Results

Lent Term 2005

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Rugby 
Ashdown results shown first
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Tuesday 15 March 2005 Windelsham Sevens
1st VII
2nd VII

On Tuesday the 1st VII went to Windlesham to defend the title won in the main competition last year. We also entered a squad in the lightweight ( Under 51 kg ) competition. The following boys represented Ashdown in the main competition which involved 12 schools: Max Haddock, Jack Richardson, Nick Roope, Piers Egerton-Warburton, Alex Beale, Charlie Haddock, Rollo Hovey, Henry Birch, Michael Coles and James Caio. 

In our opening group match we were too strong for Worth, winning 34-0. Tries to Hovey, C. Haddock, Egerton-Warburton, M. Haddock, Birch and Caio. Richardson and C. Haddock kicked 1 conversion each.

Next up we faced the hosts, Windlesham House. We played very well and won 29-0. Tries to Hovey 2, Richardson, Egerton-Warburton and Roope. Richardson and C. Haddock again added 1 conversion each.

In our third and final group game we had a good victory over Mowden, 36-0. Tries to Caio 3, Hovey, Richardson and Birch. Conversions by C. Haddock 2 and Richardson 1.

The semi-final looked a tough prospect against a strong and pacy Newlands side, who had also won all their group matches handsomely without conceding a point. Newlands scored an early converted try, but Ashdown fought back and Roope ran in a fine try by the posts. Richardson converted to make it 7-7 at half-time. The brilliant Newlands fly-half scored a good individual try to put his team ahead 12-7. Ashdown again fought back, retaining possession well and gradually making ground up the field. With time almost up Roope was put into space down the left and made it to within 5 metres of the Newlands line. Although brought down in a fine tackle he popped it up to Richardson who scored in the tackle. With the scores locked at 12-12 Richardson drop-kicked a superb conversion from near touch. The referee immediately blew for full-time. A tremendous Ashdown victory, 14-12!

In the final at 3:30 Max Haddock, Roope, Richardson, Beale, Egerton-Warburton and Hovey took the field for their last ever rugby match in Ashdown colours, accompanied by Charlie Haddock who has a year to go. For the second year in succession we faced our rivals from Tunbridge Wells, Holmewood House. Ashdown started brilliantly with Richardson running in a great try from 50 metres out. He converted to make it 7-0. Holmewood came back to score and make it 7-5 at half-time. In the second half Ashdown played very well with some fine tackling as Holmewood applied the pressure. However we spent several minutes in their half and a good passage of team play saw Egerton-Warburton score wide on the left. We defended with great composure for the last 2 minutes to win 12-5 and retain the title after a very exciting match. Alex Beale was thrilled to be named as Player of the Tournament.

The stats for the day: Played 5, Won 5, Points for 125, against 17. We scored 21 tries to 3.

In the last week we have retained both the Brambletye and Windlesham Sevens titles and acquitted ourselves well at Rosslyn Park. Over the 3 tournaments our statistics are: Played 13, Won 11, Lost 2, Points for 297, against 52, scoring 49 tries to 9. A magnificent achievement by all the boys who represented the team!   MH
Monday 14 March 2005 National Prep School Sevens at Rosslyn Park
1st VII

The 1st rugby VII went to the first day of the National Prep School Sevens on Monday. A squad of 12 represented Ashdown: Max Haddock, Jack Richardson, Nick Roope, Tom Evans, Fred Cripps, Piers Egerton-Warburton, Charlie Haddock, James Cardona, Henry Birch, Alex Beale, Michael Coles and Hector Dyer.  We played The Oratory in our first group match. We nearly scored twice early on, but didn't get points on the board. The Oratory came back into the game and scored 3 tries. We were not at our best and went down 15-0, losing Tom Evans with an injured shoulder and Fred Cripps due to illness. In our second match we had to win and played really well against St John's, Northwood. Tries to Roope 2 and Charlie Haddock with one conversion to Richardson gave us a 17-0 win. In our third and final match we played some excellent sevens against Newlands, Gosforth. Tries to Roope 3, Birch and Richardson, two converted by Richardson, saw us home 29-7.  We came second in our group and therefore didn't qualify for the knock-out stages. However the boys thoroughly enjoyed their day and played some very good rugby. They were a credit to the school both on and off the pitch.  MH
Saturday 12 March 2005 versus Stoke Brunswick
2nd XI 28-19

The boys have had a couple of weeks without matches, due to the weather and a lot of time practicing sevens rather than 'proper' rugby - and it showed!  Stoke's 1st team powered into a 14-0 showing that they clearly had some good players. As has come the pattern, the team rallied. They tried to keep the ball in open play for as much as possible and Stoke too enjoyed running with the ball and also chasing long kicks. The tackling was ferocious and try scoring became more difficult. However, although it was a close game there was always a feeling that Ashdown possessed greater depth and therefore were always going to end up on top. The final result of 28-19 to gain the 7th win of the season.  It was a very enjoyable season with the backs and forwards combining with dramatic effect on occasions. It should also be noted that this victory was achieved without two of the players of the season, Strahan and Burge who became traitors and turned out for the 1st XV vs Brambletye.  Seasons can be measured in so many ways - a very effective way is the number of boys who a) improved and b) made a difference to a game.  To both of these questions the answer is every single player.  DR
Saturday 12 March 2005 versus Brambletye
1st XI 45-10

The 1st XV completed a very successful season with a comfortable win over Brambletye on Saturday. The Brambletye forwards put up a very good performance in the first half and Ashdown, who were not at their best, struggled to get on top. Brambletye took the lead with a penalty before Ashdown started to put together some very good passages of play. Nick Roope scored twice, one converted by Jack Richardson, to give us a 12-3 lead at half-time.  At the start of the second half Roope scored after a 50 metre run and then we played some fine rugby. Further tries were scored by Fred Cripps, Piers Egerton-Warburton and Richardson to put us well clear. Rupert Burge burst out of a maul on half-way and sprinted 50 metres to score a thrilling try. Richardson added his fifth conversion of the day and we finished the 15-a-side season with a 45-10 win.  The team have put together a fine record: Played 12, Won 9, Lost 2, Drew 1, Points for 304, points against 69.  MH
3rd XV 50-0

Possibly the 3rds finest victory was saved for their last performance of the season. Tries were spread across the team, and it was good to see the defence stand up against some dangerous attacks from the opposition. An excellent way to end the season on an exact half century, and even some of the conversions were scored (particular mention to Nicklas Halusa for a perfect drop kick from wide of the posts. With almost the whole of game 2 arriving and rolling on and off as subs, it was nice for everyone to be involved in the teams final match.  M. C-J

Colts B 23-12

Those of you who have attended a certain sort of management training course will be aware that there is 'no 'I' in team'. This is supposed to encourage the corporate belief that any member of the group should work closely with the others like a gestalt entity. Of course, this does not prevent the manager being in charge, coaching others to be the best.  The Colts 'B' have become a team par excellence in the true sense of the above. They work together to achieve their aims and ' every man counts with them, but none too much' to possibly misquote Kipling. They have proven that they have the skills, heart and ability to play at a high level and produce some great rugby.  The final score today was 23-12 to Ashdown. But I would like to contend that the Colts 'B' won by one solid, dependable group of heroes playing as a cohesive team to a great bunch of Brambletye chaps with some star players.   There may be no 'I' in team but there is a 'B' in BRILLIANT!  PBS
Monday 7 March 2005 Brambletye 7-a-side Tournament
1st VII

The 1st VII went to their first tournament of the season on Monday to defend the Jones Cup won in fine style at Brambletye last year. Captain Max Haddock led a squad comprising Jack Richardson, Nick Roope, Tom Evans, Fred Cripps, Charlie Haddock, Piers Egerton-Warburton, James Cardona and Henry Birch.  We started slowly and never really got into gear in our opening pool match against Aldro. We defended well, but didn't use the ball with conviction. Aldro scored just before half-time and popped over a clever dropped goal in the second half to win 8-0.  This defeat fired the boys into life and they played very well against St Aubyn's, winning 38-0. Tries to Roope 3, Richardson, Cardona and Birch. Richardson added 4 conversions.  In our third and final pool game we played some great rugby to defeat Copthorne 50-0. Tries to Egerton-Warburton 3, Richardson 2, Roope, M. Haddock and Birch. Richardson added 5 conversions.  Finishing second in our pool, we met the winner of the other pool, Cumnor House, in the semi-final. A superb performance saw us win convincingly, 31-0. Tries to Richardson 2, Roope 2 and C. Haddock. Richardson kicked 2 conversions and Evans 1.  And so to the final. The early defeat to Aldro did us no harm and the boys were fired up for revenge! Roope powered over under the posts, converted by Richardson, to give us a 7-0 lead at half-time. Aldro rallied in the second half and scored a fine try in the corner to close it to 7-5. In the last couple of minutes Ashdown defended magnificently, with Richardson making a brilliant covering tackle to knock the ball out of an Aldro player's hands as he went over the line. The boys were jubilant when the final whistle sounded. A great birthday present for joint coach, Mr Hastings, who was tearing his hair out during those last few tense minutes in the final! Well played by the whole team!  MH
Saturday 26 February 2005 versus Yardley Court
1st XV 17-0 The 1st XV recorded their eighth victory of the season in fine style away in Tonbridge against a tough Yardley Court side. Despite the cold conditions and a soft, muddy pitch both teams played some very good rugby. The match was also superbly refereed by Yardley's South African coach and was played in excellent spirit. Ashdown made a fine start, dominating possession and territory early on, culminating in a good try by Jack Richardson after 4 minutes. Ashdown continued to have lengthy periods of dominance in the first half, but a couple of good scoring chances went begging due to the odd stray pass and solid defence by the home side. Yardley also had several good periods of play and Ashdown had to defend well to keep them out. Half-time: 5-0.  Any doubts that we had not scored enough points in the first half were dispelled thanks to a magnificent performance by the Ashdown pack in the second half. A concerted attack in the Yardley 22 led to a try when skipper, Max Haddock, dummied from the base of a ruck and dived over. With a lead of 10-0 we had a bit of breathing space, but we could not relax as Yardley had several big, strong forwards who were powerful with ball in hand and a couple of quick runners in the backs. However the Ashdown tackling was very good throughout. The forwards were superb, led by Nick Roope, Tom Evans and Charlie Haddock in the loose, with Fred Cripps standing out in the engine room. Max Haddock was in top form at scrum-half, but the key man in the backs was Jack Richardson, who dictated play very well with the boot, as well as looking dangerous with the ball in hand. A late penalty try under the posts put us out to 17-0. Well played, everyone! MH
Played 11, Won 8, Lost 2, Drew 1, Points for 259, against 54.
2nd XV 19-19 It is always very satisfying to come from behind, as long as all the memories are taken from the second half and the first half forgotten. At 14-0 at half time, the team came to life in the 2nd half and to a man rose to the challenge of hauling back a much bigger team. Freddy Hare had clearly been the best player on the pitch in the first half and it was his injury that seemed to inspire the team. It was also no coincidence that both of their tries were scored when Charlie Strahan was off the pitch - he is absolutely vital to the team's defence. The second half was brilliant entertainment - much more penetration and very smooth handling. Cold fingers didn't seem to matter any more and the rucking was phenomenal. Ruck after ruck was won which provided plenty of ball for the backs. The pressure paid off at a line out when Jack Wade crashed through and there seemed to be belief once more within the team. However when the opposition contain such huge members - they are always dangerous and with only 12 men to defend they inevitably scored another try. Once more Ashdown rallied and scored, the fact that Stogdale missed the conversion (which meant the score was 19-19) does not mean he was to blame. The previous two were sweetly struck and very missable - without him we would have lost - fact. In the last minute Ashdown, due to unrelenting pressure were awarded a penalty on the 5metre line. They opted not to kick and went to try and win properly - unfortunately it was a matter of inches and the ball could not be squeezed down. A great match - fantastic entertainment, it is such a shame that Yardley could not field 15.  DR
3rd XV 44-0 Unusually playing 11 aside, the Ashdown team outplayed their opponents in every aspect of the game. The Forwards barely lost a scrum or lineout regardless of whose ball it was, and the backs put together some effective running to score the majority of the tries. After Ashdown's dominance became obvious, all three subs were brought on for some of the better players, and positions were varied throughout the second half. Congratulations to all those who scored tries (though I don't remember all of you) and sorry to those whose tries I disallowed.  At last a good win. M.C-J
Colts A 5-5 This was an epic game and definitely one of two halves. Groundsman Steve Card will be curious this morning when he inspects the pitch to see mudbath of the north end compared with the virginal soil of the south end! It was an extraordinary game in that Yardley dominated the first half playing all the rugby in the north end and we never looked like scoring. The defence was tight but still some people were going too high and over-committing. It was 0-5 at half term. John Wylde got through the break with a damaged leg but limped on whilst the aggression and determination in the forwards and the feistiness and pressing of the backs so nearly won us the game. We played all the rugby in the second half but could only score once, through Richard Kemp in the left hand corner. We came close on a number of other occasions and the pressure sustained by Yardley was extraordinary but somehow they managed to keep us out. It was a truly great game played in the right spirit of controlled aggression, determination and focus. Well done both teams.  HH
Colts B 7-14 A cracking game against Yardley Court made up for the horrors of Wednesday. Although the final score was 14-7 to Yardley, the quality of our defensive work and the offensives in the second half were a joy to see. Robin Eliot made a fantastic tackle against a chap called Fergus from Yardley who was twice his size and a real 'tank'. I was unsighted at the time but I am reliably informed that the Yardley chap flew up and back as if poleaxed. I was really proud of the commitment of the whole team. Well done, chaps! PBS
Wednesday 23 February 2005 versus Woodcote House
1st XV 19-22 The 1st XV suffered only its second defeat of the term away in Hove against St. Christopher's. With three key players out due to illness, we were not at full strength, but the boys still played some excellent fifteen man rugby. James Cardona scored a fine try after five minutes, but poor tackling let our hosts in for two tries in two minutes. Half-time: 5-12.  After the break Nick Roope powered over, converted by Jack Richardson, to make it 12-12. The two big, quick St. Christopher's players each scored within a minute, aided by some weak Ashdown tackling. Trailing 12-22 we fought back really well with Piers Egerton-Warburton going over after a fine passage of play. Richardson added another superb conversion to leave us just three points adrift. However there was no further scoring and a fairly even game ended in a narrow defeat. Despite the frustrations of some unorthodox and inconsistent application of the laws of the game, the team played well. However, no excuses can be made for poor tackling as we conceded more than ten points in a match for the first time this term. Well played, everyone!  MH
2nd XV 5-19  versus Woodcote House 1st XV
To play any 1st XV is a tall order for a 2nd team, to play a Woodcote 1st XV is a very tall order, to play a Woodcote team who had just beaten Ludgrove 1st XV was an order of a particularly high height. To compete we needed to be on top of our game. Unfortunately it was bitterly cold and we spent the first 5 minutes looking as if the half term holiday had been 5 weeks long. Remarkably we overcame this and produced a very very good remainder of the half. It was 20 minutes of hard rucking, hard tackling and impressive handling. To only be 5-0 down against a well drilled, bigger side was a fantastic achievement. Woodcote were playing beneath themselves due to a mixture of many things, frustration being probably the main reason. We hoped that if we could hold off the inevitable onslaught at the start of the 2nd half - we might just be able to sneak a heroic victory. The forwards were battling well and the backs all knew what to do.  However, it was not to be, Woodcote ran in two more tries and looked capable of more. We didn't let our spirits drop and with several slices of luck still managed to compete. When Fred Hare deservedly went over for a stunning try it was more than a consolation to the boys, they felt they had earned it. They have come a long way this season - if Woodcote had played as in the early season, they would have scored 50.  DR
3rd XV 15-26 Despite playing the Woodcote 2nd team, we put in a good performance that left us scoring only one try less than our opposition. However some poor kicking from in front of the posts left the score margin greater than it could have been. Once again, it was our first half performance that let us down, as we came back in the second half from 19-5. Particular mention to Jake Kelly on an excellent game and try. M C-J
Colts A 12-25 Woodcote were a strong side and our boys worked hard to keep the score down in the first half but Woodcote executed everything at pace and their backs were extremely impressive. Their fast flowing style was excellent at times. To be 0-15 at half term was always going to be a tough mountain to climb but Webber and Turner led from the front and we had a comeback to win the second half 12-10 but it was all too late. We had indeed been given a lesson in how to play fast and furious rugby. Yardley Court on Saturday will be similar but we will endeavour to do everything as fast and efficiently as Woodcote did.  HH
Scorers: MEW 1T, Webber 1T; Dodson 1C
Colts C Lost Unfortunately the Colts C faced another loss against a far superior Woodcote House B team. The boys, however, played their best against Woodcote with some particularly strong performances from several boy. The captain, Euan Wright served the team well, ensuring they were always in the right spot at the right time. Congratulations go to Charlie Stockdale, who, despite being injured before the game managed to go on and play as a fullback. Our smallest man, Edward Grant Thorold played a heroic game of rugby despite being painfully tackled several times by hefty opposition. Finally, well done to Alexander Yeates who wins the best tackle of the game award for a spectacular take in the dying minutes of the second half. Well done Boys, maybe next time.  AS
Wednesday 23 February 2005 versus St Aubyn's
Colts B 0-35 Despite valiant defensive tactics, the Colts B were outclassed by St.Aubyns U11 A's. Our offensive work could have been so much better. Yet we did well to keep the score down with a final result of 35-0. PBS
Wednesday 9 February 2005 versus Vinehall
1st XV 10-5 The 1st XV put in a magnificent performance to overcome a strong Vinehall team by two tries to one. After a long coach journey we took a little while to get going and a fired up Vinehall side threw everything at us early on, with their bigger pack dominating. The pressure exerted by Vinehall saw them score a well deserved try in the left corner. From this point on Ashdown got into the game. The forwards began winning some good ball and our backs, running very nicely on to the ball, started to stretch Vinehall out wide. We levelled the score after 20 minutes when full-back, Piers Egerton-Warburton, burst into the line, sold a clever dummy and strolled through the resulting gap. Half-time: 5-5 

With the breeze behind us in the second half Ashdown dominated most of the play. Jack Richardson controlled play very well, kicking in behind the Vinehall backs and getting the Ashdown backs to move the ball wide when it was on. A lovely handling move put wing, James Cardona, in for a fine try to put us ahead 10-5 with about seven minutes to play. Although the Vinehall forwards continued to slug it out with the smaller Ashdown pack in a very physical battle, the Ashdown tackling was superb and Richardson pinned Vinehall back with the boot until the final whistle. Both teams played very well in a hugely entertaining game, which was enjoyed by both sets of parents on the touchline. Tom Evans and Charlie Haddock stood out for some magnificent tackling, Nick Roope had a fine all-round game in the pack and Max Haddock was in top form at scrum-half. Above all this was a tremendous team performance by Ashdown. Well played, everyone!    MH
2nd XV 34-0 A comfortable 34-0 victory taught the boys a rather valuable lesson. When they played properly Vinehall simply couldn't compete. When they got over confident - they could. A rugby team needs to be a team and the 2nd xv are beginning to appreciate the fact. The backs looked dangerous every time they got fast ball. 6 different try scorers, including yet another pair of wingers shows that the ball was distributed efficiently. The tackling was, of course, impressive and it was a rather pleasing end of the 1st half of the season. DR
3rd XV 22-19 Good to finally have a well deserved win, which could certainly have been more convincing. Despite having to adapt to the referee's idea of the rules of rugby, our boys played some committed forwards play and towards the end found their feet in the backs as well. Tries came from Duco, Archie, Finley and Nicklas. Good to get a morale boost just before half term, and now we know what winning feels like we can hopefully start to get used to it. M.C-J
Colts A 19-0 If only the boys had played like this against Ludgrove! Saturday's sleepy slow motion performance was put behind them from the start with the majority of the first half being played in the opposition's territory. The rucking was first-class and the backs ran straight angles being held together by a strong performance from TGM at fly-half. James Williams was man of the match for his relentless efforts around the pitch. He will become one of those irriating flankers in the Neil Back mould who works his magic on the pitch but simply being everywhere! Archie was sublime on occasions and the whole team worked so well together. It was a great way to go into half term. COME ON WOODCOTE HOUSE!  HH
Scorers: Marcus 1T, Teddy 1T, Archie 1T; Teddy 2Cs
Saturday 5 February 2005 versus Ludgrove
1st XV 34-5 The 1st XV continued their winning ways with another good performance at home against Ludgrove. Some very good passages of play in the first half led to tries by Fred Cripps, Tom Evans and Nick Roope with Jack Richardson adding one conversion. A very spirited fightback by Ludgrove just before half-time saw them score a well deserved try in the corner. 17-5 at the break. In the second half Richardson extended the lead with a penalty. Ludgrove then had a very good period on attack, with Ashdown only keeping their line intact thanks to a brilliant covering tackle by Charlie Haddock. For most of the last 15 minutes Ashdown dominated territorially with tries going to Roope and Max Haddock. Richardson converted both, one of them a superb kick from the left touchline.   MH
2nd XV 27-7 At last! What everybody has been waiting for. A fantastic match. At half time we were beating a useful Ludgrove team 10-7, all of the team realised it was going to be a close match. During the 50 minutes every single player performed well and did something of note. It is difficult and almost wrong to single out any child as this would be a severe disservice to those left out. So, here goes.... Strahan's tackling was truly fantastic (welcome back - we missed you!), Bishop's was unrelenting, Hely-Hutch had a monstrous game and must now appreciate he is a flanker of note. On the other flank Talbot showed he has the combination of pace, strength and how to read a game, great rucking. Burge was simply Thor and proved to be one of the many highlights of the game. Smith is beginning to resemble a bloke called Dean Richards (that is quite a huge compliment!). Eliot was transformed in the second half and was found maraud ring all over the place. Hill is simply the ultimate team man, out of position again and yet completely at ease and made a difference when it was needed. Rogers had his best game of the season and will get better, Stoggy doesn't just impersonate a certain J. Wilkinson Esq. with his boot, he too has found his position and what a try! Hurd did so many things very right, our entire defence seems to be marshalled by him and his delicate passing created at least 2 tries, unfortunately he will focus on a couple of knock ons, he shouldn't. Hare, as is rather apt for the current hairstyles in the team, was huge and made our defence secure and attack threatening. Turner was again loud and effective at full back and then the 2 wingers. The pre match talk was get the ball wide and we will score. 4 tries, 2 each from the wingers, Caio and Cardona each one was rather special they are two fine finishers (although on a couple of occasions they virtually started it as well!)  Sorry if this is very indulgent and over the top, but when every parent bursts into applause at half time full time and several times during the match - the children deserve the credit. A huge week of training was rewarded with a very satisfactory 27-7 win. More important than that was that it was a fantastic game and rather well refereed by a certain Barber.  DR
3rd 7-12 The thirds losing streak continued in a close game away. With a much stronger pack for the first time, the backs had a platform off which to get good ball but did take advantage of the opportunity. In the final minutes William Hale had a try controversially disallowed under the posts, which could have been converted to give us the win but it was not to be. Well done to Archie Murray on a great individual effort to score the try. It can only get better.  M.C-J
4th XII  

We lost 33-5, but the result was not particularly indicative of the team's efforts throughout the afternoon. Everyone tried their hardest but the opposition managed to run in more tries: they worked the ball to their two fastest runners, and there was not much that we could do about it. However, our rucking, handling, and determination to win the ball improved; and, more impressively, heads were not lowered simply because they had scored a few more points than we had.   Some people who do not normally represent the school had a superb run out, and they were reinforced by those who sometimes play in the Thirds. Everyone at least had a good idea of what holding their position meant...It was quite fun to take this team too! EG
Colts A 0-12 An extraordinary game that we really shouldn't have lost. Ludgrove played extremely well and their defence was impregnable. An early Ludgrove score was what was needed to wake the boys up but the whole of the first half was played in slow motion with backs standing still or running backwards and we never really looked like scoring. There was no thinking clearly under pressure and the boys simply panicked which was a desperate shame as Ludgrove should have been given a run for their money. They out-rucked us in the first half and out scored us through some clever lines of running. The second half was a different affair and Ludgrove defended all half rarely leaving their own territory but due to a lack of creativity, penetration and simply running forwards, we failed to break the strong Ludgrove defence. Some sad heads left the field at the end but it was possibly the wake-up call needed for Wednesday's tough encounter with Vinehall down at Rottingdean.HH
Colts B 21-10 It is always hard when you take on a much larger school. They are able to field a 'true' Under 11 side. Yet our Colts were undaunted by the size of the opposition and played a great match, probably their best so far. Yes, we may have lost by three tries and two conversions to two tries but our work in the second half was great. I feel proud of how far the boys have come and feel sure that Vinehall should beware on Wednesday.  PB-S
Colts C 20-32 The colts C was defeated again this Saturday but played what can only be described as a fantastic game of rugby, despite the fact that their were two tries dropped on the line . The team more then made up for these errors with some stunning individual performances, but more importantly some brilliant team performances. The final try of the game was scored in true style as the ball was passed down the line from Gus Haynes to Ewan Wright and finally to Charlie Mayne who scored in a text book try, well done boys! The final score was 32-20 to Ludgrove with our other three tries being scored by the unstoppable running of Bernard Paget. Some great individual runs but more importantly some great team performances. Congratulations Colts C.  AS
Wednesday 2 February 2005 versus Cottesmore
1st XV 48-0 The 1st XV played some very entertaining rugby in recording a good win against Cottesmore. We were pinned in our 22 early on and had to defend well. We then settled down and started to get on top. After a good passage of team play Piers Egerton-Warburton scored a fine try out wide. Further tries in the first half were scored by Michael Coles ( his first ever try! ), James Cardona and Jack Richardson, the latter adding 2 conversions. Half-time: 24-0.  In the second half Nick Roope and Richardson scored in the first 5 minutes, with Egerton-Warburton and Fred Cripps touching down later on. Richardson added 2 conversions. A good all-round display by the 1sts who are really enjoying their rugby. Ist XV Colours were awarded to Nick Roope, Jack Richardson and Tom Evans, in addition to captain, Max Haddock, who received his Colours last week. MH
2nd XV 21-0 The 2nd XV had a comfortable 21-0 victory over a previously unbeaten Cottesmore team. There was a particualr passage of play in the second half where the team played as a real unit. In fact this happened in the first half as well but handling often let the team down at vital times. There were huge signs of progress and potential throughout the match and Stogdale's conversions mean that if they play a close match - the kicking won't let us down. The only blemish was that after Thor Burge had run through their defence and then Caio did his typical barnstorming run and Hare highlighted the folly of kicking when you are in trouble - then everyone thought they would have a go. A lot more tries could and should have been scored, but weren't, for a number of reasons. The main one being forgetting the basics - we won't be able to against Ludgrove on Saturday.
Colts A 39-7 Played in very noisy conditions the team played impressively together and built a big lead by the end. Always in control, the boys helped themselves to an early try by Marcus up the right wing following a stunning turnover by TGM. Marcus' in and out showed his class as he touched down in the right hand corner. The forwards rucked hard and low which allowed Spidy to crash over for the second try. Cottesmore's response was tough, aggressive and loud and eventually they broke through. It was a shame to allow this try as the defence has been so strong following our defeat at the hands of Holmewood. 12-7 up at half time could have been seen as a gloomy way to start the second half but the confidence grew and the courage followed resulting in 5 tries with the pick being Nodski's 40 yard dash from fullback to the left hand corner.  Ludgrove on saturday will be tough as usual but the team is working so well together and the confidence (not arrogance) is there....Come and see.........HH
Scorers: Egerton-W 2T; Wylde 2T; Turner 1T; Webber 1T; Nodder 1T; Croker 2C
Saturday 29 January 2005 versus Dulwich Prep
1st XV 22-5 The 1sts put up another good performance against Dulwich Prep at home. We made the perfect start with a clinical ruck on the left near their line, the ball went quickly through the backs and Rollo Hovey scored near the right corner. 5-0 after one minute. Dulwich gave us a good test up front and a fairly even forward battle took place for the rest of the first half. We placed some nice 15-man rugby at times, with one good passage of play seeing top try scorer, Nick Roope, score under the posts for Jack Richardson to convert. 12-0 at half-time.  In the second half Ashdown again played well, although a very effective spoiling performance by the Dulwich pack took some of the continuity out of our play. Our backs produced one superb move from halfway with Piers Egerton-Warburton and Hovey combining well down the right, with Hovey running in his second try. Charlie Haddock powered over for a try to make it 22-0. Dulwich were rewarded for their efforts with a well deserved try from a tap penalty and were unlucky to see a well struck conversion bounce back off the cross bar. The referee then blew for full-time, bringing an entertaining match to an end.   MH
2nd XV 0-31 With numerous illnesses a lot of players had to play out of position. This was going to be a huge challenge and yet for the first 10 minutes we looked the dominant side. At half time we were losing 7-.0 but there was a sense of belief that we could and should come back to secure a victory. Unfortunately our scrums, lineouts and rucks didn't seem to function the second half and Dulwich started to pass the ball rather well. A very disappointing 31-0 defeat.  DR
3rd XV 27-5 Having been far more severely beaten in the practice match, the score shows signs of improvement in what was a weakened 3rd XII side. Again, we managed to get our act together only in the second half when it was too late, the scores being 5 all after the break. Duco continues to score in every match, and also receives a special mention for charging down one of their conversions that was going over the posts.  M. C-J
Colts A 20-7 Another impressive win in a game which the team dominated. The forwards controlled the game up front and Tom Stables was up to his usual trick in the front row. Teddy and TGM ran some strong lines and set up Doddy for 2 good tries. The score could have been more but Dulwich's defence was strong on the whole and we need to get the ball to the wingers quicker. The aim is Total Rugby is still high on the agenda and Kempy and MEW do enjoy much possession but we need to work on supplying even more support for those ball carriers. The highlight of the game was probably Archie's chargedown of a clearance kick that he converted into a try. Well done.  HH
Scorers: Dodson 2T, Turner 1T, Stables 1T
Colts B 35-12 A great match where the tries that were scored were all the result of teamwork and hard work from the Ashdown players. After good offensive and defensive work and getting covered mud, the final score was Colts 35 - Dulwich 12. Great conversions from Rory Clarke and some fine 'all-rounder' play from Man of the Match Freddie Elliott were the highlights of this extremely enjoyable game. Well done to all!  PBS
Colts C 0-49 It was an unfortunate 49-0 loss that the colts C had to suffer on Wednesday, despite the best efforts of the entire team. The games first half was a bit of a disaster, the enemy managed to find several holes in the Ashdown defence which was mostly due to the teams understandable nervousness at the start of the match. (one gentlemen on the Dulwich side was a rival to our own George Breare). Both Mungo Akerman and Mungo Walls played with great presence of mind, they were the only players who consistently managed to go to ground and remembered to place the ball, well done to those two! Oliver Hickson played a gutsy first half as a stand in prop for Alexandear Yeates who suffered an unfortunate injury in the warm up but courageously managed to come on in the second half. Ironically it was the smallest guys in the team that made some of the best tackles, Max Boseley, Edward Grant Thorold and Willam Taylor where the only players not to miss too many tackles. The best tackle of the game however went to George Breare who managed to give another child a bloody nose, congratulations George! Finally, Freddy Rosen played as an excellent captain, who took good control of the team reminding them exactly what to do and when. Congratulations to all boys in colts C, i look foreward t oour next game.  AS
Wednesday 26 January 2005 versus St. Andrews
1st XV 32-0 The 1st XV produced another very impressive performance on a cold afternoon down in Eastbourne. We chose to play uphill and into the wind in the first half and found ourselves defending desperately in our 22 for the first 3-4 minutes. Our tackling was solid and, after we won a ruck five metres from our posts, Max Haddock fed James Cardona who went round his man and sprinted 70 metres to score a magnificent try. Jack Richardson converted and added a penalty a little later to put us out to 10-0. Our forwards were doing great work in the tight and in the loose and we put together some good passages of play. Rollo Hovey finished off one attack with a nice try out wide. Half-time: 15-0

Downhill in the second half we played some fine rugby. The forwards were outstanding, although it is fair to say that they had a real ding-dong battle with a tough St. Andrew's pack. The bigger St. Andrew's scrum had the edge, although we still won all our own scrum ball comfortably enough. We added three good tries with the backs attacking well out wide, combining pace with good handling. Henry Birch scored first, converted by Richardson (22-0). Hovey and Cardona both scored again in the last ten minutes. Well played by the whole team! Our next match is our first ever fixture against Dulwich College Prep School, Cranbrook.  Played 5, Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 1, For 109, Against 17.   MH
2nd XV 7-25 When things aren't going well, it is no good for a couple of players to get their heads' down and think they can make a difference. Equally it is not enough for the whole team to think that simply putting their heads' down and charging around will ensure victory. Individuals simply must play as a team. When players appreciate that they can rely on others, progress and points will follow.   Determination and guts were all evident for all 50 minutes, unfortunately the basics simply weren't done well enough.  The start of the second half was very encouraging with Hale forcing himself over the line and Hare completing a good conversion. 15 - 7 did indeed look promising, however, when one of your forwards is then missing for 10 minutes - life becomes even harder.  St Andrew's were a good side - Ashdown could be.   DR
3rd XV 5-47 A disappointing match where the team suffered from the coach journey and let them get most of their points on the board in the first half. With a depleted pack we found it hard to win rucks and we lost possession in contact too easily. In the second half we fought back, the score being two tries to one after the break, Bloemers scoring the try and Locke coming as close as he could without actually scoring.  Better luck on Saturday.  M.C-J
Colts A 24-7 A strong team performance though Alastair Webber did shine amongst the forwards with some strong work on the hard yards. The backs ran more mad angles and looked dangerous although they do need to be talking the ball with more pace and be willing to shift it wide quicker. Noddy was splendid at full back and probably saved the match with a heroic tackle on the line. Dulwich will be tough o saturday but with some work done on tackling and running quickly with the ball, the results could be in our favour once.  HH
Scorers: Wylde 1T, Webber 1T, Croker 1T, Turner 1T. Dodson 2C
Colts B Draw Despite extreme cold, both teams were able to put on a cracking performance of good, solid rugby. The Ashdown boys defended brilliantly and were also strong in attack. A fantastic try by Woo Jay Kim opened the scoring. Despite a great kick, Ralph Richardson just missed converting this try/ St. Andrew's appeared to rely upon the 'kick and run' approach, whereas the Ashdown heroes stuck to what they had been told and tried to move the ball the more conventional way. By half time, Ashdown were winning and still trying to battle through.  After oranges and a constructive chat, Ashdown returned to the fray with renewed vigour. We did much more 'safety kicking' this half . Our defence was still good but St. Andrew's did manage to force a try. Chris Fitzsimmons was forced to come off for a brief time but a reserve was available and Chris soon returned to the action. Despite the best efforts of Rufus Kleinwort and a last minute run by Ralph Richardson, the score remained tied at one try each. Everyone seemed to agree that this was a fair result given the remarkably even matching of the teams. It was a joy to watch and I look forward to the next occasion when the Colts 'B' go into action. PBS
Wednesday 19 January 2005 versus Newlands
1st XV 22-7 The 1st XV put in a very good performance to beat a competent Newlands side in our first home match of the term. We got off to a bad start when the Newlands left wing intercepted a pass and ran from half-way to score under the posts. The try was converted and we were down 7-0 after one minute. We gradually got into gear, playing into the breeze, and our pack began to dominate. We scored just before half-time when Nick Roope smashed through two tackles for a try, converted by Jack Richardson. 7-7 at half-time. In the second half Ashdown played magnificently. The forwards were outstanding in the rucks and scrums and the backs got better and better. Newlands had a superb running fly-half, but tremendous tackling and pressure by Ashdown kept him pretty much in check. Roope scored a second, converted from near touch by Richardson, who added a 30 metre penalty to put us out to 17-7. Captain Max Haddock scored the final try with a jinking burst from 20 metres out. Newlands ran everything in the last five minutes, but committed and aggressive tackling by Ashdown prevented any further score.  This was a fine team performance, but there were some excellent individuals. The loose forwards, Roope, Tom Evans and Charlie Haddock, were outstanding. Props Michael Coles and Fred Cripps both got through a lot of work in the tight. Max Haddock and Richardson controlled play intelligently at 9 and 10. Wings Rollo Hovey and James Cardona looked full of running, with Hovey also having a fine match in defence. Henry Birch had a storming second half at outside centre. Piers Egerton-Warburton was solid at full-back and continues to improve quickly in his new position. Well played, everyone! MH
2nd XV 68-0 It was a very pleasant experience for the 2nd XV to encounter another school's 2nd XV without a star 1st team player who finds it fun to score 6 tries and set another 2 up.  To celebrate the 2nds ran in 11 very convincing tries and converted some of them. An encouraging 67-0 win, away from home but there will be sterner tests to come.  DR
3rd XV    
Colts A 61-7 This was almost a complete performance and verging on Total Rugby. Despite being 0-7 in the first minute the team came back to score 9 good tries. The rucking was far more controlled and Jimmy Williams stole some ball against the head too. Turls was far more focussed with the onus of being captain removed whilst Wyldeman, Webber and The Judge Stables worked some good lines of running and stole some good ball.  The backs were far better than on Saturday. Croker was the king of the dummy and ran with pace I didn't know he possessed. (He must be pushing for a place in the relay team next term?) Moves were called off all sorts of phases and the tries flowed.  Awareness at penalties needs work as does defence from the set piece but all in all we can go to St. Andrew's next week looking forward to a real challenge.  HH
Scorers: Wyle 3T, Webber 2T, Croker 2T, Stables 1T, MEW 1T. Dodson 8C
Saturday 15 January 2005 versus Holmewood House
1st XV 5-10 The 1st XV lost their first match of the season after a tough battle with Holmewood House. Ashdown started very well and were on top for a quarter of an hour. Unfortunately several promising attacks in the Holmewood 22 were not converted into points. Holmewood, having defended very well, then got back into the match. With the half-time score at 0-0, it was still anyone's game. In the second half the Holmewood pack had the edge. Intelligent kicking by the Holmewood fly half kept Ashdown pinned back in their own half. Holmewood turned pressure into points with two tries to lead 10-0. A spirited last six or seven minutes by Ashdown saw Nick Roope drive over in the corner for a well deserved try with a minute to go. However it was too little too late and Holmewood held on for a deserved victory in what was an entertaining and pretty even match.
2nd XV 5-52 The 2nd team put in a much better performance on Saturday after the victory over St Bede's. The backs looked far more threatening with ball in hand and seemed to have more options and greater confidence. The forwards were much stronger in the set piece and hungrier for the lose ball. Many players had good games and we competed very well in virtually all aspects of play with 14 boys from Holmewood. Unfortunately the 2 aspects that we were distinctly 2nd in were tackling and scoring tries. Which their centre seemed to enjoy as he ran in 6 for himself. Lots of positive points, ............somehow.  DR
3rd XV 15-41 In a game of good rugby from both sides, the scoreline did not perhaps do justice to the way Ashdown played. Certainly the away side deserved a win, and the defensive strengths of the home side need to be increased. The determination of Alex Smith right to the end kept the team alive, and well done to try scorers Duco, Jake, and Alex. On a day when all teams struggled against strong opposition it was pleasing to see the 3rd XV giving it every effort.  M.C-J
Colts A 0-35 The Boys played fairly well against a very tidy and unbeaten Holmewood side who ran with pace, rucked with aggression and passed like professionals! We were always up against it and yet the scoreline doesn't really do justice to the team. With 3 minutes left of the first half it was only 0-7 but as a result of some skilful play and missed tackles Holmewood score twice in those three minutes! It was a big ask to come back from 0-21 in the second half and there were some promising signs such as TGM's all round play, Webber's rucking and Wyldeman's running but the oppo went on to score twice more. I was pleased with the majority of play but we must work on tackling and passing. HH
Colts B 0-32 An early try by an amazingly fast right winger set the tone for the whole match. Unfortunately, the chap in question was a Holmewood player. Despite determined resistance in the first half, a number of other tries and two conversions followed. After a half time chat, the Colts 'B' began to play much more aggressively and there were some good runs made by Bernard Paget, Rufus Kleinwort, Fred Hale and Woo Jay Kim. However, we continued to lose the lineouts and our scrum work could of been much better.   This allowed Holmewood to score more tries but they had little success in converting them. Despite our gallant efforts and a real team spirit, Ashdown failed to score. I was proud of the way that the boys kept trying right up until the end of the game. Fred Hale proved himself to be the man of the match by not only creating some great tackles but also carrying on despite a number of heavy knocks.  We knew Holmewood was going to be a tough match but we were not outclassed - just out played by boys from a larger school than ours. PBS
Wednesday 12 January 2005 versus St Bedes
1st XV 50-0 The 1st XV made a very promising start to the Lent Term with a comprehensive victory over St Bede's in Eastbourne. We chose to play uphill and into a strong wind in the first half and made a great start, with a converted try to Henry Birch after two minutes following the interception of a St Bede's pass. The smaller Ashdown pack quickly got on top, doing well in the set pieces and producing a steady stream of ruck ball. The backs ran the ball well and we played some fine rugby using the full width of the pitch. The half-backs, Max Haddock and Jack Richardson, controlled play with a lot of skill and composure. Further tries by Hugh van Grutten and Fred Cripps gave us a lead of 19-0 at half-time.  In the second half we played very well and were totally dominant. Rollo Hovey opened the scoring and then Richardson and Nick Roope both scored two tries. Richardson converted five of the eight tries for a personal haul of 20 points. A good performance, but we now face Holmewood House on Saturday, a side whom we have not beaten for several years. MH
2nd XV 27-0

 

 The 2nd XV failed to turn their early terrestrial advantage into points. So at half time it was a rather unsatisfactory 5-0 lead. Fortunately the boys rallied in the second half and the points started to flow. Caio's solo effort for a classic wingers try, Hale being the perfect link man for Captain Stogdale to crash over and tireless and unselfish work from Talbot , Hill and Hare ensured an easy victory. DR
3rd XV 15-31 After a bad start to the term, conceding in the first minute, the thirds out-played and out-skilled their opposition, but could not outsize them. Despite a brilliant effort from the Ashdown pack - which was in total about twenty stone lighter - St Bede's superior strength made winning the ball impossible. Special mention to Rupert Burge and Alex Smith, who fearlessly took on their pack time and again, and both had to come off in the last ten minutes due to injury, which serves as a testament to the effort they put in, and also to Duco Bloemers for two superb tries.  MCJ
Colts A 17-15 An epic game.  The setting was stunning - a beautiful pitch, dry as a bone and the sun blazing...the only blot on an otherwise lavish landscape was the gale that raged in our faces for the whole of the first half. The Colts started their season in fine style with some strong rucking and super linking between forwards and backs. To see Marcus and Kempy receiving a plethora of ball in the opening minutes made that practice in the storms of the previous day all the more worthwhile. Captain Turls led from the front and inspired his troops with lots of vocals and skill on the ball which resulted in Spidey, Tom, James and Wyldeman following suit. However, we just couldn't score but St. Bede's did. Twice. To go in at half time 0-10 seemed harsh as TGM, Archie and Doddy had been working some great angles and Teddy found his feet quickly at flyhalf.   Then St. Bede's scored again. Here began an extraordinary comeback.  Doddy scored on the right with 14 minutes to go, James scored on the right with 6 minutes to go and Archie scored by the posts with 2 minutes to go. Doddy slotted the conversion to give us a victory by the narrowest of margins 17-15.  This side has much potential and will do great things this season. To come back from the jaws of death shows true character. We are hoping for just that on Saturday against a tough Holmewood side. Well done the lads!  HH
Colts B 54-0 Despite a biting cold wind and a delay of half an hour, the Colts B were a marvellous example of just what can be achieved by constant drilling. They did everything that was asked of them and created some stunning tries. Even more importantly, they played as a team throughout and no one boy can truly be singled out as being exceptional. Rufus Kleinwort, the captain, asked me who was the 'Man of the Match'. I replied that the whole team were awesome and deserving of that accolade. Well done to the lads - a final, official score of 54 - 0 created a warm glow in our hearts that banished the chill wind.  PBS
Colts C 5-37 Unfortunately the colts C team suffered a defeat at the hands of a capable, if not fashionably late, St Bedes team. The first half didn't show the teams true potential, with St Bedes scoring several tries and managing to convert all but one of them. The second half however, was a good game of rugby, all the boys, particularly Mungo Walls and Fraser Morrison, showed much more determination and commitment in their tackles, thus ensuring St Bedes only scored once more throughout the whole match. There was some excellent running by Christopher Fitzsimmons who forced his way through a tough line of defence to score the teams first try. All in all the boys played a good second half, proving they have what it takes to play a great season.  AS

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Netball 
Ashdown results shown first
Click on image to see an enlarged version.
Wednesday 9 March 2005 versus Stoke Brunswick
U12 18-18 The U12s played SToke Brunswick's 1st team in a needle close match.  Eleanor G-M played the game of her life.  Luckily the shooters were getting the goals in as we didn't get many opportunities.  A really great warm up for the National Championship.
Wednesday 9 March 2005 versus Copthorne
U11A 18-18 This was the best I have seen Ashdown girls play, the game was nip and tuck all the way. Copthorne won the match 21 - 19. Considering Ashdown lost to Copthorne 31 - 12, at the start of the season this was a brilliant result for us. Well played Eloise,Marta,Julia,Everest,Ellie,Katie and Coco.  Lets hope they keep up the good work for the Nationals this Saturday at Roedean.
U11B   Ashdowns U11Bs put on the best display of netball for thier end of season match, the score was 10 -10, which was a fair result. Amy Whicker palyed a very strong GD and Millie Hall was also solid in the GK postion. Gina and Juliette Scored some lovely shots from distance. Lucy HH,Anna Fountain and Sorcha were really busy in the centre court. Well done girls. JU
Saturday 5 March 2005 versus Ardingly
U12 15-3 Team: Gina K., Kitty G., Annabel S., Isobel R., Ola CJ., Ellie GM., India S., Camilla G

The weather held for us today and the match went ahead. Ashdown started the match very slowly, but by half time they started to show some nice neat netball skills. Gina Kidd scored two lovely long distance shots, Annabel Soper Ellie Gm and Ola were very strong in the defence. The final score was 15 - 3 to Ashdown. JU
Thursday 3 March 2005 Regional Tournament at Roedean
U11

Team: Eloise W., Marta F., Julia C., Everest M., Ellie H., Lucy H H., Katie S.Coco A., Juliette L.

Ashdown U11 team have for the 4th year running qualified for the Netball National Finals.  This u11 team have worked so hard during the year and all their efforts paid off today. They played some fine netball in some very harsh weather conditions. They played eight matches won 4, lost 2 and drew 1. They scored 31 goals on the day which was absolutely amazing considering the strength of the wind. The two games they lost were against Granville and Rydes Hill both by only one goal. This put them into the third qualifying postion. Every single girl in the team put in maximum effort and all played brilliantly. A big thank you also to the parents for all their support and keeping the girls warm! JU
U10 10-7 It took a little while for Olivia and Keira to get the hang of the low goalposts but once they did there was no stopping them.  All played very well particularly Caroline who after a slightly shaky start in the first quarter played the game of her life!!! PMc
Saturday 26 February 2005 versus St Bede's
1st 28-7 The girls all played fantastically well in this match. A great warm up for the coming regionals on Friday!!!!!  PMc
U10 10-7 It took a little while for Olivia and Keira to get the hang of the low goalposts but once they did there was no stopping them.  All played very well particularly Caroline who after a slightly shaky start in the first quarter played the game of her life!!! PMc
Wednesday 23 February 2005 versus Windlesham
1st 15-15 Fantastic!!! The girls were down 1-5 at quarter time. After a severe talk they picked up their game and played the game of their lives to draw the match. This was a particularly good result since we lost conclusively to Windlesham last term and in this match we were without Matilda. Stephie played fantastically well in her debut. The team truly played as a TEAM!!!!!  PMc
2nd 8-21 The 2nds played Netball against Windlesham. They played well in the first two quarters, but they lacked a little oomph in the second half. However, they were well mannered and sang very well to and from the match in the minibus.  TM
U11A 19-12 In the first quarter Ashdown got off to a perfect 5-0 lead. Ashdown continued to dominate and increased their lead to 11-3 by half-time. Windlesham fought back in the third quarter to close the gap. With snow falling heavily in the last quarter Ashdown regained their dominance of the match and ran out comfortable 19-12 winners. Eloise W and Marta F scored some superb long range goals. JU
U11B 2-15 With the inclusion of three under 10s in this match through sickness the girls put up a fine spirited performance against strong opposition. Unfortunately they lost 15-2 but the game was played in a good spirit and the girls continued to try right up to the end. JU
Wednesday 9 February 2005 versus Vinehall
1st 14-14 Our closest ever match against Vinehall and a truly great game with a totally perfect result. Both teams played well and never gave up!!!!
U12 19-5 In the first half Ashdown were 12 - 2 up. A few changes were made to the side to try and even the game, even with the changes our u12s were playing so well.  Vinehall could not really make any impact. Ashdown went on to win the 19 - 5.  Annabel Soper came on as reserve and played really well.  All the u12s are in fine form at the moment lets hope it continues.
U10 12- 8 The Ashdown House under 10's Netball Team had another convincing win against Vinehall this afternoon despite the freezing cold weather conditions. From the first whistle both Kiera and Olivia shot accurately giving Ashdown a strong lead in the first half. However, in the third quarter, Vinehall put up a fight, making an exciting and close last quarter. Finally, the whole team put in a strong effort and managed to maintain their lead. Well done to the whole team another great win! SO
U9 4-2 The Ashdown team played a consistently strong game.  The whole team was well focused.  Lauren made a significant improvement in her footwork and Lauren made some very determined shots at goal.  Louisa was as always a strong player, which slightly worked against her due to the significantly smaller size of the Vinehall players who at times seemed to bounce off her.   
Saturday 5 February 2005 versus St Andrews
1st 22-11 The girls played very well today-although we did start rather slowly!!!  St.Andrews scored 5 of their 11 goals in the first quarter.  Sophie was magnificent and Sarah also shone.  PMc
2nd 20-1 The girls totally outclassed the opposition. It didn't matter how i moved them in order to keep down the score.  Abi and Ola surprised themselves when they played GA &GS!!!!  Stephie played really well.  PMc
U12 17-15 A very fine display from our u12s , they won the match 17 - 15. Camilla Heilbron was girl of the match.
U11 9-12 This was a very close game, which St Andrews won by 12-9. The under 11s need to improve fitness levels to balance out these games.
U10 13-2 On Saturday afternoon, the Ashdown House under 10s Netball Team had a convincing win against St Andrews. As soon as the first quarter began, the team proved strong in all areas of the court and with thanks to Marta Figar's strong defence it was difficult for St Andrews to score a goal. Consistency throughout the centre court, in particular Danny Perry and Bea Van Grutten, added to the team's triumph. In addition, both Ashdown and its opposition displayed great sportsmanship. Well done to all members of the team - a solid win.  SO
U9 12-9 This was an extremely close game until the last quarter.  A change of positions on the Ashdown team resulted in six extra goals putting us in the lead.  There was excellent play from Louisa.  The rest of the team also played well.  PB
Wednesday 2 February 2005 versus Cottesmore
1st 10-31 We began the match missing two defenders and after a few minutes we were missing all three. Against a very strong Cottesmore team this was not a recipe for success! Abi and Courtney played well but found the speed of first team play a little too much for them! Stephie however played the game of her life!!! During the first half we scored in all but one goal attempt-well done Polly and Tasha!  PMc
U12 6-8 Unfortunately, yesterday afternoon, the Under 12 Ashdown House Netball Team suffered a 2 point loss against Cottesmore School. Although, there were many injuries heading into the match, Ashdown still managed to put up a strong fight. Speacial mention must go to Camilla Greenwood for her outstanding defence and bravery, along with India Stevens for her consistancy in the centre court. Overall, the girls tried very hard and worked well as a team under the circumstances.  SO
U11 12-6

This was mostly a very close game. At quarter time it was 2 all.  At half time 5 – 4 to Ashdown. After the third quarter it was 7 – 6 to Ashdown.  However, in the final quarter Ashdown really came into their own and scored another five goals, making the final score 12 – 6.  Cosima played extremely well in the defending circle as goal keeper. Katie also played a strong game.  PB
Wednesday 2 February 2005 Cumnor Netball Tournament
U10C

First game we beat Copthorne 6-2 so off to a good start. The next game Holmewood House gave as a close game which we narrowly lost 4-2. We stormed back in the last group game against St. Bedes with a 12-1 victory. With our high scoring ratio we qualified for the semi-final against Brighton College. In another close game we lost out 4-2. I was very proud of the way all the Ashdown girls played today and their commitment to the team effort. Third out of twelve teams is a very commendable position.  JU
Team: Imogen Y, Louisa E, Keira B, Bea VG, Dannielle P, Marta F, Olivia G, Helloise K
Saturday 29 January 2005 versus St Aubyn's
U10 6-8 Team: Amelia S, Bea VG, Dannielle P, Keira B, Louisa E, Marta F,  Olivia G, Caroline R.

With the U10 Cumnor Tournament coming up on Wednesday, we needed to try some girls in different positions, Louisa E played some superb netball as WD and GA. Marta as always put her heart and soul into playing and gave the very good GA for St Aubyn's a hard time. At half time the score was 4-4. Bea VG was moved to C and Dani to WA. The match was nip and tuck, but St Aubyn's went on to win 8-6. If we improve our shooting we will go on to win matches like this.  JU
U9 8-1 We were rather stronger than this team so the girls all played in several positions. They all played very well.  PMc
Wednesday 19 January 2005 versus Cumnor House
U13B 8-5 Ashdown played extremely well in this match. We had at least 70% of the play. However we just did not seem to be able to find the goal. Sarah played a great Goal attack much to her surprise but not mine. Stephie was wonderfull at centre.  PMc
U9/U10 8-5 Team: Zoe Barrington, Romilly Dent, Daphne Paget, Heliose Kleinwort, Sarah Jeon, Imogen Yeates, Anna Fountain and Captain Louisa Elliott. 
Ashdown won this very close netball match 8 - 5. All the Ashdown girls put their heart and souls into todays match, with some superb shooting from Heloise and lovely centre court play from Louisa. A much improved Romilly in WD and great versatility form Anna and Imogen. Well done girls. JU
Saturday 15 January 2005 versus Holmewood House
1st 15-14 On Saturday the Ashdown 1st Netball Team recorded their first ever win against Holmewood House. The girls began strongly in the first quarter and managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle. The game was a tight match, where both sides proved to be strong in all areas of the court. Special mention must go to our two defenders, Sophie and Matilida, who frequently stopped the opposition from scoring. The game was very exciting for all spectators. Well done to all the players.  SO
2nd 2-11 The girls were a little disappointing in the two shortened matches they played today. Basic skills were not up to their usual standard. Having said that Courtney and Stephie were playing with a good understanding. We had almost as much of the play as Holmewood but the goals would not go in our end and Holmewoods shooters were great!  PMc
U12 We ended up playing two shortened matches as by half time in the match the girls were winning by 15-3 against Holmewoods 2nds. They then played the U12 team who they also beat quite conclusively 18-5.  These girls are really beginning to come together as a team. Kitty and Lucy now play very well together with a great understanding. India and Louisa have improved beyond all recognition. Camilla G and Camilla H continue to dominate their players and Eleanor is really beginning to get to grips with Goal keeper.  PMc
U10 4-13 The match against Holmewood House on Saturday proved to be a very challenging one for our Under 10 girls. By the end of the first quarter Holmewood had established a convincing lead. All the girls gave it their best, however, at the end of the day, Holmewood were the better team and thoroughly deserved their win. Danielle Perry played very well at centre and was well supported by Georgia Burgoyne and Bea van Grutten who made a great effort to stem the Holmewood tide.  GF
U9 4-9

Holmewood played a stronger team than we were hoping for. However, we played a fairly close game in the first half but did find the lower height of the nets and a different sized ball challenging.   In the third quarter Holmewood scored 5 goals!  Well done to the Ashdown team for keeping up their spirits despite strong opposition. The final score was 9 – 4 to Holmewood. PB
Wednesday 12 January 2005 versus Newlands
1st 17-5 The girls were so much better than the opposition that they all played in 4 different positions in the match in order to keep the score down.  This didn't work in the 2nd quarter where they actually did better out of position!!!!!  Sophie played and shot like a natural GS.