Nationals semi-final place
The 2016 U15 girls hockey squad have gone from strength to strength this season, building on a promising Year 9. During the Michaelmas term they were unbeaten for their school season winning 14 of their 15 matches. This term, although playing netball as their major sport, they have qualified for the semi-finals of the Smile Group Travel ISHC U15 National Independent Schools Cup competition and will be contesting the semi-final of the internal Sussex competition.
On Tuesday 20 January they met QEGS Wakefield (Queen Elizabeth Grammar School) in the quarter-final round of the National competition. Despite QEGS being the Yorkshire county champions and playing two full terms of hockey each year, the Eastbourne girls produced an excellent performance in a closely contested game in freezing weather conditions.
In the first half there was little between the sides and the few chances which were created fell to Eastbourne. Lauren Bennett and Katie Meikle both went close and a penalty corner was saved by an agile and talented Yorkshire goalkeeper.
In the second half, the home side gradually improved the quality of play as their touch and teamwork returned and dispelled some rustiness caused by last playing competitively in early December. Holly Fletcher-Price, Lucy Martin, Izzy McIntosh and Annie Wilson began to link up nicely, while Charlotte Chatterton who has missed most of the season through injury became more influential. The game opened up as the Yorkshire team began to tire.
Eastbourne had four good chances saved during the second half, before an excellent penalty corner move was emphatically swept in by Holly Fletcher-Price. The girls played out the final few minutes close to the opposition goal before the final whistle blew to much relief and excitement. It was a well-deserved win for a superb team performance. The whole squad were justifiably pleased and proud of their efforts
