The week in sport

Half-term wrap-up from Miss Hildreth

After what has been an incredibly busy half-term, I am sure all the girls and teachers are ready for a well-deserved break. The first half term has seen a very full calendar with Hockey, Lacrosse, Netball, Tennis, Badminton and swimming fixtures, both home and away. The minibuses and coaches have certainly racked up the miles.

A huge well done to those girls who continue to attend the vast variety of enrichment clubs and practises. I just wanted to say a big thank you to all the QM staff, girls and parents for making me feel so welcome since I started in September, you have certainly kept me busy. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing you all build confidence and friendships while being active through sport and exercise, whether that's on the hockey pitches, badminton court, playing Omnikin or simply enjoying the fresh air during a wellness walk around the Temple.

The next half-term enrichments and practises will continue and there is a busy calendar of fixtures, so please do keep attending as it really enhances team performances on match day!

Please check the enrichment calendar or speak to a member of the sports department if you would like some more information about practices! A number of our teams have reached the next rounds in National Competitions which is an incredible achievement and I would like to wish them all the luck and success.

Have a restful half term and we look forward to seeing you return in November.

Miss Hildreth - Director of Sport

Saturday 14th October 2023

U12Bs vs Scarbourough College & Queen Mary's

Score: 0-0 D & 2-0 L

POM: Jasmine (I) & Venus (I)

The team made good improvements throughout the matches, beginning to work together as a team and using the space more wisely. Well done - lots of valuable lessons to take away for future practices too.

U12As vs Scarbourough College & Queen Mary's

Score: 1-0 L 1-1 D

POM: Evie H (II)

U13Bs vs Scarbourough College & Queen Mary's

Score: 2-0 L & 4-0 L

POM: Freya R (II) & Faith L (I)

Lots of positives to take away from playing two short matches in one afternoon. The team grew in confidence.

U13As vs Scarbourough College & Queen Mary's

Score: 1-1D & 0-0D

POM: Maddie B (II), Louise B (II), Evie H (II), Annabel S (II) & India T (II)

Two very closely fought matches with some brilliant work transitioning the ball from midfield to forward. The girls used the width of the pitch really well, creating plenty of goal-scoring opportunities.

A number of the girls played out of position so a huge well done for being so adaptable and fluid in your positioning.

U14s vs Scarborough College

Score: 1-1D

POM: Bronwyn G

A tough match was had by the U14s on Saturday. With some new faces stepping up to play, the squad had to adjust. They started strong but Scarborough got a nice goal in the first half putting them in the lead early. Queen Margaret's defence did well to fight them off and keep possession as much as possible, moving the ball through the midfield when possible.

Frances W (III) held the fort, even after playing a full match for the U15s too. This allowed QM to move the ball up the pitch and secure a short corner. The team managed to put it away nicely leaving the score at 1-1. QM kept pushing in the second half to hold off Scarborough's advances, leaving this as the final result.

A great performance was had by all and a big well done to the team.

U15s vs Scarborough College

Score: 5-4 L

POM: Olympe E (IV)

Going against 11 outfield players, Queen Margaret's had a lot to prove. The girls started a bit panicky but eventually settled into their rhythm and began to move the ball nicely giving lots of chances in the attacking 25.

The score line was one goal after the other, with each team being in the lead for a mere minute or two before the next goal was conceded, creating a real nail-biting atmosphere. There was a lot of pressure on our forward line to perform with no goalkeeper in their way, and they lived up to this, keeping calm under pressure with some diving goals and some great deflections.

Tuesday 17th October 2023

QM Mavericks B v Stamford 1

Score: Won 43-26

POM: Miss Kilburn

Finally, a well-deserved win for Mavericks B who started strong from the first whistle. With some impressive shooting and excellent defensive work in the circle, the Bs won the game convincingly.

QM Mavericks A v Millers Lightning

Score: Lost 40-30

POM: Miss Burton

The first of two games this week for Mavericks A. It started off as an evenly contested match with both teams scoring well. However, going into the last quarter, the As lost some of their fight, allowing Millers to pull ahead and win the game. It's clear that the late games do not favour the A team!

Wednesday 18th October 2023

Swimming v The Mount

Lost 80-51

Our first swimming match of the year saw a number of swimmers make their debut in the team. We were up against some strong club swimmers from the opposition but the team gave 100% in all the individual races and team relays.

QM Mavericks A v Haxby 3

Score: Lost 58-28

POM: Maisie (V)

The second game for Mavericks A this week saw them playing in the windy weather at Haxby... at least the rain held off! Yet again, having just 6 players meant we had to do work harder and smarter. Depsite the loss, we played as a tight unit to support each other in both attack and defence. A well done shout out to Maisie (V) for playing several positions this week and also for being voted as player of the match by the opposition.

Year 9/10 LTA Youth Schools Tennis play-off match

Score: 4-2

The team of Miwa, Celia, Isabel and Poppy played in the last 32 of the year 9/10 LTA Youth Schools Tennis competition.

Our next opponent was St Peter's, away on a very blustery, windy day - really not the weather to be playing competitive tennis in. All players played a singles and then a doubles match. Miwa and Celia played their doubles first with Isabel and Poppy playing singles and after this round, we were 2-1 up. Next on the court were Isabel and Poppy in doubles and Miwa and Celia in singles. What a result that they won 4-2 overall.

All played well in the conditions and what an excellent team performance. The team is through to the last 16 in the country and will go to the North Finals in Sunderland on the 9th of November. Congratulations.

1st XI Hockey vs RGS Newcastle 2nds

Score: 3-0 Loss

POM: Jennifer F (UVI)

In preparation for their plate match, a big squad of Senior players went to take on RGS & GSAL in Leeds on Wednesday. With a mix of upcoming players and the usual squad, the girls had to adapt to play with each other and it was a change from their usual way of playing. The squad adapted really well and gave RGS a hard fight, pushing them off for a good chunk of the match, but unfortunately conceding 3 very strong goals.

Jennifer F (UVI) won player of the match after switching from her usual position in left back all the way up to centre forward at points, so well done!

1st XI Hockey vs GSAL 2nds

Score: 1-1 Draw

POM: Imogen W (LVI)

With a mixed squad, QM worked well with each other and gave GSAL a run for their money. With many chances up front, a lovely 1-on-1 with the keeper saw Jennifer F (UVI) score her first goal of the season, making her the star of the show at this away Wednesday fixture.

The girls worked the ball well with some great play happening in the defence and some lovely breakthroughs in the attack. Two excellent matches to prepare the team for their plate match on Thursday.

Thursday 19th October 2023

1st XI Hockey vs AKS Lytham; 1st Round of ISHC Plate competition

Score: 4-1 Loss

POM: Pippa C (LVI), Harriet W (LVI), Edie O (V) & Kitty D (UVI)

The 1st XI took on AKS Lytham at home in the first round of the Independent Schools Hockey Plate competition. The girls started really calm with some lovely movement around the midfield of Daisy L (C) (UVI), Alex C (C) (UVI) and Olivia B (LVI), despite her recent Maths-related injury.

They worked the ball beautifully across the pitch and up into the forward line, protecting it and keeping possession. AKS Lytham worked hard and moved the ball nicely around their attacking 25, but the QM defence did not make it easy with Harriet W (LVI) putting her life on the line multiple times to stop the shots coming in. With great direction from Pippa C (Player of the Match) (LVI), Kitty D (Player's Player of the Match) (UVI) knew exactly where to cover and managed to pinch possession back multiple times. Also, with guest appearances from Harriette P (UVI) and Florence LT (LVI) in the back 4 bringing in fresh legs and determination to keep fighting for a QM win, AKS were up against it.

Flo S (UVI) bridged the gap between our attack and defence, working the ball out on multiple occasions and winning frees when needed, offering encouragement and advice in her teammate's times of need and finding passes through to the star forward Elsa S (LVI) who took on the keeper and kept the AKS defence under a lot of pressure.

In the 3rd quarter, all of this hard work began to pay off as the ball got moved through into the attack early. Flo worked hard to fend off the defence while Zoe U (UVI) positioned herself ready on the post; a beautiful cross-in allowed for the perfect deflection resulting in a comeback goal with the new score line at 2-1 AKS.

Poppy C (UVI) and Flossie F (UVI) popped in and out to support the attack and allow others to get refuelled, nimbly taking the ball around AKS and feeding through when needed. The star of the show was Edie O (Coach's Player of the Match) (V), our only Year V to play and after only having a few appearances on this squad so far, she chose today to really show herself and to get properly stuck in. Winning balls and linking nicely in the midfield, she worked the ball up with a steady Jennifer F (UVI) who was back after her triumphs the day before.

A fantastic performance by the entire squad who have worked so hard this year to learn to play together and to link with each other throughout the pitch. A great start to the season and exciting to see how the second half finishes off. A massive thank you must go to our parents for supporting us every Saturday and during midweek matches this half of term - it does not go unnoticed and thankfully the weather has been kind thus far, but it is much appreciated how dedicated you are in all conditions; thank you!

Sports and Physical Education Enrichment

At QM, we have a huge range of enrichment activities for sports and physical education. From lacrosse to hockey, netball, running club, football, swimming, lifeguarding, and much more.

Click below to see the 2022/23 activities you can get involved in.

Click here to see the archive of past Sports Reviews.

Your Sporting Stories

If you have any summer sporting success stories we would love to hear them. There is so much talent at QM and we love to celebrate your achievements outside school with the QM Family. Be sure to share your news with the Sports Department or email marketing@queenmargarets.com.