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Following just one practice session, the U12 hockey team had the misfortune to play Oakham School in their first match of term. The opposition had already played a number of matches this term, having played hockey since early January: that is not to make an excuse because it's fair to say that this was a super Oakham team, individually talented and adept at playing together. They would have beaten us anyway, but the circumstances didn't help. With us travelling in the minibus for well over four hours, it certainly made for a long trek for 40+ minutes of hockey ...
With their experience on astro from seven weeks practice this term, as against our one practice session on
grass on Monday, Oakham were always more adept than ourselves ...
The pitch makes such a difference, which is so unfortunate … with our U11's having beaten the U12 'B' team from Oakham 5-1 on grass earlier this term, I have little doubt that even our U11's could've matched the Oakham U12's on grass today, but on astro, even our 1st XI (U13's) would've struggled to beat the Oakham U12's. It's a shame when the pitch dictates the outcome of the match (either way, both at home (win) and away (defeat)!)
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Three of our defenders head for one forward ... only one man needs to 'close down' one player ... the Oakham forward passed the ball to another forward here, but Harry R-S saved the shot at goal ...
The match began with a number of secure S.Anselm's passes, we looked safe in the opening five minutes but then Oakham took control of the match. They scored four goals within 10 minutes, including three in three, as deft touches, balls into space and quick counter attacks found our team wanting. The goals weren't given up without a struggle, however, as Harry R-S found himself on the floor having made one good save only for the rebound to beat him, one goal unfortunately was deflected off Jacques T's stick and two goals were scored from short corners (Oakham were very good at taking these to the very top of the 'D' … I'd warned you about more goals being scored from short corners in 11-a-side hockey …!)
James B is about to make this tackle, but Jacques T, sleeves rolled up, is ready to take on yet another
challenge!
William H shields the ball very well from the Oakham midfield ... that said, the right hand needs to be lower
down the stick!
Calamity loomed, but a sudden surge forward found Max H at the top of the opposition 'D' and although the shot wasn't crisply struck, it bounced awkwardly to beat the Oakham goalkeeper.
Max H scores for S.Anselm's, his 10th goal for the school ... a little way to go to match Patrick Foster's record
of 162 goals however!
Charles B working hard again ... whether at left midfield or left forward, he always gave of his best today ...
The final 30 minutes of the game saw us work very hard indeed. Oakham scored two goals but the progress made by our team was pleasing. Charles B and Max H battled away, though it was ever so hard for them and Montagu C in attack as, whenever they received the ball, they lacked support because we'd been defending so deeply to clear the ball in the first place!
Stopping the ball 'senior school style' ... one could never advocate such a technique on grass, however!
We lacked the necessary wing play when playing on a full sized astro (a first 11-a-side astro match for most of you today) and despite battling hard when going forward, Alfred H and Oliver N found it hard to keep up with the attacking Oakham midfield when the play was going the other way …
Ollie N controls the ball on the left wing ... the step up from junior to senior hockey is a big one ...
Full marks to our defensive five. Harry R-S was impressive. He didn't make any spectacular saves though equally had no chance with any of the goals, but he was very good at judging when to come off his 'D' … (It was so good to see a GK in the thick of the action, so often we win our games comfortably!).
Harry R-S made many fine saves ... unfortunately this shot has just beaten him at the far post!
This ball, however, has just been saved ... unfortunately a loose pad resulted in the ball banging into the knee cap ...
I was very impressed in the second half by the work rate of Freddie R-S and Rufus L on the right hand side of the pitch, they closed the opposition down well and closed off many attacking opportunities for Oakham. James B takes the man of the match award due to clearing our lines so well so often, though I was also very impressed with Jacques T who not only tackled well, but was also so aware of where opposition players were and ordered other defenders to mark them. William H had his moment too, though he struggled a few times on the reverse stick …
James B about to launch another ball forward ... his clearances kept us in the game ...
You impressed the considerate Oakham member of staff with your battling performance, though he had no idea (beforehand!) that you'd only just started hockey for this term ...
David C runs in support of Ollie N ... he had a good day on both wings.
We had our moments today, but, in reality, 44 U12 boys to choose from (v. 19), 16 hockey practice sessions (v. 1) and astro v grass made for an insurmountable challenge ...!
A reorganisation at half time in our defence ...
JMHF
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