‘Severn Shield’ Showcases Superb Sporting Ability
The annual RGS Worcester v King’s School sporting fixtures provide the opportunity for our communities to come together to celebrate the athletic talent and the ability of our Senior teams across our team sports.
The Hockey fixture has always been a challenge to make comparable to the other varsity events, with the only Hockey stadium in the UK with sufficient seating capacity being the Lee Valley Olympic Stadium in London. We would be happy to stage the match at our International Hockey Centre each year but King’s staff prefer to alternate between venues. This year with King’s School hosting, the RGS team and supporters travelled to Bishop Perowne C of E College, where King’s School trains.
Our Senior Girls’ Hockey players have been privileged to play the annual King’s fixture in front of increasing crowds and this year RGS launched the first ever ’Severn Shield’ match, bringing the competition onto the level of the Modus Challenge Cup match, the Football Challenge Cup fixture and, of course, Superball.
Earlier in the afternoon, the RGS 2nd XI had dominated their match against King’s School, played at the International Hockey Centre, winning 1-0 from a goal scored by Katy Reynolds. With 19 players used in the match, the strength and depth of RGS Senior Hockey was very evident.
The RGS 1st XI team was greeted by rapturous applause from spectators including family, friends and pupils from RGS Worcester and the RGS Prep Schools. For the younger pupils, the match provided a glimpse of the level pupils can aspire to achieve in future years. A Year Eight pupil present at the match said “It was a very wet evening and the atmosphere was quite intense, but the RGS girls were a very strong team because they trusted each other and passed the ball successfully throughout the whole game. It was exciting and we can’t wait to have the opportunity to play at this level when we are older.’’
Over 300 spectators spurred the players on in the wet and windy weather conditions. Members of the RGS 1st XV Rugby team came to support the girls to reciprocate their support at the Modus Cup match and treated the team to a rendition of various songs accompanied by the saxophone. One pupil commented, “I had no idea how hard and physical Hockey is, the girls are so skilled, and I can see why they have done so well this season”.
The match showcased the talent, dedication, resilience and sportsmanship of the 1st XI team. Captain Ellie Nicholls played with calm authority, ably supported by her twin sisters. England player, Alice Atkinson, playing in the centre, manoeuvred the ball into key positions up the pitch with skill and precision and Teyah Farmer added great pace to the attack on the right. Eleanor Fawcett also linked well and showed high levels of skill. It was particularly impressive to see a number of Year Eleven pupils coping so well with the pressure of such a high-profile match, especially in defence. Despite the 0-0 draw, the standard of their performance, the way they dominated possession and moved the ball around the pitch showed how talented this group of RGS players is, and how they have learned to work together so well. They just could not score that winning goal!
Huge congratulations to all involved. Thanks must go to King’s School for hosting the match and to RGS pupils, parents and staff for their unwavering support of the 1st XI Hockey team throughout this season and at this showcase fixture.
The RGS community wishes the 1st XI the very best of luck for their National Semi-Final Cup match later in the season.