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Last week’s Inter-Set Football, saw some ferocious competition in the absence of the 1st XI at the OSCAR tournament and Colts A at their Hampshire Cup tie. At this stage, the Set positions are as follows: 

	Premier League: (Year 7 & 8)	Points	Goal Difference
1	Monks	7	+2
2	Saxons	7	0
3	Normans	5	+2
4	Wrens	5	-1
5	Romans	2	-2

 

	Championship: (Year 7 & 8)	Points	Goal Difference
1	Normans	12	+14
2	Romans	7	+5
3	Saxons	7	+3
4=	Monks & Wrens	1	-11

 

	Colts (Year 6)	Points	Goal Difference
1	Monks	10	+15
2	Saxons	10	+7
3	Romans	6	-1
4	Wrens	3	-4
5	Normans	0	-7

 

	Foals (Year 5)	Points	Goal Difference
1	Romans	12	+4
2	Wrens	5	+2
3	Normans & Saxons	3	-1
4	Monks	2	-4

 

We also enjoyed our fixture with Cothill last Saturday, the warm weather making the journey up the A34 worthwhile. 

On Wednesday, we have matches with Farleigh with 1st-5th XIs, four Colts teams encompassing all Year 6 and five Foals teams encompassing all Year 5, in action. Colts A play at the Independent Schools FA tournament with a 1330 start at Bedales. 

Year 4 have coaching with collection from 1530 and Sailing continues. 

On Saturday, once again, five senior teams are in action with all the Colts at home, three Foals teams away and all the Under 9s at Westbourne House. 

On Sunday morning, Mr Buck’s Foals A head across the road to Winchester College for a football tournament. 

Next Tuesday (11 October), U9A play in a football tournament at Bryanston School departing from school at approximately 0830 and returning for about 1600. 

Next Wednesday (12 October), Foals A play in the equivalent tournament at Bryanston School departing from school at approximately 0900 and returning for about 1600. 

 

Sailing 

We have been lucky this term so far, with lovely gentle breezes and high tides. (Anyone who has been to SWAC will know that a low neap tide virtually cuts the river in half). The boys have continued with their RYA levels from last term, although some have gone up a stage over the holidays which is great to see. They have been sailing the Zests and so far, we have sailed a course, capsized, learnt lots of theory and practised coming alongside and picking up moorings – all essential skills for practical boat handling. Despite taking too long to change into and out of wetsuits the boys are participating well and realising the benefits of listening to and following instructions. Unfortunately, our inter-schools regatta had to be cancelled this term, but we are hoping to set it up again for next Summer. Meanwhile, there are two remaining sessions for this half-term before calling end-of-season for the year. Thank you to all the boys who have participated well, and I hope you will join us again after Easter. It’s great to see you progressing from beginner through to competent and gaining knowledge and skill.  AS 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 28 September

1st XI Oscar Tournament @ Hall Grove
P4 W2 D2 L0 (Osamede A, Kunfayo O, Thomas Ri 2, Rory K) 
Heading to this tournament as defending champions came with its own pressures; the boys more than coped with that. The afternoon was a festival of football, with some great games and some super results. We started well in our first game against Edgeborough, ending the game in a draw. Games against Daneshill and Eagle House were both won fairly comfortably 1-0 (though how we didn’t score more against Eagle House no one watching knew! This set up a big clash against the home team. They had won all their games, and so a victory was needed to secure the tournament (the same set-up as last year, incidentally!) The game started fast, but when Hall Grove scored the first after two minutes, heads could have dropped. Rory K scored a stunner from the edge of the box very soon after, and it was game on. When Thomas R scored from a breakaway five minutes from time the victory seemed on. Hall Grove pressed hard and had chances to score, but it looked like we would hold on. However, in the very final minute of action, Hall Grove won a free kick on halfway, it was pumped into our box, and after point-blank saves and at least one block, Hall Grove managed to bundle the ball home.

The boys were understandably disappointed, but they must console themselves in the knowledge that they played brilliantly, and did not lose a game. Bravo. A wonderful afternoon’s entertainment for those there lucky enough to watch. ASD

Colts A v Greatham Primary School
Won 6-3 (Finn R 2, Cole H 2, William S, Ike C)
The minibus was rumbling with excitement on the way to this fixture and the team were fast out of the blocks. Pilgrims’ Colt’s A managed to get an early hold of the game, passing the ball around and creating attacking avenues all over the pitch. Cole H was once again, in the right place, at the right time to put away our first goal. Our confidence grew after an early first goal, and it wasn’t long before Cole doubled our lead. Finn R pulled the strings in the middle, linking up well with Ike C and our attacking outlets on the wings. Finn’s first goal, just before half-time added some daylight and his second early in the second half gave us a real cushion. The opposition came back at us at this point, scoring 2 quick goals. Rian D and Charles N settled the ship as we grew back into the game. I was impressed with how we saw out the game, scoring 2 further goals to take us into the next round. William S placed one, low to the right of the keeper, before Ike picked up the ball on the halfway line and proceeded to beat 3 defenders on his way to a great solo goal! Every boy should be extremely proud of their performance and teamwork today. We go marching on. MTG 

Saturday 1 October 

2nd XI v Cothill
Lost 5-0
This was a slightly chastening day at the office! We met Cothill on New Piece, where 11 a side can sometimes feel congested, but our opponents dealt with the lack of space considerably better than we did, and we lacked any time and composure on the ball and struggled badly for territory. Cothill scored a lovely header from a corner to go 1-0 up, but we couldn't find a way to shift the momentum. They scored two more before the break and 3-0 at half-time was probably about right. We started the second half with a bit more determination, but we had no answer to Cothill's passing game, and they scored two more unanswered goals before the final whistle. There was no doubting Cothill's superiority, but we didn't make things easy for ourselves and we missed a bit of bite and competitive fighting spirit for the majority of the match. Tobi O looked dangerous throughout, but we couldn't provide him with the service which meant their keeper had a largely untroubled afternoon. A disappointing result, but with two matches in quick succession, we have an opportunity to put things right next time out. WD

5th XI v Cothill
Lost 5-3
It was a game of inches for the Pilgrims’ boys, loosing narrowly in the last 5 minutes of the match. However, the effort shown went above and beyond. Two early goals went the way of Cothill; however, this didn’t stop the boys in green. Bertie W and William I both putting pressure on the Cothill defense, and eventually both scoring a goal each. The fight was on. Early in the second half, James P scored a direct corner kick goal, the boys were fired up. With players having to leave the field however, Pilgrims' came under pressure late in the second half. Louis B saving the day on numerous occasions as goalkeeper. After small mistakes, Cothill managed to put three goals through, without a response from Pilgrims’. Good effort was shown from every individual on the pitch, was great to see the players enjoying a tough and tense game. JU

6th XI v Cothill
Lost 2-0
The 6th XI had a fun and challenging game at Cothill School on Saturday. This match being the team’s first fixture of the season, morale and excitement was high. There was some particularly impressive play up front, with George S, John G and Conrad B combining to present a dangerous attack. The midfield worked hard, William N supporting the defence tirelessly throughout the entirety of the match. Michael K and Bertie C provided a strong defence, shutting down Cothill’s attack. Spectacular saves were seen from Daniel D, his debut match as a goalkeeper proving to be extremely successful. The result unfortunately did not go our way, Cothill prevailing 2-0. However, the score does not reflect the balanced possession of ball which was seen throughout the game, nor the concerted and consistent effort from the Pilgrims' boys. An excellent fixture to watch, and I applaud every player for their positive attitude and exemplary sportsmanship throughout the match. The 6th XI should all be very proud of themselves. BD

7th XI v Cothill
Lost 5-1
Our first half was not our best performance. The boys started the match a little bit flustered and unsure, resulting in poor judgement, thus giving away four early goals.

After some reflection and encouragement at half-time, the boys really started to come together in the second half and managed to secure a goal. This really helped build some momentum and confidence in our game, and resulted in our boys making better decisions and creating more opportunities for themselves. Unfortunately, time got away from us, and we were not able to secure a second goal. The final score did not reflect the game - It was a close match between both teams, with huge improvement being made in the second half, conceding only one goal. Considering our boys had never played before as a team, they did very well! Man of the match is awarded to Kelvin R. He had a fantastic attitude and put himself into every situation in the game. Kelvin was particularly great at defending and made a few extraordinary tackles! SF

Colts A v Cothill
Won 2-1 (Ike C, Finn R)
Pilgrims’ Colts A took to the field coming off a cup win and lots of confidence. Cothill played some lovely flowing football, coming close on a number of occasions. Jacob H has great game at left back, keeping his opposite number at bay. Slightly against the run of play, Pilgrims’ nicked a goal before the half. A low drilled cross from Finn R was put away by a lively Ike C. A special mention should go to Chenhan Z, who put on a fantastic display in goal! I was impressed with how the team managed to see out a tough game. Cothill came back in the second half, and did look dangerous. Charles N looked composed at the back, warding off the danger. We doubled our advantage as Finn tried his luck from distance, leaving a disappointed opposition keeper. Cothill got one back, and looked to push on for an equaliser. Pilgrims’ soaked up the pressure well in the final few minutes, every boy doing their bit to keep our slender lead. It was a nervy wait for all involved but as the final whistle blew, you could see what it meant to both boys and parents. A great effort to see out a game like this, well done all! MTG

Colts C v Cothill
Drew 3-3
(Rupert B, Gleb H, Elijah A)
Cothill started this match brightly, with Pilgrims’ finding themselves in their half for the majority of the first ten minutes. Inevitably, this led to some shots which were well-saved by the spritely Charlie S. Unfortunately, one shot took a wicked deflection which even Charlie could do nothing about. Pilgrims' battled on and began to press more as the game progressed, which saw more chances being created, one of which was smashed in by Rupert. A tit-for-tat of scoring ensued, with Gleb knocking in the second with a strong strike to leave both teams tied 2-2 at half-time. Pilgrims' looked a more formidable team in the second half and kept their shape well leading to the goal of the match whereby Elijah made good use of an advantage to go through one-on-one and coolly finish, to leave a tense final five minutes of the match. This was a wonderful match of football, with the Pilgrims’ team certainly showing the most progress throughout the match. AA

Colts Warriors v Cothill
Won 4-1 (Harrison E, Yashk P 3)
The Mighty Colts Warriors took on the force of Cothill on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Six boys from each school took to the pitch and a cracking game of football began! The first few minutes were a little squashed, with a play bunched up, but slowly the boys began spacing themselves out, trying to get their heads up to make deliberate passes.? There were some super skills on display, most noticeably the back-heel stop, which came into force from many boys, but a particularly good one from Captain of the day, Max, to prevent Cothill taking the ball towards the Pilgrims’ goal in the first few minutes of the game. However, Cothill pursued the ball with determination and despite the best efforts of Boots in goal, slotted the ball neatly into the back of the net to take an early lead.? Pilgrims’ kept their heads up, with Yashk taking a cracking shot, following a corner kick from Harrison, that just sailed over the bar before the ball returned swiftly to Cothill, who charged up the pitch but then hit the post with their shot on goal. Five minutes before the half-time whistle saw Harrison take a well-earned goal after his determined running throughout the first half. Half-time came as the scores were level. As the second half began, a brilliant moment made us all smile when Nathan took a ball to the chest following a throw in, but the ball bounced awkwardly upwards, meaning everyone lost sight of it for a moment, with lots of spinning around looking for the ball! It eventually returned to Pilgrims’ feet before another goal from Yashk made it into the back of the net. Pilgrims’ now seemed to have the upper hand of the game, with play being spread out well and more communication from the boys.? Max provided some great space out on the wing, keeping pace with the ball to both attack and defend as needed. Arthur and Nathan proved stalwart in defence, along with Boots in goal, to save a number of shots from Cothill. A terrific goal kick from Boots out wide to Harrison on the wing allowed him to run the length of the pitch before slipping an unselfish pass to Yashk, who picked up his second goal of the game. This was quickly followed by Yashk’s hattrick goal! With the score at 4-1 to Pilgrims’, some team changes saw both Max and Harrison have a turn in goal, while Boots demonstrated some great skill on the pitch. Arthur really came into his own in the last ten minutes of the game, finding good space and making himself available for some great passes. Nathan remained stalwart in defence not allowing the Cothill boys to get past him to keep the scoreline in Pilgrims’ favour. Captain Max led the team in the final cheers before a well-deserved match tea! BH

(Thanks to Miss Higham for stepping in on the day and for providing such a cracking report! AJS)

Colts Dreadnought v Cothill
Lost 4-1 (David L)
This was a fantastic battle on the ‘field of Bailey’. Fortunately no one sank, and all could hold their heads high after an energetic 40 minutes of football. The game began with a tight midfield skirmish which ebbed and flowed for some time. Cothill were the team to make the most of the positional play and scored twice in the first half, and lucky not to get another 5 were it not for arguably the performance of the match from Donghan in goal. The second half stated well as the Dreadnoughts applied sustained pressure, with the eventual goal scored by the deserving David Lui. However, Cothill were able to step up their positional play again utilising the flanks well to get in behind the Dreadnought's defences. Two goals later and the game was seemingly over. Despite there being no more goals, Donghan was again taking it to Cothill, entertaining with goalie runs and flamboyant saves to the delight of the spectators. SL

Foals A v Cothill
Won 1-5 Elliott N 3, Patrick B, Archie W
Pilgrims’ got off to a flying start despite only having 2 mins to warm up after a late arrival! They played good passing football and showed maturity in their positional awareness. Elliott N was ruthless in front of goal, snapping up 3 chances in the first half, Theo M looked rock steady at the back, showing no signs of panic and passing into midfield with great composure. Into the second half with Pilgrims’ dominating the match, we decided to change positions, to allow all boys to enjoy some activity! Farid who had been a spectator in goal went up front and looked dangerous at times, Archie showed he is a capable midfielder and Boris tried his luck as a second striker and caused all sorts of problems for the opposition but lacked the final finish. Numerous chances still created despite the boys playing out of positions is a great sign of versatility in the team. Another goal came and 1 conceded meant a very comfortable 5-1 win. Well done boys! JB

Foals Predator v Cothill
With enough journey time for the Foals to consider match tactics, the lads came off the team coach champing at the bit. Sadly, a bit of sickness had torn through the Cothill, leaving them a little light in numbers. Forming mixed teams, a ferocious match ensued in the glorious sunshine. Initially, play was a little packed, but eventually the players got their heads up to find spaces around the pitch and move the ball around. Well played everyone. AJS

Andrew Short
Director of Sport