Histon & Impington Juniors quick to defend title

It was an action packed afternoon of hockey as 24 teams descended on Comberton Village College to take part in the Partnerships annual Year 5/6 Quicksticks Hockey Competition. Quicksticks is England Hockey’s fast and exciting introductory game designed specifically for 7-11 year olds. It is 4-a-side and is played without goalkeepers and uses a larger, lighter and safer ball.

The competition was played in a round robin format with teams split into one of 4 groups where they played all of the other teams in their pool in quick 5 minute matches. After all of the group matches it was onto the semi-finals where defending champions Histon & Impington comfortably beat Meldreth Primary School 4-0 to go through to the final.

In the other semi-final it was much closer with last year’s runners up Steeple Morden locked in a 1-1 draw with Linton Heights Juniors. The match went to extra time but still neither team could score the decisive goal. So with other teams waiting to contest their play-off matches the match had to finish as a draw. Results from throughout the afternoon were reviewed and with 5 wins out of 5 and a better goal difference it was decided that Linton Heights would go through to the final. Steeple Morden who managed 4 wins from their 5 group matches would have to settle for 3rd place overall but with the consolation of knowing that they would still qualify for the County School Games Finals as one of the top four schools.

The final match was played at great intensity and with a very high standard of play from both teams. In the end a single goal ensured that Histon & Impington retained their title and the winners shield whilst Linton Heights could be proud of their second place finish.

All four semi-finalists now qualify to represent South Cambs SSP at the County School Games Summer Finals at the end of June.

New for this year’s competition was a special ‘Spirit of the Games’ award which has been introduced to support the work being done in schools to encourage children to think about the lessons that can be learned through sport and the importance of values such as respect, determination, teamwork, honesty, passion and self-belief; not only in sport but everyday life. The ‘Spirit of the Games’ award therefore recognises the team that has shown good sportsmanship and best demonstrated these sporting values and was judged by the sports leaders and competition organisers.

The winner of this award was Harston & Newton Primary School who had not only shown great teamwork throughout the afternoon but had displayed respect to other teams and the leaders and had finishing each match by shaking hands with the officials and opposition. Other teams recognised for showing good spirit were Great Abington and The Meadow.

Claire McDonnell, South Cambs SSP Partnership Development Manager said “It was great to see so many children enjoying the game of hockey; it was certainly an action packed afternoon with some really competitive matches.

We must thank all of the leaders from Comberton Village College and Swavesey Village College who helped us to run the event on the day; umpiring the matches, organising the results table and helping to coach some of the teams. They did a great job and we couldn’t have run the competition without them!”

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