Boys’ Hockey

“When you’ve got something to prove, there’s nothing greater than a challenge.” – Terry Bradshaw

1ST XI

The season began with a pre-season tour to the midlands. Based in Nottingham the squad prepared for the season ahead with a trip to Nottingham University and some early matches. Day one saw practice matches against Trent College, where all the boys were GPS tracked and videoed for later analysis. Day two at the state of the art facilities, included some S & C, sprint testing and rehab in the hydrotherapy pool. The final day was for tactical and strategic game play, this proved to be a great experience for the boys and a fantastic way to start the season.

The first game was against Sedbergh and the preseason tour certainly paid off with a resounding 5-2 win. We then moved on to Hall Cross, played at Doncaster Hockey Club. This was a fiercely contested match with both teams playing some excellent hockey, a 1-1 draw was a fair result. The next block fixture was against Worksop College, their 1st XI consisted of a number of scholarship players so it was always going to be a difficult encounter. Again both teams pushing each other with neither team able to push home an advantage – the game finishing in a 1-1 draw. Ashville were next and a tighter game than expected resulted in a 2-1 win. Yarm School usually prove to be one of the toughest hockey matches for the 1st XI, not so on this occasion, however, with a resounding 7-2 win. The team were now consistently playing good hockey with fast ball movement and very much an attacking mindset.

RGS Newcastle followed with a 2-0 win and a quick turnaround against QEGS Wakefield and a 1-0 win. The team then moved on to the County Tournament and were in a confident mood, winning the group they moved into the final to play Scarborough College. A draw at full time put the game into sudden death penalty flicks which unfortunately went the way of Scarborough. Runners up in the County still a commendable performance.

A re-match against Ashville followed with a 3-1 win. The annual match against the Pandas (St Peter’s Old Boys’ and Girls’) is always an entertaining affair and the game was played in great spirit with a good win for the school. It is always good to welcome back the OP’s and a great tradition that should continue. Our final match was against Hymers with a good 6-1 win. This was a great season for the boys who remained unbeaten in regular season matches.

Thank you to all the boys and to Mr Hardy who stepped in to coach the team.

Played 10 Won 8 Drawn 2

Squad: C.Ledden, M.Roberts, E.Ramsden, N.Gill, M.Lodge, W.Taylor, E.Westmoreland, T.Search, F.Southgate, E.Watson, W.Morrison ( Cpt), M.Taylor, E.Morrison, C.Wood, C.Blackburn

2ND XI

The 2nd XI Hockey faces a number of new challenges now, which have only been encountered recently. I cannot thank Joe Bates as Captain and the rest of this side enough for their commitment to the season both in training and against the many 1st XIs they played during the term. We need to thank Henry Coulter Pepper and Ben Tomalin for Keeping for us throughout the season. When we could field our top side we could compete with any of the sides we played but when injury struck this did leave us exposed. At the back we had Tom Robbins, Will Guyer and then variously Andy Hanson, Max Mikhail and Curran Maguire. Until injury robbed us of Benji Wilson he played in front of the back four. He was replaced by James Bramley who was excellent but it dragged him away from a more central role. Joe Bates marshalled midfield and used the pace of Ethan Leigh-Howarth, Lawrie Carlyle, and Ethan Watkins out wide and up front. Each of these also rotated into mid field allowing Jake Hammond his role in front of goal. It was not putting away our chances that ultimately cost us games and somewhat skewed some score lines. Every one of the lads who played could go to university and play the game at a decent level and if they continue next year many will challenge for 1st XI places. I would like to thank Luke for all his efforts with the side and his support of me especially when the sevens also took me away. I like to think of the season based around their superb performance against Worksop College when we had our full side out and were playing another school’s 2nd XI. That win was at the start of a season that saw huge improvements in individual skills and team understanding – well done lads.

“I cannot thank Joe Bates as Captain and the rest of this side enough for their commitment to the season.”

Mr Paddy Stephen

U16 REPORT

This was an excellent season for the U16 hockey squad, achieving some impressive results and attaining a great run in the National Cup. The season started with a close encounter against Sedbergh, some fluid hockey was played by both sides, with St Peter’s finishing slightly stronger to win 4-3. A quick turnaround saw us away at Hall Cross, another tight game resulting in a 2-2 draw. The big block fixture against Worksop followed with the best performance of the season so far giving us a 4-2 win.

Playing next against Ashvile 1st XI proved to be difficult, the additional physicality of the older boys proved slightly too much, and we went down 2-1. A great learning experience and one which would help for future games. A midweek game against Yarm followed with a 6-0 defeat. Sometimes teams must just accept defeat for what it was, with the opposition proving to be too strong.

The County Tournament followed and some resilience needed to be shown. Five unbeaten games put us into the final, which we came through to become Yorkshire Champions. This was followed by the North East play-off game against Richmond. A fantastic match saw the score at 0-0 at full time, sudden death extra time followed, and our greater fitness levels shone through to secure the win 1-0. A fantastic achievement to become North East Champions and move forward to Manchester for the North finals.

Two more regular matches remained with a win against Ashville 5-0 and a loss against Hymers 4-3. The trip to Manchester for the North Finals followed. This next level proved to be a step too far losing out in the group stages. Despite this, it was a great season for the U16s who can be very proud of their achievements. A huge thank you to all the boys and to Mrs Brough for all her hard work in coaching the team.

Squad: Henry Coulter-Pepper, Chris Heijbroek, Andy Hanson, Joshy Bennison, Ed Fricker, Ed Jackson, Matthew Ng, Harvey Gration, Tudor Maude, Flynn Southgate, David Ford, Alex Try-Banton, Max Mikhail, Nico Masucci, Elliot Watson, Toby Search

U15 REPORT

The U15s had a prolific season, moving their hockey forward in every aspect of their development both in terms of their skills on the ball and in their understanding of the game. The side is a wellbalanced hockey team; some outstanding thoughtful games players, with a wealth of creative skill, combined with pace and vast engines, all of whom developed their capacity and maturity to take on board anything technical and tactical.

Their attitude to training was exemplary and as a result, for making the time to work hard on their basic skills, they saw the rewards in abundance in the results. Comprehensive wins against a strong Worksop College and a well-manufactured win at home to Ampleforth were pleasing. They enjoyed solid victories over Thirsk, Ashville, and RGS, with the only defeat being to a very strong Yarm side on a very cold day in January. We had an excellent day at the County Tournament, showing our class in the group games and semi-final, ending in penalty flick defeat in the final to Harrogate GS, having played them off the park for 90% of the game in normal and extra time.

As the season moved on, the team effort was clear for all to see and was commented on throughout the term. The side played some eye-catching hockey and did it all with a smile. It has been a pleasure to coach the boys this term; they have been great value and superb ambassadors for the school. I wish to thank them for all their efforts and hard work – they deserve great credit for the way the performed all season. I wish them well as they move through into their senior hockey; they add even more strength and endeavour to the ever evolving and dynamic St Peter’s hockey.

U14 REPORT

This was a very good season for the U14s. They arrived at the first training session full of enthusiasm and they were determined to improve. The first game was away against Sedbergh, which was always going to be a tough encounter. Some excellent general play from both sides resulted in a narrow loss 3-1. A quick turnaround saw the team in action away at Hall Cross and securing their first win of the season 2-0. The following Saturday was the traditional hockey block fixture against Worksop, with both A and B teams in action; two even games ensued resulting in a hard-fought victory for the As 2-1 and a 0-0 draw for the Bs.

We then moved on to the Yorkshire Schools Championship and the first tournament of the season. An excellent day with four matches unbeaten put the team into the final. Again, some fine hockey enabled the team to secure the win and become Yorkshire Champions. After half term the team continued in the same vein with wins against RGS Newcastle, Ashville, Hymers and Pocklington. The only blemishes from the season were a loss to Ampleforth and Egglescliffe in the North East play offs.

A huge thank you to the boys for their hard work and their coaches Mr Maltby and Mr Collister.

Squad: Toby Baker, Will Brunton, Louis Todd, Jacob Hardisty, Freddie Iles, Kit Lovisetto, Mitchell Moisley, Sean Norza, Frankie Padgett (GK), Finlay Recchia, Elias Smith, Alex Wood, Miles Philips, Christy Thompson, William Holmes