Unbeaten Under 9s

1st July, 2010

What an amazing year it has been for the Under 9 girls, unbeaten all year in hockey, netball and rounders.

It started off in September with nine girls, nine hockey sticks and not a clue what to do! We started practising our skills and learning how to work as a team before putting ourselves to the test for the first time against Lyndon Prep, winning 10-0 – despite not having a goalkeeper. During the other matches against Abberley and Moreton Hall the girls showed how far they’d already come from complete novices to confident, competent players able to support each other and play some really good hockey. Buoyed up by a successful term, the girls returned after Christmas for the netball season, raring to go. They had three matches, one seven-a-side and one ‘high five’ so not only did they have to learn the rules of two different formats of the game but they also learnt to play in every position, showing that each of them had their own talent on the netball court.

The girls played exceptionally well in all of their matches with fantastic accurate throwing and shooting, and steadfast defence, resulting in a total of 32 goals in their favour and only five against. The successful netball term further strengthened the bond between this small group of girls and their increasing familiarity with each other added to their confidence.

And so to the rounders term – a completely different sport to master with a different size ball, a big open space and nine very eager girls, who knew how this was going to turn out?! Demonstrating their ability to work as a team and playing with great skill and enthusiasm, they went on to win all the matches they took part in, including some with the Under 8s and the Under 10s.

Coach, Kelly Evans writes ‘This little Under 9 team has made my first year at Packwood a fantastic one. Every single one of them has been a pleasure to teach and to take to matches, home and away. We’ve had great fun and gained lots of skills, knowledge and experience in the process. The girls have been a credit to Packwood and will go down in school history as the first ever unbeaten Under 9 team. Congratulations girls and good luck for next year!’

Team: Ellie Mason, Freya Beasley, Lottie Clarke, Lottie Hill-Trevor, Romy Grigg, Chloe Edwards, Talullah, Theodora Jarvis, Immy Downey.