On Thursday SCPS were represented by four of our football teams – Year 5 Boys, Year 6 Boys, Year 5/6 Girls’ ‘A’ and Year 5/6 Girls’ ‘B’ teams – in a local football tournament on Peppard Common. There would be no next round for the boys no matter how they did, but both of our girls’ teams knew that they needed to finish in the top two to earn a place at the South Oxfordshire Finals.

For the boys, our Year 5 team went first, opening their tournament with a match against Peppard. We began very well and took a 1-0 lead after a corner was turned into their own net by a Peppard player. Try as we might, we couldn’t see the half out, with Peppard equalising just before half time and despite an even second half, there were no further goals.

Our Year 6 boys, keen to win one of their last competitions together, began with a match against our Year 5 team. They had been waiting a while to get started, and maintained their enthusiasm through to the end, winning 9-0 with three goals each from Romeo and Louie B, a brace from Jonah and one from Jack. A mention must to go the Year 5 boys for their efforts in trying to defend as a unit, with goalkeeper Zac also making some good saves.

From here, our Year 6 boys took on Peppard, knowing a win would seal the trophy. 2-0 up at half time through two goals from Jonah, they continued their pressure into the second half, with Jonah completing his hat trick before Louie B added two strikes of his own. An own goal rounded off the scoring and the Year 6 boys claimed the trophy!

There was also success for both of our girls’ teams. The ‘B’ team got off to a great start, beating Shiplake 1-0 courtesy of a strike from Freya, whereas our ‘A’ team opened with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Peppard – Georgie Q with the goal.

In the second match, our ‘A’ team faced the ‘B’ team in a fairly close match which saw the ‘A’ team run out 3-0 winners with another goal from Georgie Q, which was soon followed up by Bethany and Olivia, both of whom grabbed their first goals for the school.

Both teams went into their final matches knowing that all four teams were on three points and a win would guarantee them a place in the next round. Our ‘A’ team would take on Shiplake while our ‘B’ team would face Peppard. At half time, both matches were 0-0, with the ‘B’ team thankful to Eliza for a brilliant penalty save just before half time.

Neither game stayed 0-0 for long.

The ‘B’ team were the first to beak the deadlock, with Serenna firing them into a 1-0 lead which temporarily meant the ‘B’ team were winning the group. Soon after, they were awarded a penalty of their own, which was nicely tucked away by Freya to seal a 2-0 win and preserve their spot in the South Oxfordshire Finals – a tremendous achievement for a group of girls who had spent the afternoon playing together for the very first time!

Our ‘A’ team were keen to join the celebrations, and made sure that they too could celebrate when Georgie Q drove a low shot into the far corner of the net to earn a 1-0 victory and qualify for the South Oxfordshire Finals as winners of the competition!

A superb effort from everyone involved, and a hugely satisfying day out for the children. Thanks once more to the adults who helped with transport and supported us throughout.

Our Y5 Boys’ team: Zac E, Xander O’B-W, Albie H, Noah B, Ben N, Charlie C, Jaxson J, Oscar P, Andy B and Jimmy B.

Our Y6 Boys’ team: Louie B, Teddy E, Felix C, Jack F, Mason M, Jonah W, Donnie F and Romeo H.

Our Y5/6 Girls’ ‘B’ Team: Scarlett A-C, Serenna B, Georgie G, Scarlett H, Scarlett W, Eliza G and Freya H.

Our Y5/6 Girls’ ‘A’ Team: Bethany B, Hazel B-M, Sylvie F, Alejandra M-P, Georgie Q, Ella W, Olivia Z, Lili F, and Issy C.