SPORT// BOYS’ HOCKEY
U15 XI
the spirit they forged in adversity set the
tone for the rest of the season.
P7 / W6 / D1 / L0
A highly successful hockey season for
the U15 boys who went unbeaten in
the normal season. This is no mean feat
considering the opposition they were
up against, particularly Ashville and
Yarm. What was particularly pleasing,
however, was that this was truly a squad
effort with every boy playing their
part. Even those who got limited game
time consistently turned up to training
sessions, pushing for places in the team
and on game day encouraging from the
sidelines. The determination the team
showed throughout the season was
also something to behold; they simply
wanted it more than the opposition and
this told. Most importantly it was excellent to
see the boys’ hockey developing as the
season went on and the enjoyment they
had playing the game. This culminated
in their best performance of the season
where they beat St Peter’s 6-1 away -
which completed the double against
the old enemy! Here they played with
clinical precision, whilst moving the ball
with pace to completely dominate. At
the beginning of the season it looked as
though there would be only one goal-
scorer but thankfully this wasn’t the case,
with goals coming from eight different
players, including a Tom Gledden hat-
trick against Bradford Grammar School
and Rob Farnell finding some fine form
in the same game to score two.
It was also fantastic to see the boys
playing as a real team, something that
was particularly evident in a thrilling
4-3 victory against Silcoates, when they
were behind 3-2 with five minutes to go.
The grit they demonstrated here and However, the top goal-scorer, by some
way was the mercurial Tom Dyson who
netted nine goals. What is even more
impressive is that he did this in only five
games, averaging 1.8 goals per game.
His hat-trick against Ashville in the first
U15 XI Yorkshire
Hockey Tournament
P4 / W2 / D1 / L1 /
LOST IN QF
On another day we could have got to
the final in this competition but it wasn’t
to be. In the group stages there were
comfortable wins against Healing and
Ampleforth, with four goals from - of
course - Tom Dyson, Aaron Clements,
Devlin Hunt and Aaron Reid. Although
we took our time to get into these games,
once the engine started we dominated
U14 XI
and played with real intensity.
In the final game of the group stages we
came up against a very talented Hall
Cross side. The boys defended gallantly,
particularly Finlay Cooper and Will
Grewer, grinding out a 0-0 draw. We
might have snuck a goal on the break or
from a short corner if we had been a bit
more clinical.
As a result of this draw, and with Hall
Cross’s superior goal difference, we
finished second in the group setting up
a quarter final meeting against Hymers.
Overall a really progressive season. determination and this has come to be
a defining factor in the team’s strength.
With skills quickly developing, we manged
to start to use the entire pitch more and we
have matured into a good 11 aside team.
It is never easy to start the season with
a loss, but we bounced back from this
and showed character, resilience and With some great wins over St Peters,
twice, all boys have shown an excellent
spirit and sense of team cohesion
P8 / W2 / D0 / L6
66
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
game of the season showed his skill and
how dangerous he was going to be when
he got into the D, and it was clear he
struck terror into the hearts of all the
teams he came up against.
Every single player deserves an
individual write-up but particular
mention has to go to Dylan Barton
who stepped up to play in goal and who
has developed into a fine keeper. Tom
Gledden was also an exemplary captain,
running more than any other player
and leading with a calm intensity. His
performance against St Peter’s was the
best individual performance I have seen
in my time at Pocklington School.
Well done to all involved this season!
You have created a hard act to follow
and built the foundations for more
success in the future.
Player of the Season:
Tom Dyson
Most Improved Player:
Dylan Barton
This match was very close and the boys
were unlucky to be beaten 2-1 in the last
seconds of the game thanks to a flick. A
little less fatigue from the preceding game
and a little more discipline all round
(combined with a few more umpiring
decisions that went our way) would have
seen us through to the semi-finals.
Although it was a frustrating end to a
superb season the boys learnt a lot from
the experience and will go back to the
tournament in future years to rectify this.
that they all should be proud of.
Really well done.
Player of the Season: William
Tucker-Lowe & George Walster
Most Improved Player:
Oliver Young