Aluredian
63
Girls' Hockey
Under 15s
Lucy Mead takes a
short corner against
Taunton School
We started our
season with a hard
fought game at
Wellington, with
the defence in
particular having to
work hard to clear their lines. Tarn McIntosh
made some good attacking runs down the left
wing, and Camilla Arliss made a series of
excellent saves, whilst always urging the team
forward.
After this disappointing loss, we regrouped
quickly and put on an outstanding team
performance to beat Taunton School 8-0.
Great play by the defence and midfield helped
to set up goals for Tarn McIntosh (3), Pippa
O'Neill (2), Hatty Harrison (who was player of
the match), Lucy Mead and Penny Guess.
Against Queen's, Lucy Mead and Gussy
Hydleman worked hard in the centre of the
pitch, and supplied the forwards with a good
amount of ball. Tarn McIntosh scored coolly
under pressure, and Pippa O'Neill had a
number of shots saved by their keeper.
We had to wait a fortnight for our next fixture,
a trip to Sherborne, which might explain why
we started slowly. Once we had conceded
early on, we had to chase the game for too
long, which left us exposed at the back, though
player of the match Millie Arliss in goal
commanded her D with great authority.
Against Wells Cathedral School we had a
number of chances in the first half which we
didn't manage to convert, and Wells capitalised
on this to score three quick goals. Player of
the match Rosita Dymond worked hard in
defence though, and we scored two good goals
through Penny Guess and Pippa O'Neill.
We started brightly enough at Blundell's,
moving the ball with pace and accuracy, and it
wasn't long before Penny Guess slotted home
the opening goal. Some sloppy defending
though gifted Blundell's two quick goals, and
although Alice Stillwell scored a good equaliser,
we conceded again in the final minutes of the
game.
Our final fixture of the season was an exciting
and physical game at Bryanston, which flowed
at pace from end to end. An excellent strike by
Pippa O'Neill gave us the lead, but Bryanston
quickly equalised. A goalmouth scramble
nearly gave us victory, but Bryanston turned
over the ball and scored in the dying seconds,
which was not quite how we wanted to end
what had otherwise been a thoroughly
enjoyable season.
The Bs had two fixtures this season,
the first a really impressive 2-0 win
against Queen's, followed after halfterm
by a disappointing defeat at
Blundell's. We trailed 1-0 at half-time,
but a more positive second half
performance saw an intelligent use of
our wide players and a better sense of
urgency in our ball pace.