March 7th 2022
We are enormously proud of how brilliantly the U11 boys played in the IAPS Hockey National Finals this week finishing 8th in the UK out of 140+ schools, and what a great representation of Sherborne Prep School sport they were! The boys showed determination, skill and passion.
Here’s another amazing commentary of the day’s matches as told by our very own Joe Arkwright!
An excitable group of U11A boys took the long-awaited trip down to Rugby on Tuesday 2 March for the IAPS National Finals. More than 150 schools had entered the competition and Sherborne Prep were in the final 24! An overnight stay fuelled our anticipation for the competition, and we were up early on the Wednesday morning ready to commence battle!
Drawn in a tough group alongside well-known names, such as Bromsgrove and Cheltenham, the boys made a shaky start against Great Walstead. Our opposition had most of the chances, but our stalwart defence pushed them back time and time again. In the final minute Sherborne counter attacked and slipped a bouncing ball underneath the keeper to take the game 1-0. Following Great Walstead, the boys took on Cheltenham College. This time Sherborne played all the hockey and scored an early goal from open play. Many more chances were created but to no avail, but we were pleased to finish with a win of 1-0.
With 2 wins from 2 games morale was high as we stepped on to the field against Langley Prep but that bubble burst quickly as the Langley Park Centre Forward stole an early goal. 6 minutes to go, 1-0 down, patience was wearing thin until an inspired short corner routine brought us level. Will M deflecting Tristan T clean strike into the roof of the net. 0-1 turned to 1-1 which quickly turned to 2-1 as Sherborne turned on the pressure and played some of the best hockey we would see all tournament.
3 wins from 3.
In came Bromsgrove. Our SPS dream team played some wonderful team hockey, but we just could not find the back of the net so we came away with a loss.
Fate was in our hands to qualify for the quarter finals, but Barrow Hills School stood in front of us, group leaders who had not even dropped a point or conceded a goal up to this point. Barrow would go 1-0 up after a slick short corner routine from their very talented and strong center midfielder put us on the back foot. It came down to the final 4 minutes of a gruelling group stage and Sherborne needed a goal to qualify. The tireless Theo M nicked the ball in midfield and two quick passes later Eddie P had the ball in the Barrow Hills circle, he spun on his reverse and found the bottom corner. SPS went through! A momentous achievement from a year group of 20 boys. We took on a strong side in the quarter finals and sadly walked away defeated by 2 goals to nil.
The boys left the field graciously with their heads held high in the knowledge that they are one of the top 8 teams in the country but more importantly a top group of ambassadors off the field for Sherborne Prep.
In the words of Mr Thomas ‘Warriors!.’"
See all the photos online.
Flickr album: IAPS National Final | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin
