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Gad’s Hockey and Rugby teams go from strength to strength
Gad’s boy’s rugby teams are going through what could be seen as a purple patch, beating several tough opponents. Here are the latest reports from recent fixtures:
Under 13 Seven-A-Side Rugby vs Kings, Rochester, away
Coach and teacher Mr Zanda Bertwistle reports:
“We took 7 basic players to Kings to face their A team, in a 20 minute match that included one of the finest tackles I have ever seen at any level of rugby, union or league.
Even though the King’s side did have more experience and technical ability, the match was pretty even, with the Gad’s boys making up for their shortcomings with effort and teamwork.
The final score was King’s 12 to Gad’s 10, with just one missed conversation separating the teams.
After this fixture, we were invited to play another twenty minute match against their B team.
The side had well and truly warmed up by this point and dominated the encounter. The final score was Gad’s 26 to King’s 10.
In total, Oliver Bell scored 5 tries, with Reece Jenkins scoring one and Adam Alexander showing terrific skill to score another.
Man of the Match goes to Jacob Bischoff who stepped into the side at the last minute as another player forgot his kit! Jacob played extremely well and was everywhere that he needed. He grew in stature as the afternoon progressed and rightly deserved this title.”
Under 14 Rugby vs. Whitgift School, Croydon
Coach and teacher Mr Ray Jelfs reports:
“Whitgift are arguably the best rugby playing school in the country having won The Daily Mail Schools’ National title for the last two years in a row and have been named the rugby school of the year twice. Such is their strength that they are able to field up to seven teams in a year group!
Earlier in the year we played their Under 14 D team and beat them convincingly.
For the return game it was clear that they had strengthened their team and it was more like the C team.
The Gads team started well with good forward play and strong running by the backs. We managed to break the Whitgift defence with an individual strike by Giuliano March D’Angelo to score out wide, with John Adams converting.
Gad’s continued to apply pressure and was rewarded when Stephen Davolls made a sniping run from a ruck to score Gad’s second try. Again Adams converted from out wide. The boys went into half time leading 14 – 0.
The start of the second half saw Whitgift raise their game, denying the Gad’s team possession. They were soon to be rewarded with an unconverted try.
Gad’s found themselves under pressure for most of the half, defending their own line. In the last quarter of the game we managed to get back into the game and a crashing run by Rui Da Costa, followed by a silky smooth dash by Kenny Akele led to two more tries resulting in a full time win for Gad’s by 24 points to 5.
The player of the match was Rui Da Costa for his excellent ‘all round’ forward play.”
Gad’s girl’s hockey teams are is going from strength to strength with an ever-expanding programme and recent spate of successful fixtures. Here are the latest reports from Coach and teacher Mrs Wendy Black:
Under 15 Hockey Match vs Bethany School
“The under 15 girls faced Bethany School at our temporary ‘home’ pitch while the new school is built at Anchorians Hockey Club.
Gad’s dominated the opening 15 minutes with excellent play in the centre of midfield by Rachel Williams.
The girls were awarded several short corners but were unable to capitalise on the early pressure.
Bethany School then had a good spell of possession but Brigitte Schweitzer, Abbie Turner, Ella Deschamps and Captain Lavinia Hedges in defence cleared their lines superbly.
Alex Jackson then picked up a loose ball in midfield to pass to Ruby Monger who dribbled the ball into the ‘D’ to put the ball into the back of the net. The half time score 1-0 to Gad’s.
Gad’s started the second half in the same vein as the first, with lots of early pressure with Christina Acey almost scoring Gad’s second goal when she latched onto a loose ball in the circle, just putting it wide of the goal. Eloise Batchelet worked tirelessly up front chasing every ball and hassling the opposing side’s defence.
In the dying minutes of the game, a Gad’s goal mouth scramble saw the ball slip under the keeper’s pads for Bethany to level the score.
The girls hockey skills are improving with every game and they can come away from this game with their heads held high, well done girls!
Player of the Match- Abbie Turner”
Under 16 Hockey Report vs Maidstone Grammar School, away
Thursday 1st December saw the under 16 hockey squad play their last competitive match of the season against Maidstone Grammar sixth form.
Having never played Maidstone before, Gad’s went in to the match not really knowing what to expect.
The older Maidstone side dominated the opening ten minutes and put Gad’s on the back foot by scoring from open play.
The girls soon found themselves 2-0 down when Maidstone capitalised on some sloppy defending. Gad’s them re-grouped and some super saves by Emily Hobbs in goal kept the score to 2-0 at half time.
In the second half of the match Gad’s played some good hockey in midfield with Hannah Myatt linking up well with Eleanor Kift.
Holly Black then latched onto a loose ball and passed to Kitty Bennett-Gibbon who dribbled the ball in to the D to shoot first time in the bottom right hand corner. The comeback had started!
Gad’s then dominated the rest of the second half as Bennett-Gibbon collected a pass from Yemi Olubadewo to slot the ball home. Zoe Clark should have put the game to bed with five minutes remaining when a one-on-one opportunity presented itself, only for her to just miss the goal.
Final score 2-2.
A great end to the season girls. Special mention must go to Lindsey Narbeth, playing in her first competitive hockey match and doing so admirably. Joint Players of the Match: Kitty Bennett-Gibbon and Emily Hobbs."