2009-2010 Season
6 March
1st and 2nd XIs vs St Margaret's School, Aberdeen
Report by Ms Gow
Two days later the 1st and 2nd XIs left school at 8am and travelled to Aberdeen to play St Margaret’s School. In practise sessions we always play on Astroturf but for this match we had to adapt to play on grass. The 2nd XI had a really close match which they unfortunately lost 1-0, although the score doesn’t reflect the match because the Gordonstoun team had much more possession. After the game on Thursday the 1st XI were warmed up and keen for their match despite the early start and bus journey. The team played really well and came away with a 5-3 win.
2nd XI report by Sylia P, 2nd XI Captain
The 2nd XI travelled to St Margaret’s School last Saturday with huge anticipation for an exciting match. After all the snow and ice, we were delighted to be back in action on the hockey pitch again.
The game got off to a great start with the ball passing evenly from end to end. However, just minutes before half time, St Margaret’s scored. Nevertheless and in full Gordonstoun spirit, our fighting attitude towards the game didn’t fall at all; in fact, it made us even more determined! As a result, the second half was intensely fought with some excellent play from Nicole W in the defending region, from Berine M as a mid-fielder and from both Letty H and Phoebe R who were always looked ready to score.
Being on grass made it difficult for us, but in my opinion, the challenge put more excitement into the game. Overall, it was a great match in which everyone tried their best right up until the final blow of the whistle. The only disappointment was that the score remained at 1-0 to St Margaret’s. But despite this, we look forward to playing them again!
4 March
1st Team vs Millburn Academy, Inverness
Report by Ms Gow
Today the First team travelled to Inverness to play an eight-a-side match against Millburn Academy. We were all very excited about the match because we have had a very quiet hockey term due to the snow and cancelled matches. It was a tough start given that we hardly ever practise eight-a side-hockey and therefore hadn’t practised for this new formation. Millburn got the first goal but by half time the score was 5-3 in our favour. Although a slightly slow first half, by the second half we really gelled as a team, and the final score of the match was 10-5.
25 February
The junior girls' team played in the U15 Highland Schools' Tournament last week and swept all before them winning the tournament outright. Miss Gow reports that all of the girls involved were excellent ambassadors for the school and thoroughly deserved their win.
All fixtures during the Spring Term have been cancelled to date due to the extreme weather conditions. We hope they will recommence shortly.
28 November
1st XI vs Robert Gordon's College
Report by Stefanie W, Captain of Hockey
An assorted group of hockey players braved the elements to face Robert Gordons. The girls started strong and managed to maintain their opposition throughout the first half, only allowing one goal to be score against them off a short corner. In the second half the girls continued to fight but soon the fatigue and the elements were against them, leaving the team 4-0 down and up to their ankles in rain water. At this point the game was called off early due to an extremely waterlogged pitched. This is a terrible shame because the incomplete first team was doing incredibly well against such a strong opposition and the end result was an unfair reflection on the girls' play.
14 November
1st XI vs Glenalmond
Report by Stefanie W, Captain of Hockey
On Saturday a group of four teams travelled down to Glenalmond to play hockey. The first XI started their match on a high, playing to a good standard and putting a lot of pressure on our opponents who, however, managed to go two goals up despite our efforts. The team started the second half with the same enthusiasm but unfortunately hit a wall halfway through and the Glenalmond team were able to use this to their advantage, despite all our efforts to fight back. Overall the team played well and the end result was an unfair reflection of the match as a whole. All girls had a good day despite the rain and kept their spirits high. Final score: 9-0 to Glenalmond.
7 November
Hockey vs St Margaret's School
Report by Ms Gow
Six teams played St Margaret's School who came up from Aberdeen. The first XI played extremely well winning 2-0 but the second team had more of a struggle losing 2-0. Two junior teams were also playing - the U15 XI lost 2-0 and the U14s won 2-1 in a very good game. Aberlour House put out two teams. The Year 8 side lost 8-3 although they showed much improvement in the second half and Year 7 side won 6-2.
5 November
Senior Highland District Hockey Tournament
Report by Ms Gow
Gordonstoun hosted the Highland District Hockey Tournament last week in which seven schools participated. Gordonstoun put out two teams in order to even out the numbers. The second team played incredibly well considering they were far less experienced than most of the other teams, and even managed to draw against Charleston who eventually came second overall.
The first XI won their first game against Inverness Royal Academy 4-0, with Lottie C scoring a hat-trick, and then drew against Dingwall. Their final game was against Fortrose and, despite a fight, they lost 1-0. Fortrose went on the win the Tournament after a very exciting final against Charleston.
17 October
Junior Inter-House Competition
The junior girls took part in an eight-a-side inter-House tournament on Saturday. All Houses produced strong sides and there was all to play for. Windmill beat Hopeman in the first match 1-0, Plewlands won against Hopeman 1-0 and, in the final match, Plewlands played Windmill winning 3-0 to secure the trophy followed by Windmill and then Hopeman.
10 October
Senior inter-House Competition
The senior girls' House teams competed in the first inter-House competition of the year. Windmill and Hopeman both finished with six points with both Houses performing very well on the afternoon. Windmill won overall as they conceded less goals.
4 October
Eight-a-side vs Milne's High School
1st and 2nd XI vs Strathallan
Independent Schools' Hockey Tournament
Report by Hockey Coach, Ms Gow
We had a slow start to the season with matches being cancelled due to the swine flu outbreak and had to hit the ground running for the Independent Schools Tournament on Sunday.
Two eight-a-side teams had played Milne's on their new astroturf on the previous Monday - the 2nd team narrowly lost with a score of 1-2, but the 1st team had an excellent first game winning 6-0 with Rosie S scoring a hat trick. It was a slightly different story on Saturday when Strathallan beat the 1st XI 8-0 and the 2nd XI 2-0 in pretty awful weather conditions. We then travelled to Glenalmond for the Independent Schools' Tournament the following day where eight schools were competing. Gordonstoun came 5th equal with Rosie S being named Player of the Tournament and all players putting in a fantastic amount of effort.
Easter 2009 Hockey and Netball Tour to Barbados