T
he King's 'Team of the Year' must
surely go to the boys' hockey 1st
XI. We won the County Under 18
Cup for the first time, were runners-up in
the divisional final, and were three
minutes away from a penalty shoot-out
and the national finals. This last match
against Trent College reflected how well
the team can play; the players gave their
all and their disappointment was clear to
see. We lost only one regular school
fixture which meant we finished runnersup
in the newly formed Independent
Schools Wessex League, while Tristan
Marshall scored over 30 goals this
season, which is a school record.
However this was a real team effort and
all the players can be proud of their
achievements, brilliantly led by captain
Matt Harden.
We quickly took charge of the opening
game against Exeter School. The side
grew in confidence, and goals from Tristan
Marshall, Will Murray and Matt Richards
made it 4-1 at half-time. The second half
saw Tristan score three more, while Matt
completed his hat-trick, with Todd Barrett
completing the rout. 1st XI debutees Ben
Shapland, Joe Merriweather and Laurie
Moorhead proved their worth.
In an assured performance against
Queen's, patience was key, and with ball
possession and quick passing, gaps soon
opened up. Tristan Marshall opened the
scoring after a string of textbook passes
from the back, and Todd Barrett and Matt
Richards added to the tally with wellworked
goals. Todd went on to complete
his first hat-trick for the 1st XI in an
excellent win.
Another brilliant all-round team
performance against Millfield got the team
off to a good start in the Wessex Hockey
League, gaining a maximum five points for
a win by three goals. Tristan Marshall
scored a hat-trick of short corners and Will
James his first goal. Things proved closer
in the county cup final, before Matt
Richards secured the win with a penalty
stroke.
In a real crowd pleaser, Sherborne took an
early lead, which shook King's into action.
With some excellent attacking moves, we
scored five open field goals and one short
corner, with two goals from Todd Barrett,
two from Tristan Marshall and one apiece
for Joe Merriweather and Robin Danaher,
always managing to keep at least one
ahead of Sherborne.
Victory tastes sweeter when you beat the
side that you lost to in the divisional cup
final! After conceding a goal to Clifton in
the first ten minutes, Tristan Marshall
slotted a trademark short corner on the
half-time whistle. This galvanised the side
into action, and Corbett Sykes-Moore only
had to make one save in the second half,
but it needed two more short corners
from Tristan and Matt Richards to secure
victory.
We comfortably beat Bryanston - we went
ahead from a slick short corner by Tristan
Marshall, only to give away a penalty
stroke. This stung us into action and by
half-time it was 5-1 with goals from Todd
Barrett, Will James, Joe Merriweather and
Will Murray. The second half was all one
way, but it took two late goals from Tristan
and Will Murray against tiring opposition to
wrap the game up convincingly.
In a closely contested match with Taunton
School, we hit the post in the first minute,
went a goal down after ten, and equalised
after 15 minutes from a Tristan Marshall
reverse strike after a skilful run from Todd
Barrett. We then had a ball cleared off a
defender's chest and hit the post again,
before being thwarted cruelly in the last
minute.
The future of boys' hockey is bright at
King's. We had 11 players selected for
Somerset Junior Academy coaching, and
Matt Richards has again been selected for
England Under 18s. I would like to thank
all coaches for their time and dedication,
and in particular Corbett Sykes-Moore who
proved an outstanding honorary secretary
of the hockey club.
Tristan Marshall keeps his
eye on the ball against
Taunton School
Boys' Hockey
1st XI
by David Cole
Aluredian 75