Junior Maths Challenge 2013

Well done to all those Thirds and Removes who took part in the Junior Maths Challenge, gaining 39 Gold, 27 Silver and 11 Bronze certificates.

Congratulations to Rachel Orrell (RS) who has qualified for the next round, the Junior Olympiad.

Goalkeeping Advice from Spurs' Star

Footballers and football fans were doubly treated on Thursday 9 May when Tottenham Hotspur players Brad Freidel and Jan Vertonghen visited the School.  Defender and Belgian international Vertonghen spent time with U4  linguists in a question and answer session about his life and playing career which was conducted entirely in French, this was very fitting as it was Europe Day!  He also took time to watch the U15 footballers train.  Meanwhile, goalkeeper Brad Freidel gave 24 of the School’s footballers a master class.  During the session, which involved players from throughout the School from the Prep School right up to the Upper Sixth, Friedel gave the boys plenty of goalkeeping practice and drills.  Afterwards, the boys had the chance to ask about his long playing career, his views on the premiership and also his predictions for Tottenham for the rest of the season. 

During the visit, School was also pleased to present a cheque to Brad Freidel for the charity of his choice; he nominated the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which aims to grant wishes for seriously ill children and to provide stimulating programmes in hospital.

Lower Sixth Former, Peter Smith, Bancroft’s first XI goalkeeper, said that he found the session, “Very interesting.  Brad Freidel covered lots of points, including things I hadn’t really thought about before.  The session definitely challenged some of my ideas.”  Co-Curricular Head, Chris Butler said that it was really good to get the premiership players to visit and inspire the pupils, “Although we are very much a rugby playing school, it is great to see our pupils enjoying and playing a wide range of sports.  The session focussed on goalkeeping skills specifically, but it also helped to reinforce the team ethic which is so important to a child’s development. The pupils gained a great deal from the session and I’m sure they have learnt a lot; if only just how demanding it is to be a professional sportsman!”

Hockey Title for Prep U11s

On Sunday 28 April a mixed U11 team from the Prep travelled down to Bath to play at the annual Bath Buccaneers’ Junior Cup 7 a-Side Hockey tournament which is held at the University of Bath sports training village.  The cup was played on a league basis, and Bancroft’s as visitors proved to be a cut above the local sides taking the title with an 100% record.  During the five matches, they notched up an impressive tally of 24 goals whilst conceding just 3 to take maximum points and finish their season in style.

Despite an early start and long journey, Bancroft's got off to a flying start with a 6-0 victory over Stanchester School,  due to some brutal hitting in the middle of the pitch by Taliesin Prole and clinical finishing by Millie Woods. Bancroft’s continued in a similar vein in the second game with a 5-0 victory over St Stephen’s School. This time Khaya Roudette-Gregory and Claudia Joarder provided the creative flare and cool finishes. Complacency meant that they nearly squandered a 3-0 lead against St Michael’s School. However, this time it was solid defensive work from Bradley Lennard, Luke Rassmussen and smart saves from Rohan Barodia that edged them to a nervy 3-2 victory. In the final two games Bancroft’s knew that they had to win against local club sides Bath Buccaneers and City of Bath to claim the title. Two excellent team goals smartly converted by Alex O’Brien and two well worked short corners meant that the Buccaneers were defeated 4-0 leaving Bancroft’s just one victory away from success. Prole and Roudette-Gregory continued to pull the strings from the middle as the two girls Woods and Joarder provided the style in front of the goal. This was complimented by the work-rate and strength of O’Brien, Rassmussen, Lennard and Barodia who wore the opposition down from the back leading to a 7-0 victory.

Mike Naylor, Head of Boys’ Sport at Bancroft’s Prep, said, “Throughout the day, the Bancroft’s boys and girls produced some classy hockey which simply dazzled the opposition.”

U13s Take Indoor Cricket Title

On Wednesday 24 April, the U13 boys played in the final of the Essex Indoor Cricket Cup at the county ground in Chelmsford. The boys had already fought their way through the group and quarter-final stages to arrive at the final, which was played in a three team round robin format. In their first game versus Passmore’s Academy, Neal Jani took two early wickets and, with further assistance from Rishi Roy Mukherjee and Max Sydenham (one wicket each) and an inevitable couple of run outs, the opposition were dismissed for a modest total. Solid batting from Sahil Handa, Rishi and Luke Oliver knocked off the runs.

In the second match, St Martin's also best Passmores so it came down to an ”all or nothing” final decider.

In the final, Bancroft’s batted first and posted a challenging score of 129-1 wicket. However, some wayward bowling and ineffective field settings allowed St Martin’s back into the match with Bancroft’s managing to squeeze home by 5 runs in a pulsating climax to the competition.

Congratulations, therefore, go to Sahil, Rishi, Max , Luke, Neal together with Ben Margetson-Rushmore, Omer Cayir and Nathan Rose who all played in what has been a truly team effort. Thanks also to Mr Greenidge for giving so freely of his time in taking the boys to the matches that have been in rather diverse locations.