellent movement out of the D and helping the team build attacks from the back. Elodie worked hard in midfield, linking defence and attack, while Liliana, Imogen, Daisy and Elodie provided energy and determination in the forward line. The team moved the ball through the middle of the pitch well and created several promising attacks. Our next step is to look to pass before taking on the tackle to make the most of our possession. 

A special mention goes to Savannah, who earned two Player of the Match awards for her fantastic goalkeeping. Well done to all the girls for a great Saturday morning of hockey. It was also lovely to see our senior team finish runners-up in their age group. 

 

Tuesday 29th September  

U8 Hockey Festival at Winterfold 

The U8 girls enjoyed a fantastic hockey festival at Winterfold, playing a variety of schools in a series of short matches throughout the afternoon. With no scores being recorded, the focus was on participation, development, and enjoying as much hockey as possible, and the girls certainly embraced the occasion. 

As the festival progressed, the team’s confidence grew immensely. They became increasingly hungry for the ball, showing great determination, energy, and enthusiasm in every game. There were some excellent examples of teamwork and attacking play, with the girls becoming more willing to get involved and challenge for possession. It was wonderful to see their improvement from the first match to the last. 

Going forward, we will continue to work on developing greater strength on the stick and moving away from opponents to create more space and passing options. 

Well done to Molly, Alice D, Alice F, Grace L, Florence, Arla, Fearne, Grace D, Chloe, Holly, Elodie and Bea for their fantastic efforts. A special mention must go to Izzy, who was a wonderful supporter from the sidelines throughout the festival. 

U9 Hockey Festival at Winterfold 

On Tuesday, the Year 4 girls headed to Winterfold for an afternoon of hockey and produced another excellent display of teamwork and progress.

The girls worked incredibly hard at staying with their player when out of possession and then breaking away from them, and quickly, when we won the ball back. It was wonderful to see the improvement they made in this area as the tournament progressed, with players becoming increasingly confident in both attack and defence.

In last Thursday’s lesson, the girls focused on developing their drag-right skills and it was fantastic to see them attempting to use these skills during matches. It takes courage to try something new in a competitive environment, and the girls should be very proud of themselves for putting their learning into practice.

It was also encouraging to see the team looking to use the width of the pitch to move the ball from defence into attack, rather than always playing through the middle. This showed excellent listening, growing game awareness and a real willingness to apply what they have been working on in training.

The progress made by this group continues to impress, and their enthusiasm to learn and improve is a pleasure to see. Well done, girls!.

U8 Rugby v Hereford Cathedral 

The Year 3 rugby team welcomed Hereford Cathedral School for their second fixture of the season, taking part in three enjoyable and competitive sessions. Playing on home soil, the boys continued to build their understanding of the game and gained valuable experience in a variety of match situations. 

Matty, Yipeng and Barney impressed with some strong running, carrying the ball confidently into space and looking to move the team forward. Charlie, Theo and Adam combined well throughout the afternoon, demonstrating good passing skills and effective link play to keep attacks moving. Felix set an excellent example with his outstanding support play, consistently positioning himself well to receive scoring passes and helping create attacking opportunities. Defensively, Baxter and Morgan showed clear improvement in their understanding of positioning and teamwork, making some important contributions when the opposition threatened. 

Overall, it was another positive step forward for the team, with plenty of learning, effort and enthusiasm on display throughout the afternoon. 

 

U9 KSA Rugby Festival 

Excitement was in the air for the Year 4 boys as they played their first contact rugby matches of the year, made even more special by the fact that it was a home festival, taking place at King’s St. Alban’s playing fields at Slingpool Walk on Tuesday afternoon. 

With four matches against teams from different schools taking part in the Under 9 Rugby Festival, it was a great opportunity for the boys from St. Alban’s to put their tackling skills into practice once again. After making the short walk down to the pitches, the Under 9 Boys’ A team played four matches against teams from RGS The Grange, The Elms, Hereford Cathedral and Blue Coat School, demonstrating excellent effort, teamwork and commitment throughout the afternoon. 

The boys made an excellent start, beating Blue Coat School’s 2nd team 6-4, before producing a superb defensive performance to defeat RGS The Grange’s 2nd team 4-0. They then continued their unbeaten run with a closely fought 4-3 victory over The Elms’ 1st team, before drawing 3-3 with Hereford Cathedral’s 1st team in their final match of the afternoon. 

As well as putting in four fantastic team performances, there were plenty of moments of individual brilliance too. Wilf, Theo, Sam, Mikaeel, Fred and Ivan all rounded off some excellent passing moves down the line to score some well-worked tries. Mikaeel, Theo, Wilf and Sam also demonstrated some fantastic attacking and defensive skills throughout the afternoon, whilst Fred and Ivan both made excellent progress, showing an improved understanding of the game after every match. 

Most importantly, the festival provided the boys with a valuable opportunity to gain confidence and experience in match conditions, whilst enjoying their rugby and having plenty of fun along the way. All six boys represented King’s St. Alban’s extremely well, and their unbeaten record was a thoroughly deserved reward for their efforts. 

Well done to Ivan, Mikaeel, Theo, Fred, Wilf and Sam for their excellent performances, and a huge thank you to all of the parents who came along to support and cheer on the boys! 

U9 KSA Rugby Festival 

What an outstanding display from the U9s on Wednesday! The team put in stellar performances across all four matches, facing King’s Hawford, Bluecoats, Winterfold, and RGS. They fought hard to secure three well-deserved victories and delivered a nail-biting draw against Bluecoats. 

The boys showed immense character right from the start. Geoffrey W. and Ben P. led the charge in attack with their great pace and fast footwork to breach the defensive line repeatedly. Rory H. and Xander R. were super in defence, closing down all space so the opposition had nowhere to run. Edward R. was a constant threat, analysing the weaknesses in their opponents and using quick hands to keep the play moving smoothly. 

Overall, it was a brilliant collective effort from all five boys, demonstrating remarkable teamwork and relentless determination from the first whistle until the last. They should all be incredibly proud of their efforts! 

Wednesday 30th September 

U11 Hockey tournament at RGS The Grange 

Following Saturday’s tournament  at Bromsgrove, the girls were ready to get back on the pitch and tackle, quite literally, their next tournament. With some knowledge of the teams we would be facing on Wednesday, we made a few strategic changes which allowed us to apply greater pressure in the defensive D, resulting in significantly fewer goals being scored against us.

In addition, Poppy, making her debut goalie performance, stepped into goal and was dynamic, brave and incredibly composed. She made some staggeringly good saves from both short corners and direct shots on goal.

Aria put her brand-new birthday hockey stick to excellent use, clearing the ball from the danger zone with strength, accuracy and spot-on timing. She was ably supported by Daisy, whose reaction, speed and determination were evident throughout.

At the other end of the pitch, Becky, also making her tournament debut, demonstrated incredible resilience. After being tackled three times in quick succession, she still managed to emerge with possession of the ball.

Both Imogen and Elodie charged tirelessly up and down the pitch, offering support in attack and defence while making accurate passes into space for their teammates to run onto.

Sophie was outstanding, showing tenacity on the ball, determination and a real hunger for a goal, which was deservedly rewarded against Moor Park.

Meanwhile, Maddie, part of our defensive dream team, volunteered to play further up the pitch and came within a whisker of scoring herself, which was incredibly exciting to see.

A special shout-out must also go to our cheerleader mums who came along to support the team on from the sidelines. Your support is hugely appreciated.

Roll on the IAPS on Friday 9^th October. 

U11/U10 Hockey v Hereford Cathedral 

The U11/U10 girls travelled to Malvern to take on Hereford Cathedral School and started the match well. Playing on a full-sized, 7 a side pitch is a new challenge for many of the Year 5 girls, and while they worked hard throughout, the larger playing area tested their fitness levels. Despite this, the team created several promising attacking opportunities. 

Tiegan and Hibah were outstanding in the forward line. Hibah showed excellent positioning, particularly when crosses were coming into the circle, and was rewarded with a well taken goal after finding space in front of goal. The girls continued to create chances, but Hereford’s goalkeeper produced a number of impressive saves to keep them at bay. 

As a team, we need to focus on using the full width of the pitch rather than relying on attacks through the middle channel. Defensively, Maddie worked hard in goal and made several good saves to keep us in the game, although Hereford managed to find the net on a couple of occasions. 

Well done to Hereford Cathedral School on their victory. A special congratulations goes to Tiegan, who was deservedly named Player of the Match for her tireless work rate and excellent attacking play. 

U11/U10 Hockey v Hereford Cathedral

It was a beautiful, warm September day for a friendly and fun hockey fixture with Hereford Cathedral School.  

In the first match, KSA had lots of possession and created plenty of chances. Vicky had a relatively quiet game in goal, thanks to some excellent defending from Ugna and Iris, who intercepted the ball before it reached her. India and Amber J worked hard on the wings, while Maren made some strong tackles and worked hard in midfield. Amber C worked tirelessly in attack, creating several scoring opportunities and making some great tackles. KSA scored two goals after some great team play, with India scoring the first and Amber J adding the second for a well-deserved win. Amber J was awarded OPOM. 

In the second match, Henrietta worked hard in defence, making some strong tackles and clearances when needed. Sofia also showed good confidence with her tackling and was quick to challenge for the ball. Kate and Luna continued to grow in confidence as the game went on, getting more involved and moving the ball well. Vicky made two excellent saves in goal, while Leen worked hard in attack and found some good positions in front of goal, earning her OPOM. 

It was a really positive afternoon, with the girls showing increasing confidence and making some lovely passes and tackles under pressure. It was great to see their enthusiasm and teamwork, with lots of positives to take into their next fixtures. 

U10 Rugby v Hereford Cathedral 

The U10 boys travelled over to Hereford Cathedral with a genuine buzz on the bus, helped by a rather enthusiastic sing song all the way down! 

We continued our fantastic start to the term, hitting the ground running and putting together a brilliant all round performance. The boys scored plenty of tries and defended exceptionally well throughout, showing great energy and determination. 

Phoenix and Charlie were excellent with the ball, using their speed and agility to break through the Hereford defence on a number of occasions. Hugo and Dylan were fantastic in defence, making some fabulous tackles and showing great body position when competing at the ruck. Archie M and James used the ball particularly well, making sure it was passed down the line to move the defence and create space. Magson and Finley were also excellent, contributing both with the ball in hand and in defence. 

It was a really impressive team performance, and it is always fantastic to see the boys putting into practice the skills we have been working on in Games lessons and clubs. Their handling, tackling, decision making and teamwork were all evident throughout the game. A top performance from the boys. Well done! 

U11 Rugby v Hereford Cathedral 

The Year 5 and 6 boys made the journey over the border into Herefordshire on Wednesday afternoon to play a rugby match against Hereford Cathedral School. The sun was shining nicely, helping to make it an enjoyable afternoon for everyone involved. 

The Under 11 A team played a 40-minute contact rugby match, and it was a tense opening, with neither team able to capitalise on their early opportunities and cross the try line. Both teams showed great determination in defence, making it difficult for either side to break through. However, against the run of play, one of the Hereford Cathedral boys eventually found a gap in the KSA defensive line and managed to break through to score the first try of the match. 

The boys from King’s St. Alban’s responded impressively, refusing to let the setback affect them, and swiftly scored a try of their own through Dylan. Unfortunately, the resulting KSA kick-off went straight to Hereford Cathedral’s main playmaker, who immediately exploited a gap in the KSA defensive line. With the boys not pressing up together as a defensive line, he was able to break through and score, putting the hosts back in front. 

There were plenty of encouraging individual performances during the first half. Haadi, Monty and Jack C showed great strength and composure at the breakdown, while Eli demonstrated great strength and pace when carrying the ball. Max C, Theo, Bertie, Jack J and Harvey continued to show an increasing understanding and awareness of the game, while Oscar also produced some impressive tackling and ball-carrying for someone who has only recently started playing rugby. 

After some patient phase play in the Hereford Cathedral half, Matthew then showed excellent awareness to spot and dart through a gap in the defensive line, bringing KSA level at 2-2 going into half time. KSA had enjoyed the majority of possession and, overall, had played the better rugby during the opening 20 minutes. 

The boys were given a thorough team talk from Mr. Jenkinson at half time, highlighting the things they had been doing particularly well, including their rucking, tackling and ability to run good support lines. Together, the boys also identified a few areas where they felt they could improve upon in the second half, including protecting the ball better in contact, not forcing an offload when the opportunity was not there, and, importantly, pressing up together as a defensive line. 

Two further boys, Daniel and George, then joined the A team from the Under 11 B team to gain some additional contact rugby experience in match conditions. Hereford Cathedral started the second half strong and scored a couple of relatively soft tries when KSA were unable to commit fully to the tackle. However, the boys continued to battle hard, and another excellent break from Dylan down the right wing helped KSA close the gap to 4-3. Unfortunately, Hereford Cathedral scored another late try to put the result beyond KSA’s reach. 

There was understandably some disappointment among the KSA boys after the match, as they knew that their performance, particularly in the first half, deserved a result that better reflected their ability. Nevertheless, there were still plenty of positives to take from the afternoon. The boys should be proud of their teamwork and resilience, particularly their ability to adapt when the game became more challenging as a result of the frequent substitutions. Their rucking, support lines and determination were all encouraging signs, and the first-half performance demonstrated just how well this group of boys can play when they work together. 

The team’s focus now turns to next Wednesday’s rugby match against their friends and counterparts from King’s Hawford, where they will be hoping to produce another performance as good as the one they showed during the first half against Hereford Cathedral. 

Well done to all fourteen boys who represented the A team during the match: Matthew, Haadi, Jack C, Dylan, Monty, Eli, Max C, Harvey, Bertie, Theo, Oscar, Jack J, Daniel and George. Every one of them gave their best throughout the afternoon. A big thank you must also go to the KSA parents who made the longer-than-usual journey into Herefordshire to support the boys from the touchline. 

U10/11 v Hereford Cathedral 

It was an exceptional team performance from the U11s on Wednesday, displaying brilliant skill, an incredible work rate, and determination from start to finish. 

Despite starting with touch rugby, the team still controlled the tempo of the match. George N. and Ben W. organized the defensive and attacking lines to optimize our chances of scoring, whilst Reuben R. and Akshay showed incredible pace on the counter to put Hereford on the back foot. Henry W. and Daniel R. provided relentless support in attack, ensuring quick ball distribution and delivering a fast-paced game throughout all 40 minutes. As we moved onto contact for the second half, Max M. and George R. set the tone with some good defensive work and sharp tackles. Joe U. also utilized clever running lines to break down the defense little by little and closed down space whilst in defense. 

The team played superbly, with every single player contributing to a dominant, high-energy display that sets a positive benchmark for the rest of the season as we look to get more confident with contact.