Merton Hockey Cluster Tournament 2019
If the idea of having to deal with your child’s filthy kit from the field fills you with dread, then perhaps hockey could be for you (and your child). Our school appears to be full of hockey players and a select few took the short walk with Mrs Carroll in November down to the mud-free 4G pitch at Ryanes Park High for the Merton Quicksticks Hockey finals.
We travelled light, just 6 intrepid players, 3 girls and 3 boys for balance, and a steely determination to bring back a trophy to our already over-crowded cabinet. Placed in a tough group, the children swept all competition aside in a devastating morning of glorious goals. As well as having clean kit, there were clean sheets as well from the team. Merton Park were dispatched, 5-0; Dundonald went down 3-0; West Wimbledon managed to hold parity with us, in a 2-2 draw. But then it was back to winning ways, Holy Trinity well-beaten 4-0 and finally Hatfeild losing 3-0. Nearly everyone was getting on the score sheet, Annabel Jordan proving deadlier than a shark in front of goal.
Then came the dreaded lunch break. If you’re enjoying a day out at Lords, or the Oval, this would be something to look forward to. Sadly though for the teachers, the bar was closed and all momentum from the morning generally stops in the afternoon.
That all said the quarter final was easy enough; St Matthew’s coming out 4-1 winners against Morden Primary. Next, came the reigning champions, Bishop Gilpin, in the semi-finals. Sadly there were no parallels with England’s world cup semi-final and last year’s champions overcame us 2-0, in a very close encounter. We would have to go again in the 3rd place play-off which the team did magnificently to win 4-1 against Wimbledon Park and finish on a deserved high.
A special mention should go to Joel Lee in the team. Despite not scoring any goals (some feat when you consider the team scored 25 in total) he must have saved dozens in a brilliant display of defence throughout the tournament. More to come in the Spring term when we will look to defend the three titles won in last year’s Quickstart competition.
