Across an action-packed week of sports, Rydal Penrhos pupils of all ages have distinguished themselves across a range of disciplines.
Last week was nothing short of exhilarating for our young athletes at Rydal Penrhos. In what Head of Sport Mr Kirby has described as the “busiest sporting week since I arrived at the school,” our children and young people have excelled across a range of sports, demonstrating signature Rydal Penrhos values and sportsmanship along the way.
Following a triumphant Advent Term, which saw our Senior pupils participate in over 66 competitive games and 10 tournaments, the sporting momentum continues to build as we approach the halfway point of Lent Term. With major fixtures and competitions on the calendar when we return from half-term, including the Rydal Penrhos U18s Rugby Sevens tournament, this is an exciting time to be associated with the school and its vibrant sporting scene.
For now, however, we take a moment to reflect on an outstanding week of school sports:
Tuesday
Last year, Rydal Penrhos U18s boys’ hockey side contributed to a hat-trick of national titles, overcoming schools from across the country to be crowned Welsh champions. On Tuesday, our first team took a step towards repeating this feat by winning their regional qualifiers, with some exceptional performances headlined by captain Liam Farrell, who led by example. The team will travel to Cardiff in March for their chance at unprecedented back-to-back titles.
On the same day, the U12 girls’ hockey team were also participating in regional finals. Despite a valiant effort from the team, who showed real promise and grit with their performance, the group were unsuccessful in qualifying for the next stage of the competition. Special commendation to Year 7 pupil Connie Ratcliffe, who produced a stellar showing over the course of the competition.
Wednesday
Only a day on from their triumph at the regional hockey finals, the Rydal Penrhos U18 boys team swapped their shin pads for gum guards as they visited Lymm RFC for Wirral Grammar School’s rugby sevens tournament. Demonstrating the strides in performance made under the tutelage of Head of Sport Mr Kirby, the team won three out of four matches against top-calibre competition. Among a host of notable individual performances, Tom Lennon impressed with his strength, power, and explosiveness. On Wednesday, the team will be hoping for more success as they travel to Eirias Park for the North Wales Cup competition, where they will take on the likes of Ysgol Eirias, St David’s College and Ysgol Glan Clwyd.
Not to be outdone, the U18 girls’ hockey team also won three out of four in the regional finals competition. Illustrating their quality, the young team showed real skill and teamwork, producing an impressive brand of hockey. While the team ultimately lost out to Christ College Brecon, the tournament was an impressive showcase for what was a particularly young side; many of whom will soon go on to represent the school at the upcoming U16 regional finals.
Thursday
Thursday was bustling with action as our U14 boys’ and girls’ hockey teams battled against St. Anselm’s College and St David’s College, respectively. Harry Nurse and Abigail Oliver-Eastwood were standout players, demonstrating remarkable energy, determination and desire to succeed.
The U11 rugby team faced tough competition at an Urdd rugby tournament hosted by Nant Conwy RFC, based near the towns of Llanrwst and Trefriw. In the group stage, the team won two, drew two and lost one, including decisive victories against Ysgol Eglwys Bach and Ysgol Cerrigydrudion. The side then secured a hard-fought win against St David’s College in the quarterfinals, before ultimately losing out to Ysgol Bro Gwydir in the semi-finals. Congratulations to the team for displaying unwavering determination and sportsmanship throughout.
Friday
Friday brought further success as our U9 boys put on an admirable display at the U9 Tag rugby tournament at Scarisbrick Hall School. The energetic and determined side were invincible across their five matches, scoring 45 times along the way. Additionally, our skiing team soared to victory at the National Schools Snowsport Association competition, claiming an impressive array of gold, silver, and bronze medals. To read more about this success, please click here.
Saturday
The end of the working week did not put a halt to our sporting adventures as our Key Stage 3 pupils travelled Birkenhead School for away fixtures. The U12, U13 and U14s all played with a high tempo and fierce will to win, resulting in closely-contested games. It was great for these groups to be playing sport on a Saturday morning and particularly against high-quality opponents.
Congratulations to all our pupils who were involved in a week of breathless sporting action. Our children and young people continually make us proud, and we expect to be in a position to report more great sporting success in the coming weeks.
