Silver Medals for St Benedict’s Hockey Girls

Published on isbi School News dated Monday 16th of November 2015

St Benedict’s Under 16 girls became the first Hockey team from the school to win County Championship medals when they came second in the Middlesex Tournament held at University of Westminster on Wednesday 4th November. This was a great result for St Benedict’s, the more so as three of the matches were against all-girls schools, who always provide very strong opposition. Playing a fast paced game and building-up to attacking play quickly, Bennies won their first two matches, 2-0 against both Teddington School and Godolphin & Latymer. Waldegrave provided very strong opposition in the third game and Benedict’s came close to keeping them at bay but succumbed to a goal from close range in the closing minutes. Against local rivals, Notting Hill and Ealing High School for Girls, Bennies went ahead only for NHEHS to even the score quickly. In a tense finish Benedict’s secured the win, using their time in front of goal thoughtfully. In the last match, tournament winners Latymer proved too strong, scoring two well worked goals and deservedly going through to the Regional South Finals as Middlesex champions. Winning three games was enough to secure St Benedict’s a Silver medal. Nikki Woodroffe, Director of Sport, summed up: “Congratulations to all the girls for applying great work rate and tactics, and especially to Molly Bish who deservedly won Girl of the Tournament. This was a magnificent achievement which underlines the progress that Hockey at St Benedict’s has made in the space of a few years. We have won local tournaments before but have never previously figured highly in the county championship. There is huge enthusiasm for the sport and many of these girls now play for local clubs and county hockey also. The future of the sport here at St Benedict’s holds greats promise. Just like the school motto “a minimis incipe” - from smallest beginnings!”