On Saturday 7th of January, we held our annual ON Sports weekend. Former pupils joined us to compete against our current rugby, netball, football and hockey. Our PE department have reported on each of the events of the day.
Rugby – Mr Blount
The Old Boys came to Longford with a sense of purpose on Saturday. They had a large squad of 20 consisting of last year’s leavers and pupils who left after Y11 in 2021. Adams 1st XV struggled to get a team out due to many reasons and this proved to be a worry when in the first 2 minutes of the game the old boys scored their first try and the afternoon looked ominous for the school team. After 10 minutes, the school broke into the ONs’ 22 and Cameron Brittain scored to bring the game level. With the headwind, the school then scored 2 successive tries with captain Finn Thomson, scoring.
A lead of 2 tries at the break was always going to be difficult to defend in the second half due to the wind. The school team was quick out of the blocks and scored another try at the start of the second half to give them some breathing room. The old boys then came back and scored 2 very quick tries but the school team held out to win 31-27.
Netball – Mr & Miss Jones
It’s always a delight to welcome the ON Girls back for this special occasion – to see their continuing friendships and to catch up with their post-school progress. They bring such a positive attitude to the day and play in a way that is both competitive and marvellously friendly.
The main match – the current School team vs last year’s side was a competitive and flowing game. The sides were well matched with energy and passion demonstrated by last year's leavers, but the School played with confidence and assurance and were rightly very pleased with their victory.
In the Round Robin tournament, the ‘older’ ON Girls played with skill and maturity, judging their substitutions shrewdly and running out overall champions on the day.
Brenda France, the guest umpire, was impressed by the skill and the attitude of all the players commenting on the good spirit the event was played in. It was absolutely fantastic to see so many faces and to hear many are continuing with netball at university or clubs.
Hockey – Mr Fowler
It was an excellent morning’s Hockey at Lilleshall. As is the case with Hockey, it is possible to have a wide age range of Old Boys playing against the School 1st XI. It was great to see two present members of staff playing for the Old Boys - Mr. Chima and Mr. Hurst - in a squad of 15 players. In an excellent, well fought and balanced game the Old Boys came out as winners 3-1 after the school had taken an early deserved lead. The spirit of the morning was exemplified by the fact that we then played a second match where we combined the teams by creating one team which consisted of the youngest members of the school 1st XI and the oldest Old Boys playing against the older 1st XI members and the most recent Old Boys. This match resulted in a 4-1 win for the ‘youngest and oldest’.
Football – Mr Biggins
The ONs were still seeking their first ever win in this the 12th Annual Old Novaportan football fixture. Despite bringing back much of the double-winning class of 2022, things did not start well for the ONs as a blatant push on Selwyn Osei resulted in a penalty, which forward Ben McDowall confidently dispatched with just 5 minutes on the clock. Despite some further heavy pressure, the 1st XI were unable to extend their lead before the break, with the ONs not proving too much of a threat on goal. At half time, the score was 1st XI 1 – 0 ONs.
Much like how they started the first half, the 1st XI put early pressure on the ON goal, and doubled their lead just three minutes after the break through a rifled left-foot finish into the top corner by Selwyn Osei. At 2-0 the 1st XI looked confident and comfortable so it came very much against the run of play when Sam Briggs weaved his way through some defensive tackles and poked the ball past Kavi Jani to give the ONs a lifeline. The game descended into a scrappy affair at this point, so it came as no surprise that both teams were finding more joy (and space) on the flanks. A superb finish from David Bradbury from a tight angle inconceivably saw a one-sided game draw level, only for the 1st XI to pull away once more through a rare goal for full-back Jake Flanagan. The ONs did not lie down however, and got back into the game through a fine individual effort from tireless captain Luke Baker. Both teams were not willing to settle for the draw, but the next goal, a sizzler from outside the area from former 2nd XI captain Max Smallwood two minutes from time, came as a shock no more so than to Max himself! A jubilant ON team notably then switched off as the 1st XI rallied once more, and it was Selwyn Osei with a clever flicked finish that brought the game back level at 4-4, with it now being destined to go to penalties. However, neither side was willing to accept this, with both teams having chance late on to win it, but it was through the most unlikely source in Tom Bird, who had never represented the school at football before that the ON team found the winner, as he towered above the 1st XI defenders and planted a downwards header into the net on the stroke of full time. The final score was 1st XI 4 – 5 ONs. A wonderful game with fantastic entertainment, played in the right spirit throughout.