Hockey Spotlight
Novi House Hockey Competition
The Novi House Hockey Competition took place on Wednesday afternoon, bringing together all Novi boys for a spirited showcase of effort, teamwork, and emerging talent.
Throughout the term, the boys have been developing their hockey skills as part of Wednesday Afternoon Activities, with many experiencing the sport for the first time. The Competition is the culmination of this programme, and the standard of play on display (despite challenging weather conditions) was remarkable. The boys demonstrated resilience, enthusiasm, and excellent sportsmanship throughout.
A special thank you goes to Max (PS5), Tom (HS5), Hugo (SH5), and Ed (FH5), who gave their time to umpire the matches so professionally. Sincere thanks are also extended to the staff who supported the event and ensured the afternoon ran so smoothly.
Cup Competition
Hill Side, Oakeshott, Welldon, and Whitworth progressed to the Cup Competition after winning their respective groups. In the final, Welldon defeated Whitworth 3–1 to claim the Cup, with Hill Side and Oakeshott sharing third place.
Plate Competition
Ferox Hall, Manor, Parkside, and School House, all runners-up in their groups, contested the Plate Competition. School House secured a 1–0 win over Ferox Hall in the final, with Manor and Parkside finishing joint third.
Shield Competition
Cowdrey, Judde, Park House, and Smythe competed for the Shield. Park House edged Judde 1–0 in the final to lift the Shield, while Cowdrey and Smythe shared third place.
Inaugural U11 Girls’ Hockey Tournament at Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School was pleased to host its inaugural U11 Girls’ Hockey Tournament, welcoming eight teams from local preparatory schools for an afternoon of hockey on the newly resurfaced Foundation Astro.
With matches running across both pitches, the standard of play was strong throughout. The hockey on show was fast, competitive and played in exactly the right spirit. The girls should be extremely proud of the way they represented their schools. Many schools brought large squads, rotating players to keep matches moving at a good pace.
The tournament followed a round-robin format, giving every team the chance to play a full afternoon of hockey against a range of opponents. Technical skills were evident across the board, including confident ball-carrying, accurate passing, solid defending and composed finishing. Coaches, parents and staff all commented on the maturity and positivity shown by the players.
As the first event of its kind at Tonbridge, it was encouraging to see the girls make the most of the occasion.
At the end of the afternoon, all teams gathered for a short presentation recognising their effort, teamwork and sportsmanship. While results naturally mattered to the players, the true success of the event lay in bringing schools together, celebrating girls’ hockey and creating a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Thank you to the visiting schools, coaches and supporters for contributing to an enjoyable tournament. We look forward to welcoming more teams to Tonbridge next year.
U16 Boys at the Kent County Indoor Tournament
The U16 boys produced a series of solid performances at the Kent County Indoor Tournament, showing good potential for the season ahead.
Their opening match against hosts Sutton Valence was challenging, as they conceded four goals in the first half. They improved after the break, with Miles (PS2) and Henry (WH2) scoring to finish 4–2.
In the second game, they took an early lead against Kent College Canterbury through Miles before the opposition equalised. Tonbridge pressed late in the match, and Miles converted a penalty corner to secure a 2–1 win.
The final group match against Simon Langton Grammar School followed a similar pattern. Tonbridge again scored first through Miles and controlled much of the first half, but Simon Langton recovered and scored a late winner to take the game 2–1.
Master in charge of hockey, Kieron Walsh, said: “Although they missed out on qualification and finished third in the group, the boys showed strong teamwork and commitment, offering encouragement for the upcoming outdoor season.”
