HAT-TRICK FOR COLLEGE AT
HOCKEY FESTIVAL
Ardingly College hockey players were in high spirits after a triple success at the Bath Hockey Festival which attracts some of the nation’s top teenage players.
Ardingly College 1st XI played four fiercely-fought matches in the three days and got off to a flying start, beating Bristol Grammar School 4-2. Although Saturday saw them lose 4-3 to Methodist College, Belfast, Ardingly went on to beat Calday Grange Grammar School, Wirral, 3-0 and Sussex rivals Seaford College 1-0.
Charlie Pollard was the side’s top goal scorer, but the stars of the show were Ferdinand Prinz in the heart of defence and David Tuckwell who captained the side expertly and also managed to score his first Ardingly goal in the game against Methodist College.
It was only the second time in the festival’s 24-year history that Ardingly had taken part but the College Head of Hockey Andrew Levenger had high hopes for the weekend and was not disappointed.
He said: “The boys have been progressing nicely through the term so it was good to see them demonstrate that they could play good hockey for sustained periods of play. The victories over Seaford and Bristol were fantastic performances and I hope are a sign of things to come in the next few years. It was good to see all our hard work paying off against some very good opposition.”
Mr Levenger, who accompanied the team to Bath, along with Steve Allen, 2nd XI coach, added: “The Bath Hockey Festival is a prestigious event in the schools’ hockey calendar and it offers young players the opportunity to meet and play against like-minded students from all over the country. The boys really look forward to the tour and to come away with three wins out of four games was a bonus.”
