BOYS’ SPORTS REPORTS 10/03/14

UNDER 16 NORTH FINALS

King’s School Chester L0-2
St Peter’s York L1-2
Ampleforth College L1-2

The Boys Under 16s failed to find their form in the North of England finals at Timperley on Wednesday, losing all three games by narrow margins. In the opening game against King’s Chester Sedbergh had most of the possession but failed to convert any of their opportunities after going 1-0 down early on.

A simple mistake at the back gifted King’s a short corner at the end of the second half from which they scored with the last play of the game. A disappointing start in which the boys failed to capitalize on their possession as individuals tried to run the show rather than play as a team.

Games two and three followed in similar vein as the boys failed to move the ball effectively and in both games goals were conceded late in the second half to suffer defeat in both.

Unfortunately the boys failed to find any rhythm and a strangely un-Sedberghian lack of desire and left the team deflated at the end of the day. This was a missed opportunity to reach the last eight in the country as no single team stood out and had the boys played well they could easily have qualified.

1ST XI V DENSTONE D4-4

On a sunny Saturday afternoon Sedbergh hosted the in form Denstone. Last year Sedbergh were well beaten by Denstone and after giving away possession just outside the 25 in the inside right channel early in the first half and subsequently conceding a short corner that was efficiently converted, the omens weren’t good.

However the players regained their composure and moved the ball well whilst working tirelessly to close down the opposition when they had the ball. The desire from all eleven players was excellent and when Matthew Hawley and Robert Stevenson scored in quick succession late in the first half Sedbergh went into the break deservedly in the lead.

Early in the second half Hawley scored another goal after a flowing move from the boys and Sedbergh looked well set to record an amazing win. However, Denstone rallied and with ten minutes left converted a second short corner and equalized in open play after dominating possession for fifteen minutes.

Sedbergh dug deep and a superb series of passes saw Sedbergh move the ball the length of the pitch before Josh McAnemy overlapped from centre midfield to flick the ball over the keeper into the roof of the net.

Unfortunately, Sedbergh were unable to hold this lead after an aerial from a defensive sixteen went wrong and the home team were punished. Despite this late disappointment this was a great result against a highly rated team.

2ND XI V DENSTONE D2-2

The 2nd XI also failed to hold onto a two goal lead after the Campbell brothers, John and Archie had given Sedbergh a deserved lead early in the second half. With Maddy George, Emilia Tyser and Sophie Farmer dominating proceedings and linking well with the excellent Will Lewin and Archie Campbell, the home team played excellent passing hockey for two thirds of the match.

However a lack of concentration at the back and failure to pass the ball late in the second half gifted Denstone two late goals to earn the away team a fortunate draw.

UNDER 15S V DENSTONE W3-2

UNDER 14S V DENSTONE L1-6

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