Brilliant Staff v Pupils Hockey Match
Our end-of-term staff v pupils hockey match proved a sporting event of "fun, community and celebration" according to our Head of Hockey, Mr Will Murray, who compiled this match report.
The end of term saw the Girls' 1st Team take on the creme de la creme of Coll sporting and athletic prowess, the Staff Hockey team.
A rousing, vociferous, partizan crowd gave the same welcome to the staff team that one might expect playing away at Galatasaray. The impact of this rapturous support was notable as the girls' raced into a 1-0 first quarter lead as Jess Wright converted a penalty corner with a dart-like finish.
The girls had come out of the blocks flying, moving the ball around with guile and purpose; playing their best hockey of the season.
As the staff rotated the umpires each quarter they were able to arrest the girls' momentum in the match. With the introduction of fresh legs and some muscular defending from the "Bash Brothers", Mason and Collins, the staff built their way back into the contest.
A wonder goal from Mr Murray and a back post tap-in from Mr Hanrahan gave them a lead going into half time. Truthfully, it should have been more but for the heroics of Grace "The Wall" Cameron, the wasteful, anxious finishing of Mr Smith and a series of impotent penalty corners from the staff.
The girls saw the staff's spurned chances as an opportunity to go for it and having earlier toppled her mother, Ottilie Butler scored a dramatic equaliser. The veteran staff team was unable to convert through a period of increasing pressure late in the game, Cameron's Wall remained intact and the final whistle blew, 2-2.
Buoyed by the crowd the girls sought out victory with an excited clamour for penalties!