The Pilgrims' School Parent Portal - Pilgrims' Pitches, Thursday 11 November

Rugby

Here at Pilgrims’ it’s the final week of football! Yes, our fixture with Papplewick will be our final set of football matches. From Monday 15 November, we will turn our attention to rugby. The game progresses in complexity through the age groups. In Reception and Year 1, pre-rugby years, we will be engaging in functional movement skill, catching and passing, running and evading. In Years 2 and 3, we play TAG rugby, a non-contact version of the game. In Year 4, we introduce the tackle in what is, effectively, a rugby league style, tackle-only game. In Years 5 and 6, the ruck and maul are developed, with uncontested three-man scrums. In Year 7, the scrum remains uncontested, but the hookers may contest the strike. In Year 8, there are no flankers, but the scrum becomes contested. Throughout, there are no line outs nor kicking for points.

The game we see on the television today is not the game our players play. As such, and exciting as it is, unfortunately, the modern game doesn’t provide a useful shop window into the game in prep schools. Rugby in the prep school remains a game for all shapes and sizes. The amateur era of rugby provides a more comparable example of the kind of rugby our schoolboy players might aspire to.

In preparation for this season, staff will have undergone concussion training and content training with Mark Burley of Winchester College and Mike Marchant of Peter Symonds College. The pupils will have plenty of lead in time to re-engage with activities we have missed since March 2019, before an initial fixture on Saturday 4 December.

Also, to look out for before the end of term is our Inter Set Touch Rugby competition on Saturday 27 November. We have been steadily growing this version of the game since my return from a teaching exchange in Sydney in 2012. Run along the same lines as our Year 6-8 Inter-Set Football earlier this term, players have to tag the ball carrier, trying to re-gain possession after a set number of tags. Here it is growing in popularity, having been established over here by Australians and New Zealanders living in London. Down in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a thriving school game. Players usually play both this and the contact version of the game and it is the go-to activity in the playgrounds instead of football. Additionally, we will have Inter-Set Rugby towards the end of the Lent term.

We aim to start with plenty of running and handling, before carefully coaching the tackle and other contact areas of the game. I think it’s important that all players undergo this coaching, unless there is a significant reason not to. We know that some boys and parents are concerned about the impact of contact in rugby, and we are mindful of this. It is our intention that as many as possible learn the basics, but it is clear that contact and non-contact groups will emerge as we see how the players respond in sessions this side of Christmas. Plenty of senior schools which our pupils exit to play rugby in the Christmas term, so it is important that they gain some useful experience.

As well as mouth guards, there is a growing plethora of equipment that may be used for rugby. Please find these links to help further:

Clothing for rugby includes information on base layers, gloves and mitts, headscarves, religious head-dress:

Footwear for rugby includes information on boots, studs and blades:

There is no need to buy ‘rugby’ boots as opposed to ‘football’ boots. The football boots that your son has been wearing to this point will be fine as long as the studs are safe.

Sports Goggles and eyewear provides information on glasses and eyewear:

U13s are allowed to wear goggles, as long as conditions are met as listed in this information. NB: wearing glasses is not permitted in contact rugby.

Protective equipment includes information on face masks, head guards, mouth guards, shoulder pads, shin guards.

In Year 8, provision is made for a small hockey group. This has been open to Year 7 previously. However, those in Year 8 who have opted for hockey have filled the places available. Nevertheless, hockey features prominently in the PE curriculum from Years 3-7, for which we hire the astro at Winchester College. Pupils require shin pads and mouth guards for hockey across the age groups.

In the rest of the PE curriculum until Easter, we will be doing blocks of tennis and hockey in Years 3 and 4; tennis, hockey and basketball in Years 5 and 6; hockey, badminton and adventure development in Year 7 and health related exercise, volleyball and adventure development in Year 8. Each block lasts approximately half a term.

X-Country

The boys returned from half-term into Set Cross-Country. In stunning crisp, cold weather each year group met the challenge with determination. The top 5 from each year group are listed with images from this event below. We were delighted for Mrs Brill to surprise us by running in the Year 8 race. Mrs Brill – chapeau!

Year 8: 1^st Gabriel O (S), 2^nd James Z (N), 3^rd M Weaver (N), 4^th Hugo S (N), 5^th Rufus B (R)

Year 7: 1^st Sebastian N (N), 2^nd Otto G (N), 3^rd Toby L (W), 4^th Thomas R (N), 5^th Orson S (S)

Year 6: 1^st Orlando S (S), 2^nd Barnaby D (R), 3^rd Fraser N (R), 4^th Bertie W (R), 5^th Aditya S (N)

Year 5: 1^st Alfie L (W), 2^nd Charles N (W), 3^rd Ike C (M), 4^th Teddy E (S), 5^th William S (M)

Year 4: 1^st Farid A (W), 2^nd Patrick B (W), 3^rd Elliot N (N), 4^th Archie W (R), 5^th Barney S (M)

Year 3: 1^st Rio C (M), 2^nd Charlie L (W), 3^rd Finlay N (N), 4^th Harry C (S), 5^th Daniel M (M)

Andrew Short
Director of Sport

1^st XI v Twyford

Won 2-1 (Gabriel O 2)

A great game which had everything. The first 20 minutes were among the best at Prep school level that I have seen, with both sides hugely committed but also playing some lovely football. The Pilgrims’ defence played superbly and snuffed out anything coming their way, so it was not unmerited when Gabriel O scored from a free kick just outside the box (after Giovanni S had been pulled down when through) to put us one up on 20 minutes. The second goal we scored shortly before half-time was a bonus (a goal by Gabriel O from a free kick cross/come shot from wide out that nobody touched), and 2-0 at half-time probably flattered us. The second half wasn’t such high quality as both sides tried and got a bit desperate in their play. However, things got really desperate when Twyford scored a deserved goal five minutes from time! The last five minutes was a true 'backs to the wall' job; Thomas E in goal was particularly praiseworthy. The whistle was greeted with great relief, as I’m not sure how much longer we could have held out. A super game, and a super result. Well done, boys. ASD

2nd XI v Twyford

Lost 3-0

It was a pleasure to stand in for Mr Darlow and referee the 2nds at home. I, and the spectators, were rewarded with a very entertaining and hard-fought match. Twyford came out of the blocks quickly before Pilgrims’ turned momentum in their favour mid-way through the first half. Our closest chances came from Hugo S who bustled his way down the left wing before sliding in a shot which beat the keeper but rebounded off the post. The other came from Guy P who gathered the ball outside the 18 yard box to put in a speculative shot that greatly worried the keeper, backpedalling desperately to get a glove to it and tip it over the bar.

Whilst still 0-0, Harrison K produced the moment that had the spectators gasping. His reaction save was stunning as he gymnastically tipped an effort from close-range over the bar. Twyford grabbed a goal to put their noses in front just before half-time.

All over the pitch, Pilgrims’ gave a physical and robust account of themselves. However, we endured enough goal mouth scrambles to concede that the victory went to the better team on the day. AJS

3^rd XI v Twyford

Lost 0 – 2

Twyford always put out a good team and so they did for this game. Playing away on Twyford’s classic downhill slope added another exciting challenge. Thankfully, the same for both teams. It was a fun match to watch. Pilgrims’ were in fine form, keeping Twyford on the back foot for much of the game. In defence, Mayin D, Felix M, Alex Q and Jinmo K were excellent. Their work rate was exceptional, and they made many excellent tackles. A special mention must go to Felix C who was brilliant in goal and gets man of the match not only for making some great saves but also for pressurising all attackers who dared come near the goal. Unfortunately, we struggled to break past Twyford’s defence and get shots on goal even though Santi F, Rohan F, Alex B, Matteo L, Alex A and Will C put on ample pressure all game. Eventually, Twyford managed to get two goals and win, but only just. PB

4^th XI v Twyford

Won 3-2 (Harry H 2, Freddie F)

The mighty 4ths are proving to be quite a force this season and continued their fine form this afternoon with a resilient, winning performance against Twyford. They had to work extremely hard and deservedly earned their victory over a bright and tenacious opposition. We conceded our first goal in 120 minutes of football, which stunned the boys into an immediate response at the other end. Harry H collected the ball on the right-hand corner of the penalty area, a neat turn and snap shot into the far corner of the goal. Dreamy stuff. Soon after, Harry put us ahead as he finished with aplomb from close range and the Twyford defence failed to clear the threat. After half-time, we lost concentration as the visitors piled on the pressure for a good ten-minute spell. They equalised after 5 minutes and came close twice more; we did well to withstand the assault and were fortunate not to concede more than one. We got back into it with some really exciting football and squandered a few chances of our own. Finally, Freddie F’s tireless running paid off as he exerted enough pressure on the goalkeeper to force an error which led to him poke the ball, with just enough pace, over the line from three metres out. With our noses just in front we managed to close out the game without any further scares. This was a great performance where the boys’ character was given a good examination. Well done. AW

Colts A VII v Twyford

Lost 1-0

Wednesday’s fixture was a tight affair, with both teams giving little to their opposition. Both teams played with confidence, moving the ball around well and creating opportunities. Colts A have been working hard on possessional play and their approach to find feet and patiently build towards a more attacking pass looked as though it was about to pay off. It was, however, Twyford who made a breakthrough just before half-time. Pilgrims’ came out quickly in the second half and created a number of their own chances. The all-important equaliser could not be found, but the team’s work rate and intensity could not be questioned. Wwe were unlucky not to get anything out of the game. Well done, all. MTG

Colts B VII v Twyford

Lost 4-0

The Colts B played well with the score 0-0 at half-time. Unfortunately, not many chances were created despite the team battling hard. Twyford went ahead. Despite this, the Colts remained determined. Well played. AC

Colts C VII vs Twyford C VII

Won 1-0 and Drew 0-0 (two games played)

Colts C VII vs Colts D VII

Won 2-0 and Won 1-0 (two games played)

Pilgrims’ Colts C enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of fixtures against Twyford Colts C and Pilgrims’ Colts D. The triangular format worked well and ensured that all boys got a lot of time on the field in a match situation. Goals for the C team came from Alex W (x2), Balthasar J and Arthur H. The boys played with a lot of creativity and good energy, and it was lovely to see them picking their options intentionally. A good afternoon for all concerned. CXC

Colts D VII v Twyford Colts C

Colts D VII v Colts C VII

Colts D VII lost 2-1 (George S)

Pilgrims' Colts D played two matches broken into four quarters against the two opposing teams. Despite end-to-end action and a good amount of scoring opportunities, goals were a rare commodity. The only goal the Ds scored was against their Pilgrims’ counterparts, and this was well-taken by the in-form George S. All matches were played with a great amount of determination and all spectators and staff had a jolly enjoyable afternoon. AA

Foals A VII v Twyford

Lost 12-0

A very tough afternoon for the Pilgrims’ boys who came up against talented and organised opposition. Unfortunately, Twyford proved far too strong and scored freely. It would have been understandable if Pilgrims’ gave up, but to their credit, and earning the admiration of the opposition players and coaching staff, Pilgrims’ stuck at it. They continued to work tirelessly, did not give up and left the pitch feeling proud that they gave their best. JB

Foals B VII v Twyford

Lost 9-2 (Elijah A, Teddy E)

It was a good game but the Twyford attack was very strong. They took the Foals boys by surprise but in the second half, the Foals effort was much more resolute, with goals coming from Elijah and Teddy. LH

Foals Predators VII v Twyford

Lost 5-0

Although a disappointing score line, the Predators put in a much-improved performance since our last meeting with Twyford. There were some real moments of magic, such as an outstanding set-piece led by Bertie B, and a superb one-handed save by Leo L in goal. Donghan looked comfortable in his new, self-made, position of ‘attacking defence’ and gave the opposition a hard time in both halves of the pitch. Plenty to be happy about going forwards. Well done all. CAL.

Thursday 11 November 2021

From the Director of Sport

4 November Twyford