This year, hockey has taken off at Alleyn Court with record numbers playing hockey and competing for the school. With thanks to Old Southendians Hockey Club, we are now able to hold our training sessions on the Astro at Warners Bridge and many of our pupils have recently joined local hockey teams too.
Last week, Alleyn Court Prep entered 5 different competitions with 36 different pupils representing the school, both our U11 and U9 B teams competed in the Southend Schools friendly competition. With the emphasis on enjoyment it gave many of our pupils the first chance to play competitive hoc
key against lots of other schools locally. Our pupils embraced the opportunity in all the matches scoring lots of goals and winning most of their games, often against A teams from other schools.
Our U9 A team, competed in the Southend Schools competition and won their group beating Earls Hall and Friars. In the semi-final, despite having all the possession and shots, the game ended, after extra time 0-0. In the penalty shoot-out, unfortunately we lost and had to settle for a very well earned bronze medal, with Heycroft School.
In the U11 Southend Competition our A team won every match, beating St Michaels, Bournes Green and Temple Sutton to win their group, before beating Heycroft 1-0 in the Semi-final. The final saw Alleyn Court come up against Bournes Green again, with Alleyn Court winning 4-0 to retain their trophy from last year, qualifying for the Essex Finals in March.
On Thursday or U11 Boys Hockey team travelled to the National Hockey Stadium at Lee Valley to compete in the ISA (Independent Schools Association) National Competition. Our boys won their group in the morning beating Stafford Prep, Thorpe Hall and drawing with Crackley Hall, qualifying for the Final 8 ISA schools in the country. The standard of hockey was stepped up in the afternoon and despite only conceding 1 goal all day, we were not in contention for a medal, with 2 draws and one loss. But to finish in the Top 6 ISA schools is a great achievement especially because 5 of the 8 squad members were all Year 5 pupils and will get the chance to go even better next year.
