Perse U14 hockey girls reach National Semi-Finals in stunning cup run
Our U14 hockey girls have capped an impressive season by reaching the semi-final of the England Hockey Tier 1 Cup competition, finishing among the top four schools in the country after a thrilling 2-1 contest against Repton School yesterday.
The cup run, which began back in October last year, saw the girls deliver a string of dominant performances. They celebrated wins again Felsted (2-0), Ipswich School (6-1) and Oakham School (5-1) before overcoming Bishops Stortford College in a tense quarter-final decided on shuffles. Each victory built momentum and belief within a solid squad that has grown considerably over the course of the season.
A Brilliant Semi-Final Performance
Repton came out of the blocks quickly, but were repeatedly thwarted by an inspired performance from goalkeeper Annabel, whose excellent early saves set the tone and gave her teammates the platform to settle and grow into the game. The Perse began creating chances of their own, with confidence visibly building as the half wore on.
Repton broke the deadlock, but the Perse hit back in style. An electrifying run from Lucy down the right flank won a short corner, which Evie coolly converted to level things at 1-1, and the girls went into half time with their heads held high.
The second half brought some of the best hockey the girls have produced all season. They moved the ball quickly, created a number of attacking opportunities, and Annabel continued to deliver excellent saves to keep Repton at bay. The Perse pushed Repton all the way, with the score remaining level until the final two minutes before Repton edged ahead. Even then, the girls showed tremendous character, pushing forward to win a short corner with the very last touch of the game.
It was a performance that perfectly captured our U14 team’s spirit and resilience.
Proud Coaches and a Proud Captain
Head of Year 7 and Assistant Head of Hockey Girls, Nicky Bareham said after the game:
“I couldn’t be prouder of the way the girls have played this season. Their attitude from start to finish has been incredible, they’ve stuck together, worked tirelessly for one another, and grown stronger as a team every game,”
“To finish as one of the top four teams in the country is a phenomenal achievement, and every single one of them should be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved. They have been an absolute pleasure to coach.”
U14 Captain Sophie added: “It’s been a strong season. After some tough matches, we earned our place in the national semi-finals. I’m proud of the work we put in and the way we stayed close as teammates and friends the whole way through. It’s been lots of fun.”
Reaching a national semi-final is an outstanding achievement, and the Perse U14s leave this competition with their reputation enhanced and their heads held high. Well done, girls!