GIRLS’ SPORTS REPORTS 17/11/14

1st XI v Hymers    Drew 1-1

With the flood lights adding extra atmosphere to the 1st team game, the whistle blew and the game was underway. Sedbergh were camped in their own half for the majority of the game, the defence stood strong and Sedbergh looked menacing on the counter.

It was going to be one of those games. Sedbergh soaked up pressure and looked to hit high forwards Cheza and Eliza, the latter managed to find space from a Tyser through ball to convert at the back post.

A lapse in a sturdy Sedbergh back line gave the Hymers forward a chance and she took it beating an impressive Laura Batty sideboard right 1-1. A similar story in the second half but no goals to speak of left the final score 1-1, a hard day at the office for the 1s but a result they can be very pleased with.  MWS

2nd XI v Hymers    Won 3-0

The 2nd team got the games underway and quickly converted early pressure into a goal with Emily Edwards finding space to score low left. Amy Mahon who was too much to handle all game for the Hymer’s defence latched onto a through ball from Alice Chamberlain to slap high into the roof of the net, a great finish for Amy who was showing no signs of missing the first 7 weeks of the season.

Emily Edwards grabbed her second and the third for the team after finishing a beautiful second team move that started from their own 25. A super performance from the 2s who beat a good side 3-0.  MWS

U16 North West Hockey Finals – Runners Up and through to North Finals

The u16s travelled to Timperley to their North West round, with a late withdrawal it was now a round robin with 4 other sides. 

First up was Ripley St Thomas, despite the majority of possession and the better chances Sedbergh somehow lost 2-0, a game to forget. Altrincham Grammar were next in a must win game against the regions favourites. 15s captain Georgie Boyd Moss let fly with an absolute rocket leaving the goalie helpless, an ideal start to the game.

Goalie Joy Stanley pulled of a stunning save high to her right stick side to keep the girls ahead. With Eliza Nelstrop dominating the left hand side of the pitch she went in strongly for a brave tackle and the stick caught her hand, she headed straight for A&E and the girls would have to refocus and cope without Eliza.

Julia Haywood found space in the D and slipped the ball to Cheza who had the easiest job of converting at the back post to give Sedbergh a 2-0 win.

After a brief lunch break Sedbergh returned to the pitch to play Liverpool College, a display of finishing from the forwards saw Sedbergh run out 6-1 winners, goals from Molly, Cheza, Josie and Georgie BM. This superb win meant Sedbergh had a chance to join the 14s at the North Finals with a win against Kings Mac in the last game of the day. 

Within the first 30 seconds Georgie made a crunching tackle to win the ball back just inside the opposition half, changing the angle of attack she moved the ball right to Josie who spotted Molly making a lead towards the back post, Josie played a pass that split the Kings defence in two leaving Molly to round the keeper and score the opener.

With the score 1-0 at half time Sedbergh knew this game wasn’t over. Josie converted an early short corner in the 2nd half to give Sedbergh a two goal cushion, despite a late Kings goal Sedbergh held on secure victory and progression through to the North Finals, a great achievement for such a young team. MWS

1st XI v Stonyhurst  Won 3-0

Unusually for Sedbergh the girls were still on the bus 15 minutes into the first half and it was only the heroics of Sedbergh keeper Laura Batty that kept the score at 0-0. However once Sedbergh got themselves going there was only one winner after Lizzie Churchouse netted late in the first half. A half time chat outlining the tactics had the desired effect as Stonyhurst’s playmaker was nullified and Sedbergh dominated the play.

Pressure finally took its toll ten minutes into the second half when Emilia Tyser netted a superb drag flick from a well worked short corner before Cheza Millar sealed the victory scoring from close range. After losing to Stonyhurst early in the term this was a pleasing turn around.  MPS

2nd XI v Stonyhurst  Won 2-1

Despite conceding late in the first half  to go 1-0 down the second team always looked capable of winning this match if they could convert a few of their many opportunities. Having dominated the whole of the second half it was a fine piece of instinctive skill that brought Sedbergh level ten minutes from time.

A ricochet off a Stonyhurst stick bounced waist high to Candice Dobson, who swivelled and pulled the ball high into the net. Stonyhurst defended valiantly from there on in and somehow kept the scores level until one minute from the end when a shot was initially saved by the Stonyhurst keeper on the line, but then under pressure inadvertently knocked the ball into her own net!

Lotte McAteer again dominated the centre whilst Rebecca Monaghan Allen created most of the goal scoring opportunities down the right.  MPS

U15 XI v Stonyhurst Won 3-0

With two more games to go the 15s were looking to secure another victory and make it 13 wins from 13. A sluggish start saw lots of possession for the Sedbergh side but will little clear cut chances. Julia Haywood managed to break the Stonyhurst defence to score her 15th of the season. Molly Davies managed to get two second half goals to ensure a comfortable 3-0 victory for the 15s.

A largely below par performance from this talented side, but as the saying goes ‘great teams manage to find a way to win when playing poorly’ and this 15s side certainly did that. All eyes are now looking forward to next Saturday when they welcome York in their final game of the season, a side who made nationals last year and beat Sedbergh 4-0.  MWS

U14 XI v Stonyhurst Won 5-1

Sedbergh hosted a competitive match against Stonyhurst . Despite missing 2 starter players in Pateman-Johnson and Duncalf the squad was utilised to its full capacity. Emelia Page opened the scoring with a jab at the left post . Imani Botham added to the score sheet with an impressive strike just before half time .

In the second half Sedbergh moved the ball well using the full width Rebecca Hadfield teaming up well with Jemima Cookson who scored a typically stylish goal . Captain Izzy Chamberlain dominated play in midfield and was rewarded with a goal hit from short range.

It was substitute Rosie Herman who tapped in the final goal to complete the score at 5-1 with Stonyhurst scoring on the break . Imani Botham’s goal was the 100th goal this talented side has scored this season with their grand total standing at 103. 

Junior Interhouse Cup – Won by Robertson

The junior interhouse was played in great spirit with the decisive Robertson versus Lupton match going to the wire in the first game of the triangular tournament, with Robertson scoring the winner fairly late on. Despite the heroics of Carus keeper Rhiannon Piper, Carus were beaten by Lupton 1-0 to set up a decider against Robertson.

A 1-0 win for Carus would set up a three way penalty shoot out but it was not to be as a strong and confident Robertson team controlled possession and eventually sustained pressure resulted in three goals being netted. Amid jubilant scenes Robertson were crowned junior house hockey champions. JRDM

Senior Interhouse Cup – Won by Lupton

Lupton Steal the Show
Not surprisingly Lupton Girls won the Senior house hockey after beating Robertson and Carus on a cold and wet Friday afternoon. Packed with eight first team players Lupton’s only concern was a break away goal. However no team was able to get past Lupton’s midfield and with Emilia Tyser calling the shots the opposition keepers were always going to be very busy.

Against Carus Robertson keeper Laura Batty had helped her side earn a draw with several good saves despite the best efforts of Eliza Hodgson and the Carus forwards. However she was unable to stop wave after wave of Lupton attacks as Cheza Millar, Hannah Page and Lizzie Churchouse rained shots in on goal and eventually the pressure paid off. Page scored two and Churchouse one as Lupton bypassed the goalkeeper to earn a 3-0 win. 

Carus fared a little better against Lupton but their valiant effort was undone when they conceded late on to a Lizzie Churchouse goal. 
Favourites Lupton duly won but the competition was just as notable for the spirit, passion and efforts of all players and the singing from the touch lines.  MPS

U19 County Netball Finals – Runners Up and through to North West Finals
Beat QES 11-10, Beat Nelson Thomlinson 14-2, Lost to QEGS Penrith 10-7

A tough start to the tournament with a close call v QES saw this side shocked into performing.  Missing some key individuals with illness the team took a while to steady, Lizzie Churchouse continuing to turn ball over but the new formation in attack meant misunderstandings, this coupled with basic errors and sloppy ball placement saw QES nearly have an historic win over our seniors.  

Nelson Thomlinson’s game saw the team gel together and a stronger performance from the centre court and shooters saw a comfortable 14-2 win.  QEGS Penrith boasted two regional players and they took the first half 6-1 with Sedbergh throwing ball away cheaply and struggling to convert possession, a second half return of Straker and Holdsworth saw Sedbergh win the second half but the damage of the first half was too much to claw back and ended 10-7 down.  

Mission accomplished in qualifying for North West Finals but not the best display from our 1st team and a shame not to have made the clean sweep of County Champions through the age groups. LS

U19 National Netball Cup v Cheadle Hulme – Lost 43-12

A poor performance from a tired and listless first team saw Cheadle romp to victory.  Our previous encounter had been a 24-24 draw so we were looking forward to an even game in this national cup last 16.  But it was not be Brown’s day, basic errors, poor ball placement and movement saw Cheadle take an 8-3 lead in the first quarter from which Brown did not recover.  

Lizzie Churchouse and Poppy Harnby continued to turn ball over to create chances but movement in the attacking third coupled with poor shooting averages meant that we did not capitalise.  Charlie Linas named player of the match by the opposition for consistent defensive efforts, Hannah Page worked tirelessly throughout the game.  

Again key players missing from this squad but the performance well below par especially in the attack where we will need to step up if we are to compete at North West finals in January. LS

National Schools Showjumping Qualifier

A foggy evening in Northallerton saw our first ever Sedbergh Equestrian Team compete in the National Schools Equestrian Association show jumping qualifiers.  Storm Straker, Sophie Webber and Phoebe Thorpe competed in both Class 3 and 4 showjumping.  

An outstanding performance by Storm saw her win the Class 3 individual showjumping with a time of 29.70 and coupled with good times from Sophie and Phoebe the Sedbergh girls qualified for the County Challenge Finals to be held in Bedfordshire in April.  

Huge thanks to parents who transported riders and horses to the event, extremely exciting that we have qualified representing Cumbria and we are looking forward to this team going from strength to strength. LS