Hockey

"Winning isn't important... it's everything!" Or is it? The 1st XI this season ably led by Emmy McCowen improved dramatically as a direct result of losing. Perhaps losing (some games) is good for a team? Reflecting on a season invariably brings back the superb goals, such as Ronnie Wareham who scored against Durham and Scarborough, and the hard fought, high quality games such as those the team played and won against Ackworth and The Mount. But the key to this success probably hinged upon one particular loss. In the Under 18 Tournament the team reached the semi-final and played Tadcaster. High quality hockey and one hundred per cent effort produced only a draw. Even extra time failed to provide a winner and so the match was decided on penalty flicks. Two rounds of flicks proved inconclusive and finally a "sudden death" round was needed. Tension was high and when the team lost, there was initially disappointment. Such events have a positive result for the shared experience of such a loss created the team! Until then eleven players had turned out. Afterwards the 1st XI was a team, and when they met strong opposition later on in the team this quality often gave them the edge over teams who had played together for much longer.

On the tour to Edinburgh this experience stood them in good stead and after an initial defeat on Saturday by our hosts the 1st XI played some excellent hockey on Sunday (despite a late night on Saturday after the visit to see South Pacific at the theatre!). Our hosts in Scotland, St. Margaret's School, were very gracious and generous with their hospitality.

A new addition to this year's fixture list were the games against Old Peterites. These proved most enjoyable and it is a pleasure to see that many of our former players have maintained an interest in hockey at University level. Of note, for those who collect records, was the appearance in the second Old Peterite game of three players with the same surname, two of whom played in goal, plus a set of twins (non-identical), all of whom played well! (A prize will be awarded to the first person to send in the correct answer.)

The Second XI, captained by Rachel Batty, struggled early in the season to find their form and it was a great pleasure to see their marked improvement in the second half of the term. Determination, enthusiasm, inspired captaincy and increasing efforts from the forwards finally produced some good results. In their own way, like the First Eleven, the Seconds learned that winning isn't everything (but occasionally it helps!).

Apart from outdoor games the Indoor Team, captained by Ronnie Wareham, played in the North Yorkshire Indoor Tournament and in the St. Peter's Tournament. In both cases their lack of experience told against them but their efforts should pay dividends next season.

All of those who have played hockey for the School have given a great deal and I trust that they have enjoyed it. The Jackson-Pacey Cup for the most improved player was awarded eponymously to Sophie Jackson.

My thanks go to those who have helped the games to run well: Mr. Guy Shuttleworth and Mrs. Val Taylor for their umpiring, Mrs. Jean Pulleyn for looking after the kit and Mr. John Hall for his preparation of the pitches. D. M. Paterson

The following represented the 1st XI

E. McCowen*, A. Masefield*, A. Stephenson*, R. Wareham*, L. Copley*, A. Fowler*, L. Fowler*, A. Rosindale*, S. Jackson*, N. Westwood, J. Thompson, E. Ward, A. Suttill, C. Cooper, I. Pollard, J. Webster.

* Colours

The following represented the 2nd XI

R. Batty, C. Berry, C. Cooper, S. Durham, M. Gibb, C. Farrow, S. Hamilton, S. Musgrave, I. Pollard, R. Robertson, A. Suttill, E. Ward, J. Webster, E. Copley, S. Panitzke, S. Pitt.

The following represented the Indoor Team

S. Wareham, S. Jackson, J. Thompson, E. Bowling, A. Suttill, N. Westwood.

Results — 1st XI

Opponents The Mount Old Peterites Queen Margaret's York College

U.18 Rally at The Mount

v Joseph Rowntree v The Mount v Queen Margaret's B v York Sixth Form Semi-Final v Tadcaster * Lost on penalty flicks Giggleswick St. Aidan's York Sixth Form College

Edinburgh Tour

v St. Margaret's v Fettes College 2nd XI v Royal Dick Veterinary

College The Mount Ackworth Old Peterites Durham School Worksop College Scarborough College HI A A H H H A For 0 2 0 0

1 0 0 0 0 Against 0 1 4 0

0 0 0 0 0*

A H H A

H H H A H A 2 5 1

1 3

1 5 2 2 2 0 1 0 0 1

5 0

1 3 1 3 1 2 2 W/LID Drawn Won Lost Drawn

Won Drawn Drawn Drawn Drawn

Won Won Drawn

Lost Won

Drawn Won Won Lost Won Lost Lost

Games were cancelled against St. Aidan's, Leeds High School, Ashville, Lady Lumley's, College of Ripon St. John, Retiring Captain's.

Played 21 Won 8 Drawn 8 Lost 5 Goals For 31 Against 23

2nd XI

Opponents Queen Margaret's Ashville College Fulford School Giggleswick School York Sixth Form College The Mount Pocklington School Bootham School Durham School Worksop College Scarborough College HIA H A A A H H A A A H A For 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 Against 1 3 1 4 3 1 2 0 0 0 2 W/LID Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Drawn Lost Won Won Drawn Lost

The hockey year started with a good win over Leeds Girls' High School who we were playing for the first time. The hockey so far had been played in hot, sunny conditions and this match was no exception. The ground was hard and the ball travelled well so it made a pleasing start to win 3-0.

The IVth year as a group show much games ability and there are some very talented individuals. When playing matches their effort is always given to the maximum, so it was a pity that their general behaviour was such that I felt it necessary to prevent six players from playing any hockey for three weeks after a disgraceful display at Queen Margaret's. The results of the matches suffered during this time as a weakened team played in the U.16 rally at Tadcaster where they were section runners up. They also lost to the Mount, Tadcaster in the U.16 National knock-out tournament and drew with Manor School. The remaining team members played often with the Vth and Vlth years and I would especially like to thank all those who represented the team during this time.

The team returned to full strength with a 3-1 win against Giggleswick with Eleanor Bowling scoring all the goals. The girls were enthusiastic, energetic and more importantly well behaved, and continued the season in this way. Perhaps the lesson had been learned, and essay writing probably also improved during this time!

The team was unfortunate to lose by one goal in the closing minutes of the match against Queen Mary's on November 1st. This was the last fixture we played at 4.00 p.m. and it was very muddy, very dark and very wet!

Two of the last three fixtures were won with a 7-0 win against Bootham. Eleanor Bowling managed five goals this time and Connelee Morris two. The defence was stretched continually in the last match against Worksop College, with Claire Walker producing some good saves both then and during the season. Laura Clark was also a dependable defence player and the two of them worked well together.

Results:

Sept. 20 Leeds Girls' High School Sept. 23 U.16 Hockey Rally Sept. 27 Queen Margaret's Sept. 30 The Mount Oct. 6 Tadcaster Oct. 11 Manor Oct. 14 Giggleswick Oct. 18 St. Andrew's Nov. 1 Queen Mary's Nov. 15 Ackworth Nov. 25 Bootham Nov. 29 Worksop College Away Won

Away Lost Away Lost Away Lost Away Drew Away Won Home Won Away Lost Home Won Away Won Home Lost 3--0

0--2 0--2 1--3 1--1 3--1 2--0 0--1 4--0 7--0 1--3

The following represented the U.15 XI:

C. Walker, C. Lawson, L. Clark, V. Robinson, E. Strong, J. Ensor, E. Bowling, C. Morris, R. Smith, S. Sanderson, S. Brayshaw, V. Gill, C. Graves-Tamvakis, S. Tilston. W. M. Shepherd

This has been a somewhat mixed season for the U. 14 hockey team, with some successes and some disappointments. Only twenty-two girls were eligible to play for this age group, and out of these seventeen represented the School team this season. Although we were able to run four girls' hockey teams, the U. 14's had fewer matches than anyone else because of having only three pitches. It should be said that during the hockey season the U. 14's also played seven netball matches and a netball tournament.

Apart from one or two exceptions, this was not a particularly talented hockey year, despite maximum effort and commitment from all players. Rather than stick to the same eleven players, we therefore gave as many girls as wished an opportunity to play. Unfortunately, our first match of the season was away against Queen Margaret's, a very strong hockey School. Although beaten convincingly, the whole team played hard with continual pressure being put on our defence. Sally Marshall, in her first ever match as goalkeeper, had to pull out some spectacular saves.

Against the Mount School, the team were more positive and were beaten only in the last few minutes of the match.

In the match against Archbishop Holgate's we really started to play like a team. The forward line worked well together in attack, managing to score a total of seven goals.

Despite a spectacular goal by Kathryn Charman in the first half, the match against Manor School saw some very defensive play, with very few shots on goal by our team (we won't mention the lack of penalty corners in this match!!).

The penultimate match against Ackworth was one of the best of the season with the whole team playing constructive attacking hockey, and managing to hold Ackworth to a draw.

To round off the season, five players out of eleven scored goals in our last match against Bootham, ending the season on a very positive note.

In the Spring Term (our netball term) the U. 14's were entered for the York and District Hockey Rally. Although we had a very enjoyable morning at the Mount School, very few goals were scored by any team, with most matches ending in goal-less draws.

The following girls represented the U.14 hockey team:

C. Alton, K. Charman, H. Clark (captain), Z. Clark, M. Dunn, L. Francis, R. Gilbert, R. Gill, S. Marshall, E. Metcalfe, S. Richards, J. Swallow, C. Taylor, C. Tong, K. Walsh, P. Whiting.

D. Westgate

Results:

Sept. 27 Queen Margaret's Away Lost 1 — 10 Sept. 30 The Mount Away Lost 1— 2 Oct. 3 Archbishop Holgate's Away Won 7— 0 Oct. 11 Manor School Away Lost 1— 3 Oct. 15 Ackworth Home Drawn 2— 2 Nov. 25 Bootham Away Won 10— 0