Page 29 - The Malvernian - December 2023

THE MALVERNIAN
Sporting Highlights
We’ve started the academic year with real momentum, both in terms of performance and participation, with over two-thirds of our community already having represented the College, across 12 sports and over 250 competitive fixtures.
Hockey has started strongly this year under new Director of Hockey, Elliot Foweraker. Early in the term, 6 pupils; 1st team captain Emma Youngs, vice-captain Daisy Tuthill, Wilf Richardson, Euan MacKellar, Guy Clarke and Joe Stocks were all selected for this year’s Talent Academy preparing them for potential tournaments in the England Hockey Pathway. Indoor has been a huge success with our U16 Boys, U16 Girls and U18 Girls all qualifying and competing at Midlands Finals, with our U16 boys missing out narrowly on the final after losing 3-2 in the semis. The Girl’s 1st XI have done well, reaching the last 16 in both Tier 3 and Independent School plate competitions with these games still to be played. There have been some excellent block fixtures across all teams with some noticeable performances from the 2nd and 3rd XIs who have both won the majority of their matches this year.
The Rugby season started in mid-July with 40 boys embarking upon a fabulous tour to the ‘rainbow nation’. Following on from that, several boys were straight off the plane into the RFU Academy Festivals hosted here at Malvern College. The prep schools U12 and U13 pre-season coaching clinic was once again very well supported with 110 eager boys looking forward to getting their season underway. The Border Shield was one of the highlights of the term attracting a crowd of 1500+ supporters from both schools and the rugby community. The U10 and U11 Festival was well
attended with 180 boys participating. We currently have 17 boys across all age groups involved in either Midlands West or Gloucester Rugby academies, Tom Hilton and Monty Oliver are EAP (England Academy Player) registered players; this is the highest accolade that can be awarded to a player other than being capped and we are extremely proud of them both. Will Clayton and Fergus Morris were selected for the U18s Barbarians squad to play against Rugby School 1st XV to celebrate 200 years of the game of rugby at Rugby School. This is an awesome and unique opportunity for the boys, and they will be inducted into the Barbarians Hall of Fame. Both U16 and U14 teams have had successful seasons in terms of results and the U15s have improved unrecognisably this season. At the Senior end, we have not had the best of seasons in terms of results; however, we cannot fault the commitment and effort the boys have put in at training and in fixtures.
It has been a very busy term for our Netball teams with the U18, U16 and U14s all competing in the District and County Tournaments. Our U16 and U18s have also taken part in Cup games, with some close and unfortunate losses but some very convincing wins also. The U18s are through to the semi-finals in the ‘Sisters n Sport’ National Netball Senior Bowls for Schools North that we look forward to building on and continuing our success into the Lent term.
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THE MALVERNIAN
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