Ratcliffe Hockey Team become Regional Champions!

Our Under 11 Girls Hockey team recently became IAPS Regional Girls Hockey Champions for the first time ever and also qualified for the National Finals, which will be held at Millfield on Friday 26th November!

Whilst everyone at school was looking forward to the end of half term, these Year 6 girls were focused on one goal, the IAPS National Hockey Finals, a feat only achieved once before. The girls had a flying start to the day, qualifying top of their group for the Quarter finals.

Our quarter final opponents were RGS The Grange from Worcester, a well organised opponent to face and with sudden death extra time looming, the score was still 0-0. With 30 seconds left, the girls won a penalty corner. The rules state that even if the clock runs out the corner must be taken. The ball was injected to the top of the D and shot goal bound until it hit a defender’s foot, but this meant that another penalty corner must be taken, even though the clock had long hit zero. The shot from this second corner was going wide until Olivia bravely stood her ground and deflected the ball into the goal to win the game!

Our semi-final opponents were St Hugh’s from Woodhall Spa which resulted in another 1 – 0 win, meaning the girls secured a place in the National Hockey Finals, an amazing achievement, but but they still had their eyes set on becoming Regional Champions.

Ratcliffe vs Fairfield Prep was the tie and there was nothing to choose between them as they played into sudden death extra time. With only 3 minutes remaining, Emily scored a sensational goal which sent the travelling support into euphoria and brought smiles to 9 very tired but happy young ladies’ faces. This was a thoroughly well-deserved achievement that no Ratcliffe Prep School team had ever accomplished before.

These girls started the term as friends but finished the half term as family, that is something that they will never forget and something that is just as important as the accolades they achieved together.

We wish them all good luck as they prepare for the National Finals on Friday 26th November at Millfield School in Somerset. Well done girls we’re all very proud of you.