U11 Basketball v St Martins We had an excellent afternoon of basketball over at St Martins School on Tuesday. The team played really well in the three pool games winning all three of them and only conceding one basket in all three matches combined! We passed the ball well and our game awareness improved as the matches went on. By winning all our pool matches we progressed to the final to play St Martins who had narrowly beaten us a few weeks ago in our only other fixture. The boys and girls were so determined that St Martins were constantly on the defensive due to our speedy attacks and strong defense. Isaac, James, Otto and Lilyrose combined well on attack and Oliver C, Aria, Yuvraaj, Henry and Oliver W dominated the middle of the court. Tobi was our star player and was voted Player of the Tournament by the St Martin's Year 8 sports scholars. Well done to all involved in what was a very enjoyable festival.
U12 v St Martins and Lochinver House Edge Grove vs Lochinver House Edge Grove 7-0 St Martins Edge Grove 0-1 Lochinver House
Edge Grove started off strong against St Martins scoring seven tries. They were physical when St Martins had the ball and quickly gained the ball back spreading the ball into space well. Some excellent tackles from Ollie G and Albert ensured that Edge Grove remained on top. Tries scored by Niccolo, Ollie C and Nathan.
The second game against Lochinver House was much more evenly matched, the ball going back and forth between teams showing real competitiveness. Edge Grove made breaks but were unable to dot the ball down, an excellent run from Rex on the wing gained ground but Edge Grove were unable to capitalised. Lots of dotting and darting from Nathan and Niccolo and cover tackles from Lir ensured the game stayed 0-0. Edge Grove lost concentration and gave Lochinver a penalty in the danger zone. The whole team worked hard to keep them out but were unable to, allowing Lochinver to score the first and only try of the game.
U11 Mr Davies v St Martins and Lochinver House Edge Grove 4 Lochinver House 7
This was a well contested first match back and it was a hard fought physical game. Lochinver had some very strong boys so the team really needed to be sharp with their line speed in order to make the key tackles. It was exciting end to end rugby with some fantastic tries from both teams.
Edge Grove 6 St Martins 1
This match allowed a range of players to score tries and there were some superb runs with ball in hand. St Martin, unfortunately were not able to hold onto the ball in contact and this played into our hands. We passed the ball well down the line for our backs to score excellent tries.
U11 Mr Wallis v St Martins and Lochinver House Edge Grove 2 Lochinver House 3
What better way to start the afternoon with an intense, physical and fast paced game of rugby. Lochinver started the quickest with a try within the first few minutes, however Edge Grove soon woke up and showed their intent. With some fierce tackles and great passing into the space we made Lochinver House work hard for the rest of the game, scoring a couple of well worked tries.
Edge Grove 5 St Martins 4
This match had a bit more fluidity which allowed both teams to score some well worked tries. We worked the ball well through the hands and hit the defense hard, often breaking through and finding the space behind. Each time we scored we were sometimes caught napping and on occasion conceded straight from the restart, which left us something to work on for the next set of fixtures. Overall a great afternoon of Rugby and the pupils were very happy to have fixtures back!
U10 Mr Wagstaff v St Martins and Lochinver House Edge Grove 2 Lochinver House 1
After 2 weeks of no matches the boys were very excited and what a brilliant game of rugby for the boys and for those spectating it was. After a tightly contested first half between the teams there were no tries to separate them. The second half was also a tightly fought 8 minutes. Both teams defended exceptionally well however we managed to break the defensive twice, with quick passing and running hard through the gaps.
Edge Grove 3 St Martins 3
Another close contest with the first half being more open with space appearing for both teams on the wings. St Martins scored 2 quick tries but the boys' heads didn’t drop and they showed great commitment and team spirit to fight back and level the scores before the half ended. The tackling from our boys in the second half kept St Martins back from the try line and we continued to push for a try ourselves. Both teams found the line once each in the second half but the game ended in a well contested draw.
A fantastic afternoon of rugby with 2 games that were certainly exciting to watch. Great work boys and many thanks to those parents who came out to support.
U10 Mr McManus v St Martins and Lochinver House Edge Grove 3 St Martins 7
The team started very slowly and did not perform to their true ability in this match. A two week layover with no fixtures could have contributed to this however we were reluctant to tackle the opposition and did not contest the ball on the ground. We did improve as the match wore on and managed to score three really good tries.
Edge Grove 5 Lochinver House 5
A good team talk and reminder of our key targets for the match resulted in a massively improved performance. We ran with strength and determination when we had the ball but most importantly of all we protected it in the contact situation and retained possession to keep the attacks flowing and we raced into a 5 - 1 lead. We did start to tire and fall off tackles towards the end however the boys and girls should feel very proud of how they bounced back and performed so
U10 Mr McDonough v St Martins
This was a very exciting game of end to end rugby action. Both teams were a little tentative in the tackle which resulted in a number of tries being scored. There was some strong running with ball in hand and the final score of 13 - 13 was a fair result.
U9 Mr McManus v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 5 Beechwood Park 2 Edge Grove 8 Kingshott 4
The boys and teachers were delighted to be back playing against other schools after a two week lay-off and we played some excellent rugby in patches. The boys tackling was excellent against much bigger opposition and we did run in some very good tries through a combination of good handling and strong running. We did lose our shape at times and went away from the game plan too often however this was as a result of playing against two unstructured teams. We need to remember to keep our patience and play our own game rather than resorting to individual play. Special mention must go to Logan for excellent tackling and Laurence and Noham for outstanding all-round play.
U9 Mr Davies v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 3 Beechwood Park 3 Edge Grove 7 Kingshott 3
This was a great afternoon of rugby where the boys were able to put into practice the skills we have been working on in training. It was great to see how far they have come since the start of the season. The tackling has certainly improved and there were some strong try saving moments made by all of the players on the pitch. It was particularly pleasing to see the enjoyment that all of the team had playing in such competitive matches.
U9 Mr Gayle v Beechwood Park and Kinshott Edge Grove 7 Beechwood Park 6 Edge Grove 6 Kingshott 4
The boys played extremely well and had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. There was some very good tackling and we scored some excellent individual tries. We do now need to try to play more as a team and pass the ball to players in better positions than us. Well done to all involved on a very successful afternoon.
U9 Mr Maranzana v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 8 Beechwood Park 7 Edge Grove 2 Kingshott 4
Two wonderfully enjoyable games of rugby played by the boys at Beechwood Park. The first match was end to end and closely contested by both sides. There were some wonderful runs and plays that showed the progress the boys are making with each game played. The Kingshott game provided a change in tempo given that it was touch rather than contact tackle game. The faster pace proved tougher but only because it was played hot on the heels of the first match. fitness and stamina will improve and at this rate the boys will be well placed for further matches as the season continues. Well done to each and everyone of you! U8 Mr Wagstaff v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 4 Beechwood Park 0 Edge Grove 5 Kingshott 0
A lovely afternoon of rugby over at Kingshott. The quality of rugby from our boys was brilliant, running forwards at pace when we had the ball with support for our ball carrier available allowing us to pass the ball quickly and create many try scoring opportunities. Our defensive line was well organised and quick to press onto the opposition which meant we kept a clean sheet. A great result to finish the half term on. Great work boys.
U8 Mr Wallis v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 6 Beechwood Park 0 Edge Grove 4 Kingshott 1
The boys had an enjoyable afternoon of Rugby at Kingshott. We defended well as a team, chasing the opposition together and forcing the turnover/ mistake. When we had the ball we showed great pace and awareness of space to find the gaps in the opposition’s defence. Lots of positives to take away, but we agreed afterwards that to make sure we keep improving we need to make a pass when there is a teammate in space and in a better position, but we could also let our teammates know that by communicating.
U8 Rugby v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 4 Beechwood Park 2 Edge Grove 5 Kingshott 1
The boys had a fantastic afternoon at Kingshott playing some brilliant games against two different schools. The children worked hard to maintain the correct positions during the game and as a result put up an excellent defence. We scored some good tries and worked well as a team encouraging each other. Keep up the good work boys.
U8 Mrs Massey v Beechwood Park and Kingshott Edge Grove 2 Beechwood Park 1 Edge Grove 4 Kingshott 0
The boys were fantastic today and it was great to see such superb teamwork. A couple of the boys scored their first ever try and they had good possession of the ball throughout both matches. Some good passes were made and the boys maintained a good defense line.
Year 6 Inter-Schools Dodgeball:
The Edge Grove team performed extremely well and won 7 out of 9 matches which meant they won the competition. The team worked very well together and showed initiative in the strategies they adopted. A most enjoyable and successful afternoon. The team’s behaviour was a credit to the school.
U10A v Kingshott Edge Grove 9 Kingshott 4 From the start the girls worked exceptionally well as a team and encouraged each other in every quarter. In the first quarter the play was a little frantic and although we scored 2 goals we needed to slow the play down. The girls did this for the rest of the match which enabled us to pass the ball accurately and allowed us to find space and score some excellent goals. Well done girls I enjoyed watching this match!
U10B v Kingshott Edge Grove 5 Kingshott 3
A very good game this week for the U10B team. They were able to find space in the court and mark their players well. Our attackers were quick to pass the ball into the shooting circle and there were some lovely goals and even more attempts on goal. Our passing and interception was strong which enabled some lovely netball to be played. Well done girls.
U10C v Kingshott Edge Grove 7 Kingshott 0
An excellent game of Netball from the U10C team this week. Sophie showed great court awareness, whilst Roma used her strong overhead pass to move the netball up the court. An exceptional goal from Khushi just inside the D. I look forward to seeing how the team progress through the season.
U10D v Kingshott Edge Grove 0 Kingshott 7
A game of 2 halves from the U10D team today. The girls showed perseverance and determination for the whole game and kept on focusing on moving towards the ball. Great movement and passing from India to Sienna to move the ball up towards our attacking 3rd. I look forward to seeing how the girls progress during the season.
U11A v Kingshott Edge Grove 13 Kingshott 2
A superb win for the U11A team. It was a slow start for the girls as they were observing the play of the opposition. However, as the game progressed, they gained confidence in their positions and worked excellently as a team to secure a lead. Each week Edge Grove improve their versatility, moving around positions effectively. The girls showed determination throughout which was evident in their performance and their continuous fight to win the ball. Some excellent shooting from all the girls, resulting in a huge 13-2 win, well done!
U11B v Kingshott
The girls gave 100% from the first whistle to the final whistle. This was lovely to see as Kingshott only had 2 teams for our 3 so match time was shorter than usual for each team player. Fantastic moving into space and intercepting meant we had possession for most of the match. The girls switched positions effectively and enjoyed playing attack and defence. Superb shooting from India propelled us into the lead which we held until full time. Well done to the whole team.
U11C v Kingshott
The girls started against an already warmed up Kingshott B team with determination. They worked hard at marking individual players and passing to teammates who were free. It would be good to see an increase in pace when off the ball, and moving into space up the court. Special mention goes to Bryony who worked tirelessly for the whole game. She also received praise from the visiting member of staff for her attitude. A great effort from the girls who work more cohesively every time they play. U13 Netball Festival This week the year 7 and 8 girls took part in a netball festival consisting of teams from Kingshott, Queenswood and St Francis school. We split into two teams and both took part in four matches. The girls played well, swapping around positions to ensure everyone had a chance to play in their preferred spot. The girls worked on their positional play, making sure they stayed ball-side reducing the likelihood of interception. A few shout outs, firstly to Mirabelle who had a brilliant tournament making so many interceptions I lost count, secondly to Emilia who had a fantastic game at Goal Shooter and lastly to Amie and Mali who played brilliantly together in defense. U8 & U9 v Kingshott and St Frances
Year 3 and 4 had an exciting afternoon of netball at Kingshott today playing several 6 minute games against the hosts and St. Frances. The children came out full of enthusiasm, energy despite the cold weather, and demonstrated a good knowledge of the Bee netball rules showing good movement up and down the court and strength in both attack and defence. After being encouraged to go for goal whenever possible several shots were taken with many fantastic goals scored across the teams. It was a busy afternoon with quick changeovers and the teams managed themselves maturely, swapping players on and off according to the rotation system. It was a joy to watch everyone working hard with their team and gain more confidence as the afternoon progressed. Well done to all players involved.
U13 v Lochinver House Edge Grove 17 Lochinver House 40
We came across a very good team on Tuesday who passed the ball quickly and were able to create space which allowed them time to complete their lay-ups. We were a little bit too individual, trying to dribble it and shoot from distance. Hopefully when we play Westbrook Hay next week we will get back to our winning ways.
U13A v Beechwood Park (Mr Aitchison) Edge Grove 14 Beechwood Park 4
Edge Grove started well in the match and took an early lead. Nathan and Max made strong runs into the opposition half and left a trail of destruction behind them. Max almost lost his shorts at one point dragging a hapless tackler with him over half the length of the pitch before scoring. Ediz was strong and effective in the tackle as was Liam making sure to put the opposition to ground. Milo was also strong and incisive when tackling or making his probing runs in behind the defence. The tackle of the match came from Daniel who has an amazing technique and he brought one of their biggest runners down like a beaver felling a log.We are very proud of the progress he has made since taking up this new sport. Monty was strong and agile and used his pace to great effect scoring 4 or 5 tries in the match. Prashil made some lovely runs and on one occasion stepped through the opposition defence repeatedly like he was running through a field of landmines, coming through unscathed. Henry led from the front and made several telling solo runs. We are aiming to put together long passages of play and it is slowly coming together. We are reading the play better which was evidenced by three intercept tries falling to Ediz, Prashil and Monty which was great to see. Well done boys and thanks so much to the parents who came to support their children and the Edge Grove team as a whole.
U12/13 Touch Rugby v Beechwood Park Edge Grove 3 Beechwood 1
Thomas Cox was the captain this week. The game began with some very fast moves by Edge Grove who scored two early tries. Nicky B and Ollie G were impressive in their speed and determination. The second half was less cohesive as the team worked in the centre of the field instead of passing the ball to the wings who stood with an open field before them. There were impressive runs, especially by Ollie, but it would have been great to see the whole team involved in the action. An enjoyable game for all.
U12A v Beechwood Park and Westbrook Hay Edge Grove 6 Beechwood Park 4 Edge Grove 3 Westbrook Hay 1
Edge Grove did not perform quite as well as normal and struggled with organisation on the field. Although they were not on form they were still able to grind out two wins. Beechwood Park, a very physical team, dominated most of the game. A number of breaks from Nathan allowed Edge Grove to sit on top and a try from Niccolo finished the game off. The Westbrook Hay game went in much the same form, Edge Grove continued to get narrow in attack and defence allowing Westbrook Hay to run around the outside on several occasions. Some excellent tackling from Albert and Ollie C into touch on a number of occasions ensured Westbrook Hay did not get as many tries as they had hoped for. Again Nathan and Niccolo ran in a number of tries.
U11A v Beechwood Park Edge Grove 5 Beechwood Park 11
We came up against a very good team which had all of it’s players playing regularly outside of school at rugby clubs and this did show in the early stages of the match. We were a little timid in the contact areas and gave up possession too easily. We did pass the ball extremely well and were able to get runners into good positions however the defence of Beechwood Park was solid. The boys learnt a lot from this game and continued to improve which was very pleasing.
U11B v Beechwood Park Edge Grove 8 Beechwood Park 8
A highly entertaining and physical game of Rugby this week. We started with good patience for the first few minutes. Both teams tried to get the upper hand and find each other's weaknesses, with Edge Grove eventually getting the first score. Tries were exchanged for the rest of the first half but it was Edge Grove that finished it with a lead of 1. Both teams had predominantly looked at using mainly power and strength to try and force their way through the opposition, but as we had no substitutes compared to BP’s three, this was going to be hard to continue. It appeared that both coaches had similar team talks and the second half was much more open. More tries were exchanged and the numbers started to tell, with BP managing to level the score just before the final whistle. A fantastic effort from all of the pupils but still a few things to work on for next week. U11C v Beechwood Park Edge Grove 12 Beechwood Park 12
An open, end to end game of Rugby. The boys did very well to keep going until the final whistle, as we had no substitutes and a number of them came off at different times with various knocks due to the physicality of the match. There was great teamwork, communication and players finding space, with some fantastic tries from both teams. A few things to work on for the next match but lots of positives to take away. U10B Team v Beechwood Park
Edge Grove showed great determination and resilience when playing Beechwood Park this week. There was great improvement to the Edge Grove rucks and the team were not scared to tackle the opposition when needed. It was an energetic game, despite the loss. Special mention to Ellie P for driving the ball forward and to Oliver G for some ambitious tackling. Unfortunately Beechwood Park were able to score numerous tries with a few of their players sprinting to the touchline. Well done to the whole team for showing fantastic perseverance.
U9 Westbrook Hay Tournament
We had an excellent afternoon of rugby at Westbrook Hay playing a number of matches against Westbrook Hay, Lockers Park and Keble Prep. The Edge Grove teams did us proud, playing some excellent rugby and showing what huge potential this year group have as rugby players. We passed the ball well and ran with strength and determination scoring a number of tries. Our tackling was also excellent and all the other team managers commented on how solid our defence was. This was a very pleasing afternoon of rugby with the other schools congratulating us on our performances. They picked out Noham, Laurence, Wucheng, Arman M, Ellis, Bolu, Blake G, Oliver K, Thomas W and Thomas B as our star performers. Well done to all the players on some fantastic rugby.
A team of 15 Year 7s and 8s entertained Westbrook Hay to an afternoon of table-tennis and badminton. There were plenty of close matches with Westbrook Hay just coming out on top in badminton and Edge Grove winning the table-tennis. Everyone joined in enthusiastically and it was great to see those who are relatively inexperienced at these sports improve their play as the session progressed.