Hockey

It was a busy Spring Term of hockey fixtures and, despite still facing the challenge of cancelled games and depleted squads due to Covid, we were able to play 131 fixtures scoring 270 goals! Nothing was going to dampen the boys’ enthusiasm to get out on the astroturf and represent the school in competitive hockey fixtures once again. Right through from the U8s to the Prep 1st VII, the boys achieved great success and we were one of very few schools in the country to have teams in the U13, U12 and U11 National IAPS Finals.

In early February, the school was honoured to host both the U11 and U13 IAPS hockey qualifiers with our teams thriving in the home atmosphere, both qualifying for their respective National Finals. The U11s played some superb hockey, beating Kimbolton in their semi-final and narrowly losing out to Bilton Grange in the final. Meanwhile, the U13s took vengeance for their younger counterparts, beating Bilton Grange in their quarter-final, a team they had lost to just two weeks before. They then faced Ardingly College in the semi-final but could not quite replicate the success of the previous match.

The U13s travelled to Haileybury School to compete in their IAPS National Finals, having been disappointed in 2020 when they qualified as U11s but were unable to take part due to the pandemic. The boys got off to a flying start with three wins and one loss in their group, conceding just one goal over four games thanks to some brick wall defending and superb saves from goalkeeper Jack Sivills. In the quarter-final, they played superbly against The New Beacon School, winning 2-0. The boys then again put in a strong performance in the semi-final against Hall Grove School but lost 1-0 from a penalty flick and the chance to take the national title. Undeterred, they entered their final game with a bronze medal to play for against King’s Hall School. A brilliant display saw them go 1-0 up through a Jack Down strike, before an equaliser late in the game. Then, after another inspiring team talk from Mr Hoggett and Mr Lee, the boys went into five minutes of golden goal hockey. Three minutes in, Rory Stewart-Jones was played through for a one on one with the keeper, coolly slotting it home and taking the adulation of his teammates. The bronze medal was secured and the boys took their place in the top three teams in the country. The boys did both themselves and everyone associated with Bedford School proud.

Away from the IAPS competition, the U13s

HOCKEY REPORT

WORDS BY Mr Dan Mason, Head of Hockey

National Bronze medallists The U11As celebrate on reaching the National Finals

had an excellent season with some fantastic scores – the 1st VII gaining wins against Hitchin and Witham Hall, as well as a 5-0 victory over Winchester. However, it was the 3rd VII, under the wily guidance of Mr Studd, who achieved the most comprehensive results: 12-0 and 5-0.

The U11s had a superb season coming 4th in the England Hockey regional tournament beating the likes of The Perse, Town Close and Ipswich School along the way. The Ds took one of the biggest wins of the season: 8-0 against Winchester House, as well as a convincing 4-0 win against Kimbolton.

The U10s were hit the hardest with cancelled games, but they were a great bunch to coach with fantastic numbers staying for after school hockey on Fridays and all squads improving immensely throughout. The most notable results were the As beating Kings School by 3 goals and the Ds beating Stamford by 7 goals. They are a talented bunch with real potential all down the squad.

Well done to all boys who represented the school this season, some of them for the first time and some of them for the last time in the

Perfect control on display

Prep School. It has been a pleasure to witness their dedication, their joy at both training and competing in matches, and their wonderful sportsmanship each week. It is an exciting time for Bedford School hockey and we look forward to watching them represent the school in the years to come.