Netball
It has certainly been a busy couple of weeks on the netball courts, with lots of fixtures being played, House matches continuing, and a U14 tournament hosted on site with 18 teams. Everyone has been working really hard despite the foul weather we have faced.
The seniors had a great block against Seaford College in Week 4, resulting in three wins from four matches. The 1st team had a goal-to-goal match but unfortunately lost by two goals; it was an amazing match to watch. This also saw Ashley make her debut for the 1st team alongside Poppy. In the same week, the U14s dominated their fixture against Tormead, with all U14 teams winning. The U15s also had a good block against Tormead, with the U15C and U15D winning, and some tight matches for the U15A and U15B.
That weekend saw us dominate at U15 level against both Seaford College and King Edward’s, Southampton, in a triangular fixture on the Prom Courts. There were some very tight matches, but we came out on top and secured the wins. These matches demonstrated how much the teams have improved against tough opposition.
Saturday 31 January saw us host our U14A–C Invitation Netball Tournament, welcoming 18 teams from local schools, including Ryde from the Isle of Wight. The U14A team were unlucky not to finish as runners-up, narrowly losing to Epsom College. Ashley was awarded Player of the Tournament for the U14A. The U14C team also performed very well, competing in the U14B tournament, and Emilia was awarded overall Player of the B Tournament, which is an outstanding achievement.
Last week, the seniors played Cranleigh in a midweek block, and it was certainly a nail-biting match for the 1st team, who pulled away to secure a great win against our local rivals, finishing 32–25 after a brilliant team performance. Some of the other matches had to be abandoned due to the awful weather, which was a shame. The 8th team played King Edward’s, Witley, and had a very promising game, so well done to them.
Despite the bad weather last week, we were able to hold Fourth Form and Removes House Netball, allowing another couple of rounds to be played. There was some outstanding play, and it was brilliant to see the House spirit on display, with encouraging words from peers and plenty of cheering and support.
Last weekend saw a full block fixture against Wellington College. It is always good to play them, as it allows us to see where we currently are. The 1st team had a tight match but unfortunately lost. The 2nd VII secured a close win, alongside victories for the 4th, 7th, U15A, and U15B, with a good draw for the U15C. The U14s also had some very close games.
UAE Tour
On Thursday, 35 netballers head off on tour to the United Arab Emirates for eight days, where they will train in warmer conditions, compete in two tournaments, and play against two schools in Dubai. We wish them all the best for their tour and hope they have an amazing time – memories that will last a lifetime.
Hockey
The hockey programme continues to impress despite an unbelievably wet couple of weeks. Credit must go to all pupils, who have shown real perseverance throughout the first five weeks and have been excellent ambassadors for our School and the hockey programme.
Over the past two weeks, the U14A, U15A, and 1st XI have all been in cup action and each finished on the winning side. The U14A secured a strong win on shuffles against RGS after a 1–1 draw. The U15A overturned a 3–1 half-time deficit to win 5–3, producing an outstanding second-half performance, while the 1st XI recorded a convincing 7–0 victory over Bedales. We wish all three teams the very best of luck in round three.
Last weekend saw all 14 teams involved in a highly competitive block against Tonbridge, with several excellent performances across the programme. The 1st XI drew 3–3 on a very wet Friday evening on Northbrook A. The U14B extended their unbeaten run with an impressive 2–0 win, while both the U14D and U14E were also victorious. The U15B delivered a strong 4–0 win, with a high standard of hockey on display.
This week marked the first rounds of the House Hockey Competition, with all year groups and houses involved. It proved to be a fantastic morning and afternoon of hockey, underlining the depth of the programme at Charterhouse.
We now look ahead to a challenging block against Reed's, a local hockey powerhouse, which will provide a valuable indication of where the programme currently stands.
