A spirited week of hockey for Year 7 & Year 8 – and though it ended in defeat – the team-work, overall play and resilience amongst our developing squad was fantastic.
The Year 7 debutants were made up of Billy Jones, Isaac Wilkins, Tommy Luke, Jacob McGrath, Will Gransden and Oliver Kayran
Seeing how quickly they connected on the pitch was inspiring, and some even found themselves part of the team that celebrated a match victory. Their enthusiasm and energy set the tone for the day.
Elsewhere, the Year 8 girls demonstrated resilience and strength in defence. Jasmine Fayle and Lyra Thompson applied constant pressure, holding their positions superbly before transitioning play forward.
Ava Holms netted two goals, both assisted by Larry Evans and Lexi Hines came agonisingly close, only to see her shot drift just wide. Their determination kept Friary competitive throughout.
Oscar Foy once again produced magnificent saves. His performance was a highlight of the day. Thanks also to Alex Price, who stepped in at the last minute to play in midfield. His delightful passing and calm presence gave the team balance and creativity.
Kim Fallows, team coach, reflected: “Not only is it nice to see how many want to get involved in playing hockey, but I’m being inundated with students wanting to help with coaching and umpiring to. It was a great help having Year 10 Charlie Luke come along to coach and encourage one of the teams. This growing support shows the depth of passion for hockey across the school.”
The opposition team chose Oscar Foy and Isaac Wilkins as their players of the tournament, whilst our team coach, picked out Jacob McGrath Year 7 – recognised for his excellent listening skills and willingness to take on a new role that gave Friary a huge advantage.
