The week started on a positive note when the big U14 Hockey squad fielded A & B teams and both secured great wins. The A team played against Lytham High and played some superb hockey to create many scoring opportunities. Camilla W proved unstoppable up front as she netted all the AKS goals in a 7 – 0 victory.
The B team faced Stonyhurst B team and this was a closer affair with AKS winning by the only goal of the match. Both teams took time to settle in to the game but we started to dominate and create the best scoring opportunities but could not find the net and went in to half time with the scores level. After the break we
passed the ball more effectively and deservedly took the lead when Layla O was in the perfect position to connect with a cross and find the net. Stonyhurst did have chances to score but Captain Kathryn S was on hand in goal to keep our clean sheet and secure a well deserved victory.
It was then the turn of the Netball Teams to take to the field as 55 girls represented the school in 5 matches against Stonyhurst and the U15 team playing in the areas finals of the UL Paris 2024 Legacy Competition. In a thrilling U15A area final match, the netball team faced off against Hyndburn Academy in an enthralling match. The game was a showcase of tenacity and skill, with the lead changing hands multiple times throughout the match. Both teams demonstrated remarkable determination, but it was Hyndburn who narrowly clinched victory with a final score of 18-17. The U15A team can hold their heads high, knowing they gave it their all and will continue to grow from this experience. POM Sienna C.
Matches against Stonyhurst saw 3 U13 teams and 2 U12 teams take to the courts. The pick of the U13 matches was the B team game which saw an end to end game settled by the odd goal with Stonyhurst winning 6 – 5. The U12 A team game was also a close fought affair with 2 points separating the teams and again
was Stonyhurst who came out on top winning 14-12. All the matches were played in a superb spirit and all the girls will have gained immensely from the competitive matches.
The end of the week it was back to hockey with the Yr 7 A & B teams playing Lytham High on Friday and both coming away with wins.
Saturday saw six hockey teams face Kirkham Grammar School and the Yr 7 teams continued their winning ways with two great wins. It was a nervy start for the U12 A team but the team soon settled down to their usual rhythm and took command. The strong defence of Blythe R, Arabella C, Grace W and Harriet B thwarted all of Kirkham’s attacks and at the other end of the pitch the attack and midfield of E, Penny A, Freya W and Amelie Y linked up well to create many chances. Goals scored by Penny A( 2 ), Arabella C and Freya W to secure a superb win. Freya W was the player of the match. The U12 B team played an excellent game to come away victorious. The girls demonstrated lovely passing and made fantastic use of the width of the pitch, effectively finding space and creating attacking opportunities. It was a great performance from the whole squad, and their determination and teamwork were rewarded with a well-deserved 2 – 0 victory for AKS Lytham.
After a few weeks away from competitive matches, AKS U13A returned to action against a strong Kirkham side. Despite showing glimpses of both individual brilliance and cohesive team play, AKS fell to a 5-1 defeat in what proved to be a challenging but valuable learning experience. The game highlighted key areas for development, however many goal-scoring opportunities were created, but converting these chances into goals proved difficult today. This result will serve as motivation for the squad as they prepare for the upcoming In2 Hockey North West Finals. The U13 B team also had a tough match against strong Kirkham
opposition and went down 0 – 5.
The U14 team took to the pitch in confident mood but the fast and skilful Kirkham team immediately put us on the back foot and only great defending from all the team and some superb saves from keeper Jenay G kept the scores level. Having weathered the storm we settled and started to pass the ball more effectively and attack at pace through Gabby H-S and Camilla W but could not get past the solid Kirkham defence. The scores remained level until a minute before the break when a lapse in concentration in defence saw Kirkham find a free player infront of goal and she found the net to give Kirkham the lead into half time. After the break we played our best hockey of the game switching our point of attack superbly but it was Kirkham who found the net again to secure the win and despite our best efforts Kirkham added to the goal to make the final score 0 – 3. Lauren Mayor and Jenay G were the Players of the Match.
AKS U15 Hockey team put in a determined performance against Kirkham Grammar School in a hard-fought match, ultimately falling 3-0 despite a resilient second-half showing. The team faced an uphill battle after conceding three goals in the opening half despite some great saves from keeper and player of the match Emily B. The first period saw Kirkham Grammar capitalise on their attacking opportunities, with a quick opening goal in the 8th minute. They increased their lead just before the halftime whistle, leaving AKS with much to do after the break. In the second half, AKS showed improved organisation and resolve, with the defence tightening up and not allowing any more goals. The midfield battled hard to regain possession, and despite a few promising attacks, AKS were unable to convert any chances into goals. While the final result was disappointing, the team can take pride in their second-half performance, which demonstrated their resilience and ability to regroup.