Girls' Hockey v Eastbourne
1st W 3-0 (Davis, Boyd, Forbes)
2nd W 6-1 (Deery 3, Harris, Slater, Kuhrt)
U15 W ?
U14 W 2-0 (Southgate, Stephenson)
A fantastic start for the Hockey teams !
Football v Lancing College
1st XI National Six a Side Tournament
The 1st VI left school at 6.30am in order to enter the Independent Schools National Sixes. Ardingly were drawn in a strong group along with Bradfield College, Hulme College and QEGS Bristol. In the first match Ardingly found it difficult to adjust to the new style of football, losing to Bradfield 3-1. This put us on the back foot, and meant that we needed to rapidly improve in order to progress. The second match saw an improved performance with a 1-1 draw against the college from Bristol, and results on the other pitch meant that Ardingly had to beat Hulme College in the final match in order to go through. Ardingly won this convincingly, and ensured passage through to the cup competition.
The next round was to be played against Charterhouse School, the league and cup champions from last year. Ardingly, however, played the tactics set well, and frustrated Charterhouse with both a strong defensive performance and a high tempo counter attacking performance, coming out with a 2-1 win, much to the surprise of the supporters and the anger of the Charterhouse management. It was the culmination of a day in which the Ardingly players listened and continued to develop each minute that they were there.
Ardingly were finally knocked out in the quarter finals by QEGS Blackburn, the eventual finalists, but went home learning that you should never expect failure, but rather to aim for the best that they can be. Ardingly finished 5th out of the 32 teams that entered.
2nd XI vs Lancing
Drew 1-1
The second XI drew 1-1 with Lancing. Sam Mulhall scored mid way through the second half and Lancing equalized in the dying moments of the game.
3rd XI vs Lancing
Won 4-0
The 3rd XI got off to a flyer on Saturday with a 4-0 victory over Lancing 3rds. The team gelled very quickly in their debut game and played some lovely football in patches. Will Lynch was tenacious up-front and is clearly an able player; he fully deserved the man of the match award. A quick midfield trio dominated the middle of the park and Rob Key in particular (still only 14) was far too much for the opposition. Thomas Harrison was rarely bothered in goal but he captained the side superbly, always encouraging and guiding. It is the best start the 3rd XI have made to a season in at least three years.
4th XI v Lancing (U16As)
Won 5-3.
4-0 up after about 25 minutes and then, unbelievably struggled to hang on for the rest of the game. Alan Taffinder scored a well taken hat-trick, James Howard superb in goal and Ed Syed made some excellent tackles in defence.
U15A v Lancing
Won 4-0.
Lancing put up a determined defence for the first ten minutes before the first of our goals was scored. This score settled the team and good work in the increasingly congested midfield by Dollery and Thatcher ensured a steady supply of ball to the wings where Harrison and Davis were able to use their pace to good effect. Further goals by Thatcher, McKay-Bulger and Gray saw the team finish the half 4-0 in the lead.
The second half saw the introduction of 'new boys' Patrick Rudat and Rahim Karmali, both of whom made a telling contribution with Rudat adding a further four goals to the tally. Defensively the team were excellent with only a brief lapse in concentration allowing Lancing to capitalise, although a swift reposte saw McKay-Bulger also get his hat-trick.
U15B vs Lancing
Won 4-0.
Great victory to kick- off the season for the 15 Bs captained by Marcus Large. 4 nil was our overall result despite the pouring rain and gales across the valleys of the Downs. All were delighted!
U14A v Lancing
Won: 4-1.
We were up two goals in 10 minutes firstly from a Matt Cammish solo run from the half way line to a composed finish in the six yard box. The second goal was a Cammish shot from just inside the box from a pass from left wing. Cammish got his hat trick after 20 minutes from another well composed run through the defence. However, early in the second half Ardingly allowed Lancing back into the game through some poor passing in defence that eventually resulted in a break away move where Abi was given little chance in a one on one against a Lancing forward. Ardingly scored again soon after from a Cammish cross to Jacob Markies and had a few other patches of good passing attacking football in the second half. However, too often players tried to take too many touches that eventually gave away possession. Ardingly players also tended to crowd the midfield and left wing. Leo Ko impressed with his attacking runs, determined challenges and keenness to come back in support of the defence. The defence, particular Matt Were at left back, looked shaky at times. Abi in goal had little to do as our midfield tended to dominate the game, but his distribution was better than in training and he was usually quite sharp coming off his line to meet the occasional Lancing breakthrough.
U14B v Lancing
Won 5 – 0
Goals from Challis, Lawrence, Orfenov, Fithen and Walker.gave Ardingly a convincing victory over the local rivals.
MoM: Land-Smith
