Double success for Perse hockey teams at national finals
The Perse girls’ and boys’ U13 hockey teams enjoyed success at the England Hockey national schools In2Hockey finals.
An excellent day at Nottingham Hockey Centre saw the girls finish runners-up and the boys take fourth place.
The girls’ team won their opening group match against King’s High School 3-2 with two goals from Olivia Kaser and one from Katie Ronco.
They were then held to a goalless draw by Cranleigh before beating Cheam 5-0 with Lottie Denny-Gouldson scoring four and Katie Ronco one.
That result meant the girls topped the pool and qualified for the final, where they lost 4-0 to Surbiton High School.
Meanwhile, the boys’ team got under way with a 1-1 draw against Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School thanks to a strike from Zachary Shkarupa.
A 4-0 victory over Cundall Manor School followed with goals from Lynden Long, Ethan David-Tostevin, Hamish Clarke and Harry Voss.
Hamish Clarke scored again in a 4-1 defeat to St George’s School as the boys came second in their group.
In the third-place play-off, The Perse drew 2-2 with The King’s School Chester, courtesy of goals from Harry Voss and Zachary Shkarupa, only to lose 3-2 in the resulting penalty shootout.
Perse Head of Hockey Ross Hayward said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have both squads attend the National Finals.
“They have both been excellent through their regular seasons and participating in the finals was great recognition of the excellent progress they have made.
“We competed and performed extremely well with some of the best sides in the country. All of the pupils involved should be really proud of the achievements.”
Girls’ squad: Danna Wang, Eloise Hardy, Lottie Denny-Gouldson, Amber Smith, Eleanor Blazeby, Daisy Fox, Athene Ross, Katie Ronco, Olivia Kaser, Zoe Petheram.
Boys’ squad: Rayan Aurora, Hamish Clarke, James Towers, Sam Fisher, Lynden Long, Zachary Shkarupa, Robert Filionescu, Harry Voss, Ethan David-Tostevin.
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