Sports Report – Short Half 2024, Week 3

Tuesday 17th September 2024

Football Junior Colts A v Crosfields School (h):

The U15As hosted Crosfields School in the 1st rd of the ISFA Cup on a balmy September day. Following on from an excellent draw away at Eton the instructions were to take control of the game early and dictate the tempo of play. A few minutes into the first half and a perfect example of initiative and execution came to the fore. Full back Jaren L took a quick free kick and threaded a lovely pass to Isaac H who had made an excellent off the ball run into the opposition penalty box. Isaac took the ball towards the by-line and then pulled back an inviting pass into the path of skipper Lewin H who calmly side footed the ball into the net to take the lead. Shortly after, Philip C stole the ball from the Crosfields defender and fed the ball into striker Osamede A who shot first time to double the lead. Philip acted as provider again midway through the first half, sliding the ball onto Isaac, who had moved from midfield to centre forward and finished with ease. A fourth was added when Lewin H dribbled into the box and sent a cross into the corridor of uncertainty, aka, the opposition 6 yard box, and the centre back unfortunately turned the ball into his own goal. The team were playing some lovely 1 and 2 touch football, often as a result of a turnover won by the tenacious Will H in midfield, who would then free his colleagues to maraud forward. One such attack almost led to a great goal from Bertie D but his shot was well saved by the Crosfields keeper.

With a 4-0 lead at HT it would have been very easy for the team to take their foot off the gas but an indication of a good team is one that maintains discipline and focus, even when on top. Not long into the second period Osamede drove into the box and as the defenders gathered towards him he delivered an excellent cross to the back post where Ollie I calmy finished first time. There were lots of rotations of positions but pleasingly this did not disrupt the flow and shape of the team and Issac H bagged his brace with a rasping shot which the keeper barely saw. The best move of the day which saw multiple passes and a lovely threaded through ball from left back James H, resulted in the ball settling in the back of the net but striker Oscar P was given offside so the 7th goal was notched off. Nevertheless, the boys kept on pushing and Osamede scored his second, and the team's 7th, from an in-swinging corner. Crosfields continued to battle manfully and did threaten keeper Luke H on a couple of occasions but Wincoll could have scored a couple of more before the final whistle such was their dominance. A clinical 7-0 victory raises the spirits before another tough inter-school fixture against Charterhouse away this coming Saturday. [MSB]

Golf (a) v Juniors Bradfield & Marlborough

Bradfield 6 - 0 Winchester & Marlborough 3 - 3 Winchester

The conditions for Golf were perfect on Tuesday afternoon and it made for a great game of golf to be played by the Winchester Team.

O Chuen-im (F) opened the match for the Winchester side with a solid drive straight at the pin but a back injury flared up and diminished the quality of golf played in the later holes. This, paired with strong handicapped opponents, led to a disappointing 5-4 loss against the Bradfield player but a surprising A/S finish against the Marlborough player.

Nigel C (K) played some really strong golf with excellent shots being played throughout the game. A slightly inconsistent start led to Nigel quickly being overtaken by his opponents, but some solid iron shots saw a quick comeback, with Nigel going 1 up to the Bradfield player and 2 up against the Marlborough player. Unfortunately, a collapse in Nigel’s game in the closing holes saw his opponents take the lead once more ending, with a 1-0 loss against the Bradfield player and a 2-0 loss against the Marlborough Player.

Bruno L (E) had a tight game against his opponents, halving almost all of the holes with some really decisive short-game play. The Bradfield player though, had an amazing birdie at the last, leading to an unfortunate narrow 1-0 loss against the Bradfield player and an A/S finish against the Marlborough player.

Phoom K (C) played very consistently with solid drives and iron shots, leading to another tight game against the Bradfield and Marlborough players. Phoom’s opponents though, also had a very strong and consistent game, paired with a stronger handicap than Phoom. The result: a highly unfortunate 1-0 loss against the Bradfield player and a 3-1 loss against the Marlborough player. An admirable performance.

Monty H (B) had some really strong opponents and displayed perseverance in his match with excellent golf being played. Consistent putting and short game saw Monty go 4 up against the Marlborough player and stay even with the Bradfield player but in the end, the Bradfield player managed to win the 7th and 8th hole due to some neat course management. Monty ended with a 2-1 loss against the Bradfield player 4-2 win against the Marlborough player.

Max H (F) played superb golf; one might even say optimal. Consistent solid shots in all aspects of his game led to a convincing performance. Unfortunately, the Bradfield player was indubitably highly skilled - a very strong opponent - leading to an unfortunate 2-1 loss against the Bradfield player but on a positive note, Max’s quality of golf and course management led to a great 2-1 win against the Marlborough player. [O Chuen-Im (F)]

Thursday 19th September 2024

Badminton v Charterhouse (h): Won 13-3

The first home fixture of the term saw Winchester against a familiar Charterhouse team. The first pair, Yuyao X (H) and Ayson K (C) set the standard for the day, winning all their matches with commanding performances. They started off by defeating Charterhouse’s second pair with a decisive 21-9, 21-8 victory and continued their winning streak against the first pair, taking the match 21-6, 21-19. Meanwhile, Derek W (G) and Olly F (G) of the fourth pair put on an impressive show of resilience and skill. They began with a tight 21-19 win against Charterhouse’s top pair and carried this momentum forward to win their remaining games. The newly formed second pair consisting of Ben W (A) and Jesse H (A) had a tougher time. After narrowly losing both sets to Charterhouse’s first pair with scores of 21-16 and 21-18, they found themselves in a nail-biting second round. Despite dropping the first set, they staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 20-16 deficit to win 24-22 in deuce. However, they couldn’t maintain this momentum and eventually lost the deciding set, finishing 2-1. Winchester’s third pair Josiah E (F) and Brian H (D) displayed strong attacking play throughout their matches, dominating their opponents with ease and not allowing any room for a comeback. Man of the match goes to Derek who confidently went for sneaky yet effective interceptions at the front. Overall, it was a strong showing from Winchester, a sweeping 13-3 win with exceptional performances across the board. [Yuyao X,H]

Fencing v Eton collage (a):

The Foil A team scored a respectable win 45-42 with Max W(Cook's) starting the season strong in his foil debut. The Foil Bs, playing in their first ever match put up a valiant effort against a veteran team, resulting in an 13-45 loss.

For the first match of the season, and one fencer’s debut for the team, the Sabreurs fought well, in places managing to pull ahead of Eton. Despite some tough fights, the team stayed tenacious to the end. Although the score ended up lower than hoped, the sabre team can look to build on this performance in future fixtures. Lost 32/45

The Epee team faced a challenging opposition, going up against a Team GB fencer. Nevertheless, they held their nerve and started off strong. After losing a couple of difficult fights, the epeeists made valiant efforts to catch up to Eton but were unable to close their lead. Good performances from all, including the first match for one member of the team. Lost 35/45 [LD]

1st XI Football v Bryanston School (a):

We travelled to sunny Bryanston ready to put right the performance issues in our previous game.

The first half was much better and we created numerous chances but were unable to finish off some good moves. At half time we discussed the press and playing higher up the filed but were caught with a sucker blow, Anthony Cloke Brown and David Sam made great goal line clearances but finally Bryanston smashed the ball into the roof of the net. We then went after the equaliser which we were rewarded with by James Kennedy driving the ball home. Again many chances especially from set plays but finally had to accept a 1 - 1 draw.

We have to be more clinical in front of goal and ball retention needs to be better but lots of things to work on. [JRD]

Rackets v Eton College (a):

1st Pair, Jack B (A) and William H-J (A) struggled to show their best in the unfamiliar conditions. Game one was a brief affair with few serves being returned by Winchester and it was broadly similar in game 2. The next game was different and was level at times although the home pair came out on top. Lost 0 - 3.

Our 2nd Pair of Sebastian K and Jamie M played intelligently, selecting the right shots and varying both serves and returns in order to keep the opposition guessing. This allowed them to maintain control throughout the match. While Eton did put them under some pressure, they coped with this well and secured the match in 3 games. Won 3-0.

Our 3rd Pair of Angus H (I) and Rupert B (K) initially started well, appearing to have everything under control going 8-2 up in the first game. However, Eton quickly recovered and gained momentum, serving difficult angles and making the most of their home-court experience. While we did make some headway in the third and final game, this was ultimately a game that Eton won through effective serving with our players struggling to return. Lost 0-3.

Our Colts Pair of Amar F (I) and Oscar O’C (I) faced tough opponents – some of the best in this age group who had beaten Tonbridge only 2 days before. This did not seem to worry them and Amar served extremely well, sometimes for more than 14 points in a row, to take Winchester to 2-1 up. Oscar was consistent in open play and both did well to return some difficult serves on the unfamiliar court. The pair could have closed out the match in 4 games but Eton managed to just claim game 4 in a tight set. This provoked our pair into a positive response and at 14 - 1 in the final game, the pair remained focussed on the task at hand and sealed the win, 15 - 1. The result: Won 3-2. [TERC]

Squash 1st v Eton College (h): L6-0

Swimming v Eton College (a):

It was the team’s first meet of a quiet Autumn term in swimming before the inevitable bumper meets in the Spring term. After a long summer, despite some rocky first few weeks in training effectiveness, spirits were high. As always, we had last minute issues. We lost two of our U18 swimmers to Winchester’s new plague, as a result two swimmers were forced to do two relays within 4 minutes. Our numbers in the U15s however were stronger than ever, full of promising new talent. The U15s were even joined by Joshua L (F, VIBk2) who competed in his first meet in 4 years of swimming at Winchester. Notable mention must go to Humphrey G (E, JP) who distinguished himself by winning all three of his races. Unfortunately, for the first gala this term, we started with an anti-climactic trashing in this friendly meet, outcompeted by Eton. However, the new talent from VIBk2 and JP entrants is more promising than ever, special mention goes to Enoch W (I, VIBk2) and Ozan G (H, VIBk2) from the fourth year and Felix W (JP, G) for their valiant efforts in training and at our first meet. We are all hopeful for what a successful term this should be. [F Hall, (K)]

Saturday 21st September 2024

Badminton 1st v Harrow (h): W5-3

In an exciting home match against Harrow, Winchester demonstrated their strength and resilience across all pairs. The first pair Yuyao and Ayson delivered another stellar performance, winning all their matches with scores of 21-15 and 21-17 against Harrow’s top pair, followed by a solid 21-13, 21-19 victory against the second pair. The fourth pair of Vincent G (H) and Derek also showed remarkable form, not dropping a single game throughout the day. They staged a thrilling comeback in one of their matches, turning an 8-18 deficit into a 22-20 victory following a crispy dap. Meanwhile, Josiah and Brian faced a challenging start against a reshuffled Harrow lineup, which unexpectedly placed one of their stronger players in the fourth pair. Although they lost the first match, they bounced back in the second, with Brian’s relentless attacking play leading them to a convincing win. The second pair Ben and Jesse faced some difficulties in their games but put up a commendable fight, especially in the closely contested second set against Harrow’s first pair. The overall performance against Harrow highlighted Winchester’s depth and determination, earning a 5-3 victory as a well-deserved retribution for the earlier loss this term. [Yuyao X, (H)]

Football v Charterhouse

The Girls' XI first home game of the season against Charterhouse was filled with determination, and a few battle scars, but our team showed exactly what we’re made of. Kansola O (I), our incredible goalie, was a one-woman army, making about 30 saves and conceding only 11 goals—securing her the Player of the Match for defence. Her epic kicking skills sent the ball flying up field where Tabi P (I), seized the moment and scored our only goal earning her Player of the Match for attack. Meanwhile, Ami B (D) and Hesper H (B) were a brick wall in defence, making it impossible for the opposition to get past them, and Liv P (G), Erica W (A), and Ottilie F (K) kept the engine running pushing the ball forward and keeping the pressure on. Ella M (C) utilised her rugby skills and even picked up a few penalties along the way. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated coach, Miss Bonham and guest coach Dom J (A), who motivated us from the side-lines with their encouragement and tactical advice. The team's spirit was never affected, we may have lost the battle, but we won the war. L1-11

The Second XI travelled to Charterhouse on a lovely sunny day in the hope of keeping our unbeaten start to the season. We started the game well and began to pile on the pressure through long-throws and carefully orchestrated set pieces by Jason C (F) which we had worked on in training the day before and constant darting runs in behind their back line pinned them in their own half. Even though we took control of the game from the get-go we were caught on the counter after twenty minutes of being on the front foot and a lack of communication in the defence led to the Charterhouse winger being able to tuck away his shot into the bottom corner. 0-1. Only a couple of minutes later we were caught in a similar position and they once again pounced on the opportunity to double their lead. 0-2.

We manged to pull a goal back before half time when we were presented with a free kick 10 yards outside the box which Max J (A) placed onto the bellowing head of Arthur D (H) who appeared to fly as he soared up into the air and met the ball with a powerfully guided header from the penalty spot that rifled into the top left corner, giving the keeper no chance. 1-2, which was the score at half time.

We started the second half well and scored quite early when a lofted ball over the top found its way to Seb K (A) who carefully finished with a lob past the keeper. 2-2. Despite having efficiently chased down the lead, we were hungry for more so we kept pushing and after a bit of individual brilliance from Seb K, a great ball was met by the well-positioned head of Daniel G (G) who finished ruthlessly to give us the lead. 3-2. At this point we did not want to be caught on the counter again and so we decided to "Park the bus" for what we thought was the remaining 20 minutes of the second half. Despite a plethora of attacks on our defence, we stayed resilient and kept working as a unit to deny them countlessly under the example of captain Ted M (B) who made some crucial tackles and blocks to deny them the equaliser. Despite the continued efforts of the back line, Seb B (G) in goal was becoming busier by the minute as we were counting down the seconds until we would be rewarded with the full time whistle. We had successfully defended an army of Charterhouse attacks for the 40 minutes of the second half but unfortunately in added time, they scored with a header from a corner into our goal to equalise in the last minute. 3-3 (FT). We were also unfortunate with 2 disallowed goals but on a different day, a win against a strong team like this would be very plausible.

In spite of the circumstances of conceding late on, it was a superb team performance from everyone involved in which we played our best attacking football of the season and the game acts as a great example of the attitude our whole team shares. However, the opportunity for revenge is still there as we play Charterhouse again in our penultimate game of the season. But now we look to learn on this performance so we are ready for our match against Canford on Thursday. D3-3 [Max J, A]

After being given little time to warm up, the 3rd XI started slowly, and were only just getting into their stride when Charterhouse were awarded a penalty. The 3rds remained focussed though, and following a deep kick from Coles, Malik beat two players before deftly lofting the ball over the 'keeper from wide left and about thirty yards out. This was the goal of the game, and was no less than Winchester deserved. The rest of the half was relatively even, with both teams having chances and defending with determination. Ten minutes into the second half Riabyi made a slicing run and was slickly found by the midfield before running 40 yards and finishing calmly. Charterhouse were 2-1 down and visibly and audibly shaken. Ten minutes later a Charterhouse strike through a crowd from the edge of the box gave Coles no chance. There then followed a five minute spell where everything fell for Charterhouse and they put away their chances well to lead 5-2. On balance Charterhouse can't be begrudged the win, but such was the dedication, invention, teamwork and sheer grit of the thirds that the score-line seemed unfair. The passing and general play of the 3rds is improving every week, and they always work hard, but what was perhaps most impressive was the personal discipline, integrity and general character that the Wykehamists displayed in difficult circumstances. Both Winchester coaches (LNT and JA) came away very proud to be associated with them. L5-2

Winchester College 4th XI kicked off their season in style (following a humbling pre-season) with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Charterhouse, showcasing resilience, composure, and tactical brilliance from start to finish.

The game began with both teams battling for control, but it was Winchester who drew first blood. After a cagey opening 15 minutes, a well-placed corner from Wisdom (D) caused chaos in the Charterhouse box. A failed clearance left the ball at the feet of Ludo (I), who rifled a half-volley off the post and into the net to give Winchester a 1-0 lead. With that early breakthrough, the 4th XI took command of the first half, dictating possession and defending with unity and strength. Every challenge was met with determination, and Charterhouse struggled to find any rhythm.

During half-time Dr. Townson’s Emery-esque team talk clearly resonated with the team. Winchester came out strong, playing fluid football between defence, midfield, and attack. During one of these seamless moves, debutant Piers (A) made his mark in spectacular fashion. Picking up the ball just outside the box, he dribbled towards goal, beat one Charterhouse defender, and with the composure of a seasoned striker, blasted the ball into the top corner. At 2-0, Charterhouse looked rattled but quickly regrouped. With determination, they pressed forward and managed to pull one back through a fortunate goal. Had VAR been used, this goal may have been disallowed. The momentum briefly shifted, and with ten minutes to go, Charterhouse threw everything they had at the Winchester defence. However, the 4th XI backline remained resolute, determined to hold onto the slender lead.

In the dying moments, Zain (A) picked up the ball in midfield, stormed past the halfway line, and delivered a sublime through ball to Ludo (I). Gliding past two Charterhouse defenders, Ludo found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who rushed out to challenge. The ball broke loose to Ludo with the keeper nowhere to be seen, but as he attempted to finish from outside the box, his off-balance effort narrowly missed the post. Tensions rose as the final minutes approached, and the intensity reached its peak when Will (D) made a tackle on a Charterhouse attacker. In a fit of frustration, the Charterhouse player lashed out, volleying Will’s leg. The referee’s controversial decision to send both players off only added to the drama. Yet despite this, Winchester’s tactical adjustments and well-timed substitutions saw out the game, running down the clock and securing the crucial three points.

After warm-up matches against Hampton and Eton, it was an impressive display to start the season. Every player put in a shift, and the 4th XI can be proud of their efforts. Just what the doctor ordered. W2-1 [Ludo R, I]

In what felt like an even game the 5th XI ended up on the wrong end of a 4-1 score line. We were caught on the break for 3 of the goals. Aaryan was able to collect a consolation goal in the second half, calmly finishing from 30 yards with the goal keeper out of position. This year the 5ths are committed to playing passing football; this result will not shake their resolve in that decision. Harry was man of the match for a mature display at defensive midfield. L4-1 [MJR]

6th XI (a): L5-2

A fine September afternoon at Charterhouse. Thinned by loans of the key players to higher teams, a skeleton VIIths struggled to take the fight to the opposition. Special mention to Theo F in goal, who got his hands to the ball at many a critical moment. L7-0 [JAT]

The SCA’s returned to Doggers to play Charterhouse after an exceptional outing last time, but this time hoping for a win. We started the game with excellent momentum, and it was clear that the Charterhouse XI began to feel the heat.

Our defensive line was fine-tuned and good headers and blocks from Ollie K (X), Alex M (I) and George K (E) prevented them from penetrating into our final-third. Additionally, in the midfield Kamran C-D (I) and Michael M (A) were sabotaging any Charterhouse attempts to threaten our defensive line, with Kamran occasionally dribbling smoothly through an entourage of Charterhouse midfielders.

In the attacking half of the pitch, Ferran M-G (D) and Giovanni S (D) were playing silky football, with Ferran causing all sorts of problems to the Charterhouse defence. Prince G (D) came off the bench and kept our attacking momentum going as he had a few half–decent chances, created by Gabriel B (B) on the left hand side, further troubling the opposition. Also Freddie M (X) came off of the bench and helped link up play well between the midfield and front three.

After an inspiring half time talk from our coaches, Mr Mercer and First XI captain Tim, we began the second half with a single motive. To win the game. However, shortly into the second half, Charterhouse were awarded a freekick from which they looked to capitalise. Their left winger lined up for a shot, but rather than seeing the ball fly over the goal, the shot was scuffed and rolled along the ground, where a seemingly offside Charterhouse player was ready to pounce and score the first goal of the game, to put them in the lead. The SCAs did not let this have an effect on them. Only a few minutes later a wonderful delivery from James R (A) landed at the feet of Giovanni S (D) who slotted home, before the goal was disallowed for a foul.

Continuing with this good momentum, the SCAs committed more into attack. This finally proved successful when Oskar S (G) launched an amazing ball into the path of Frederic L (C) who flicked it into the path of Prince G (D). Prince then controlled the ball perfectly and calmly finished to make the game level. With time running out, Frederic won a penalty, providing the opportunity for the SCAs to go on and win the game. With indescribable amounts of pressure on his back, Jesse F (C) stared the keeper down, approached the ball slowly, and with nerves of steel placed the ball into the top corner.

The SCAs fought tirelessly at the end to preserve the lead, and all was not done in vain as the referee blew the final whistle. This was an excellent showing by the SCAs who aim to continue the season strongly. W2-1. [Giovanni S, D]

The SCB’s at home were looking confident ahead of the match against Charterhouse with the team looking strong. The game got off to a decent start with the SCBs playing some good football and generally having more of the ball. However, it did not take too long for Charterhouse to score a lucky goal to put them ahead. We worked hard to try and equalise with some more good play but still could not find the net. The SCBs were playing some nice football but we conceded two more unlucky goals to make it 3-0 to Charterhouse. Despite the fact we were losing badly, we managed to get one back. Alex J played a great pass to Samuel d-R on the counterattack, which was slotted home nicely. Charterhouse responded fairly quickly though with another goal to make it 4-1. Despite how the score looks, both teams played well, and it should have been a more even game if we had not conceded some very unlucky goals. Honourable mentions to: Caspar E, Alex J, Geza B, and Samuel d-R. L4-1. [JWS]

Having lost narrowly to Eton, the SCCs viewed the arrival of the physically larger team of Charterhouse with some trepidation. Nerves were soon mastered with a solid defence smothering early Charterhouse attacks and considerably eased when Winchester went ahead within the first five minutes. Goals continued to rattle in, partly as a result of Charterhouse mistakes, but also some good combinations between the Winchester forwards and midfield, and some moments of individual brilliance, with Amar F scoring in particularly fine style.

With Winchester leading 5-0 at the break, Charterhouse were in glum mood when the game resumed, but they were determined to pull the score back and never gave up right until the final whistle. However, Eton had taught Winchester about the dangers of complacency and this time, the team remained focused throughout, scoring three more times before the end of play. Monty W played a blinder, squeezing the Charterhouse attacks out to the touchline and putting a foot to take the ball off Charterhouse toes a crucial moments. Nathan L also played superbly in goal, positioning himself well to tighten the angle and being in the right place at the right time - I understand that Vicario has contacted Nathan for some tips. For all their huff and puff, Winchester never really looked like conceding. Amar had one of the strikes of the game - a free kick which went in from the underside of the crossbar, but Felix C also scored a superb goal, hitting his strike on the pivot - it was probably the finest moment of his life so far - and there are some heavy bets being taken in it never being repeated. Even so, SCC go into their next game on Thursday in fine fettle - at least until SCB take their best players...[MR]

The SCDs had an unlucky start, Charterhouse took kick-off and we went down 1-0 in the first two minutes. After this we fought back and about 10 minutes later we got one back, an assist from Aaron M (H) and goal from Henry S (I). Unfortunately they overpowered us for the rest of the half and managed to get one back. 2-1 at halftime. We started the next half strong, possession was ours and we were in their half. We missed a few chances and in the end, they got another, towards the end there was an outside the box goal from Henry but it wasn't enough to get us over the line, the game finished 3-2 to Charterhouse. [Henry S, I]

The JCAs started the game looking a little flat and were not playing with the fizz and tempo that characterised the recent cup victory against Crosfields. Long balls from the Charterhouse keeper and centre backs threatened a couple of times but Luke H swept up well and centre backs Ludo and Skylar also made some telling clearances. We also threatened a couple of times and a smart volley from Philip tested the keeper's hands. In general play through we lacked effective running off the ball, making it easy for the Charterhouse defenders to intercept and block.

The second half saw far more urgency with the midfield winning more ball creating a greater attacking threat. We looked dangerous from corners and it was from one such set piece that we broke the deadlock. Osamede directed a powerful header goal-wards, which a Charterhouse defender tried to keep out with his hands, although the ball had already crossed the line. Understandably we fell a little deeper trying to protect the lead and the nerves jangled as the boys defended five corners in the last two minutes. The centre back pairing of Ludo and Skylar were magnificent in dealing with this added pressure and as the whistle went for full time the jubilant cheers reflected a hard fought victory. (MSB)

The JCBs were back in action after last week’s loss to Eton and this week gave a much better account of themselves. The scoreline suggested the match was more one sided than it was. A three nil loss, but Winchester hit the bar and forced the Charterhouse keeper to make some outstanding saves. Ray N had the best efforts for the away side. The JC Bs are beginning to find their footballing identity and the next match on Tuesday should see them grow more into the season and to start producing some victories. L3-0 [JCP]

The JCCs started on the front foot, with Fergus B (I) opening the scoring just five minutes in. A long through ball from Alfie M (I) found Brindle in space, and he finished coolly to put Winchester 1-0 ahead. Despite the early lead, Charterhouse soon grew into the game, forcing Winchester into a more defensive approach. Jaden O (A) was outstanding at the back, using his physicality and awareness to repel several attacks. However, Charterhouse found a way through just before half-time, equalizing after a scramble in the box to make it 1-1.

The second half was tense, with both teams pushing for the winner. Orji continued to dominate defensively, making key tackles and breaking up opposition play. Marsh and James P (K) combined well on several occasions but were denied by some brilliant defending. Just as the game seemed destined for a draw, Marsh sent a fantastic ball to Brindle, who then with the help of a strategic one – two ball to Persaud, latched onto it and calmly slotted home the winner in the final minute. Winchester secured a 2-1 victory, with Brindle’s double and Marsh and Persauds assists proving decisive, while Orji’s defensive heroics kept Charterhouse at bay. (Fergus B, I)

JCD’s (a): L2-1 JCE’s (a): L8-1

Charterhouse were the better team from the start, they dominated most of the possession; but the Yearlings A demonstrated an organised defence, led by Summer Y (B) and Barnaby D. (B), not letting them get an easy shot off. It wasn’t until five minutes in to the first half, that they got a proper chance. It was a shot from the right, a great save from Bear R (D). However, the ball fell right onto the foot of their striker, which led to a tap in, making it 1-0 to Charterhouse. Despite their lead, we did not back down. It was a lovely through ball from Mrad A. (B) to Emmanuel O. (K), which he controlled it right inside of the box, and finished it clinically to the top right corner. The first half ended in a draw and two goals were split between the two sides, with Winchester unlucky not to score just before the break with a good shot from a well worked corner - the extra training on Friday almost paying off!

The start to the second half was pretty much the same as the first. But instead of Charterhouse getting the first big chance, it was a great ball over the top for Harry C. (B), in which he skilfully dribbled past two players of the opposition, lays up a great ball to Tobi O. (D), however, it was a terrific save from the Charterhouse keeper which denied Tobi O.’s effort on goal. As everyone thought the half was going to end in a draw, a well weighted pass was delivered into the far post by Charterhouse, and a little bit of miscommunication led to us conceding a goal. The match ended in an unlucky 2-1 loss, but despite the unideal result, we remained positive and hope to get a better result when we play them again in a month's time. Thank you to all the parents who came to support, and Soccer XI player Bailey who ran the line for us today. L2-1 [Angus K, K]

Yearlings B (h): L3-0

A tough game awaited the Yearlings C against Charterhouse this weekend. The boys looked drained after a morning of fun activities and the lack of energy showed early on with an average looking Charterhouse team managing to apply considerable pressure and seize the initiative with two soft goals before we reached midway in the first half. Winchester were able to hang on until half time but rarely looked like troubling the visitors. The second half was a different affair with the Yearling Cs finding something deep in the locker which enabled them to repeatedly push forward and start to change the momentum of the game. Two close chances were the reward and it felt like a matter of time before a goal would come. Finally, we broke the defence and hope was restored with 20 minutes to play. The game settled into a more even affair but Winchester still looked dangerous but were just unable to break the Charterhouse defence. The boys started to flag again in the final third of the half and Charterhouse were able to tally one last goal to put the game beyond us. Ultimately, a tale of two halves! L3-1 [SJM]

Against Charterhouse the Yearling D's showed a strong performance, scoring two belters against them. With our defence being our weak point, we conceded a few goals, but we stayed strong. Rufus O scored a wonderful goal that went right into the top corner of their net. Andre also scored a wonderful goal, making it 6-2 to Charterhouse. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring it back for the win. [PM]

Yearlings E (h): L8-6

Golf; Hockley Junior Club Championships (h):

Winchester College dominated proceedings somewhat, picking up an impressive 1-2-3 in the main competition. Seb W (G) was 3rd, Harry H (I) finished one shot ahead in 2nd, leaving Ray S in 1st, picking up the title of Junior Club Champion for the second successive year. [RSM]

Sailing: Spinnaker SC Schools Championship

With two teams of six, we headed to Spinnaker Sailing Club on Saturday for the Spinnaker Sailing Club Schools’ Team Racing Championship, expecting to race against Bryanston and Milton Abbey. Thanks to a decent wind forecast of around 13 knots and perfect weather, spirits were high on the bus, and we looked forward to an entertaining afternoon. In preparation for the ETs and BSDRA Midlands, the two big upcoming events, we decided to have two teams with mixed abilities so everyone got some practice.

Winchester Red started off racing against Milton Abbey. With a perfect start from our boats, we kicked off the afternoon. Continuously shifting wind made it challenging for us; however, we managed to take the lead after mark 2, securing the first win of the afternoon. Winchester Blue, facing Bryanston in their first race faced tougher opposition. Luke E (K), sailing with William H (K), managed to take the lead after the start. However, his teammates Amelie S (C), sailing with William N (K), and Alex P (G), sailing with Ed F (G), struggled on the first beat and found themselves in fourth and fifth place. Nonetheless, with excellent boat speed and team racing skills, they managed to turn their losing position into a win on the last beat just before the finish line.

The next races also went in Winchester’s favour, with Winchester Red defeating Bryanston and Winchester Blue defeating Milton Abbey.

The first Winchester face-off of the afternoon was tightly contested. Quick manoeuvres pre-start showed our abilities and made it challenging for the opposite team. Although Winchester Blue had the better start, Winchester Red managed to keep up. After mark 2, Rupert B (K), sailing with Thomas F (E), managed to overtake Alex P while Luke sailed off in 1st. However, Henry B (B), sailing with Harry J-H (B), and Max B (K), sailing with Jack W (G), still had some catching up to do. With a brilliant downwind leg and a perfect mark trap by Rupert at mark 4, Winchester Red converted into a winning combination, taking victory 2,3,4 in the first face-off of the afternoon.

In the second round-robin, Winchester Red continued their unbeaten streak. Meanwhile, Winchester Blue unfortunately lost against Bryanston, so the second Winchester face-off was crucial to decide the overall results. This time, Winchester Red had a strong start with Rupert and Max taking the lead. However, Luke and Alex managed to overtake Max at mark 2 leaving Rupert with some work to do. A very tight situation on the final beat, involving Henry and Alex, became the decisive moment, with Winchester Blue receiving a penalty and ultimately losing the second race to Winchester Red. While Winchester Red went unbeaten, the racing was extremely close and both Winchester teams demonstrated strong team racing skills.

Overall, the Winchester teams finished first and second, with Milton Abbey finishing third and Bryanston fourth. It was a fun afternoon, and it was fantastic to give some new sailors their first racing experience. Really well done to Henry, Harry and Will in JP who made their team racing debut. We look forward to seeing the other teams again at BSDRA Midlands and ETs! A big thank you to Spinnaker Sailing Club for hosting the event and to everyone else who made it possible! [Max B (K) and Rupert B (K)]

All fixture details can be found on: https://sportsfixtures.winchestercollege.org/

Sporting quote for the week:

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” (John Wooden, former UCLA Basketball Coach)

M.S. Burley

Director of Sport

24th September 2024

X: @WinCollSports