1 SPORTING TIMES DOUBLE CHAMPIONS! Wyvern U16 Girls win the District and County Cups! “The girls played for each other and were a team in the truest sense.” Mr McCracken—Head of PE Full Story on Page 2 1 2 County Cup Champions 2016/17 DOING THE DOUBLE! Wyvern U16 Girls’ Football team win penalty shoot-out again Henry Beaufort to be crowned both County Cup and District Cup winners in the same season! County Cup Final movement of Beaufort’s pacey winger their lines, and while Thomas managed May 2017 and see the ball out for a corner. More to save the first effort from the Beaufort long balls from Beaufort up to their striker who ran onto the ball, the ball pacey wingers proved tricky for the fortunately fell to Beaufort’s second Wyvern 1-1 Henry Beaufort Wyvern team but the defence did well; striker who finished it off with a (Wyvern win 6-5 on penalties) full-back Matilda Miles-Hardt did well in wonderful curling strike to the keeper’s her own private battle with one of left to equalise. 1-1. All square. Game Exclusive Match Report Beaufort’s left-sided wingers. on! The first goal of the game came from Wyvern responded well with some by Mr Dickinson nothing 16 minutes in and it was excellent individual pressure applied by advantage Wyvern. Crossing the ball winger Holly Shepherd, who dribbled The Wyvern U16 Girls’ County Cup from deep outside the Beaufort penalty and drove at the Beaufort defence with a triumph took place on a very warm area, Imogen Twigt saw her intended skilful combination of pace, power and summer’s evening in May at the pass palmed into the roof of the purpose. Wyvern did ride their luck on Testwood Stadium; home of The Beaufort net to spark wild celebrations occasions. A corner to the opposition Hampshire Stags, AFC Totton. from both the players and the travelling saw an excellent header just clip the top The game started at a blistering pace, Wyvern supporters. 1-0 to Wyvern. of the crossbar and, moments later, a with Wyvern piling on the early pressure. However, Wyvern’s early lead was very lovely curling effort from outside the box An early corner which was cleared away, nearly cut short just one minute later brought an excellent diving save from however, gave the Henry Beaufort team when pressure from Beaufort saw a keeper Beth Thomas. the chance to break away on the counter cross into the box cleared off the line by As half time arrived with it all square at 1 attack but the Wyvern defence stood full back Matilda Miles-Hardt. More -1 and all to play for, the second half firm. More pressure saw Wyvern gain pressure from Henry Beaufort was dealt failed to start with the same intensity as another corner, and the first real chance with expertly by the Wyvern team until the first, with both teams seeming of the game when midfield powerhouse the equaliser, similar to Wyvern’s goal, cautious in their approach, eager to not Imogen Twigt headed the ball up to came from nothing after 22 minutes of make a mistake. The first real chance centre-forward Jodie Spring but it was the game played. A long ball from deep came about 10 minutes in; midfielder expertly smothered by the Beaufort inside Beaufort’s own half rolled towards Philippa Ward did well to use her keeper. Wyvern goalkeeper Beth Thomas with strength and determination to drive up This seemed to spur on the Henry defender Lily Meleder covering as the the pitch, but was then caught out of Beaufort team who began passing the last line of defence. A miscommunication position by a long ball over the top. ball down the flanks; however, defender between the two girls meant that Beaufort’s pacey winger went past three Tanya Rowland did well to track the neither player took the initiative to clear Wyvern defenders before her shot was A panoramic view of Wyvern’s dressing room at AFC Totton’s Testwood Stadium 2 3 County Cup Champions 2016/17 denied by keeper Beth Thomas who Theobald’s interception denying a coolly convert the decisive spot kick and expertly covered her near post to push certain goal; she did just enough to make crown the Wyvern girls 6-5 winners on the ball out from goal for a corner. the tackle that saw Beaufort’s effort sail penalties and the 2016/17 Hampshire Further pressure from Henry Beaufort over the bar. The second came from County Cup champions! saw them gain another corner which fell Wyvern’s attacking midfielder Erin For the second time in two seasons, to one of the midfielder’s outside the Webb, who ran onto a long ball and was Wyvern were Hampshire County Cup box; her well-struck volley, however, just about to pull the trigger before the champions. Last year it was the boys; this failed to trouble the goalkeeper as it Beaufort keeper flew out of her area to year it was the girls. Wild scenes erupted sailed high over the crossbar. smother the ball at Webb’s feet. Full from the Testwood stands as the Wyvern The first change of the game came just time. 1-1. Penalties. fans basked not only in the glorious before the hour mark, with midfielder As often is with a penalty shootout, this sunshine, but in the glory of the girls’ lynchpin Twigt having to be replaced for was as nervy an occasion as you would remarkable achievement. They were not what looked like a nasty leg injury. As expect. The Wyvern supporters were on only County champions but, owing to time wore on, fatigue kicked in further, their feet, clapping and cheering and their recent District cup final success with both Spring and Miles-Hardt having edging their team on. The Wyvern against Kings in March, they had now to be rotated due to cramp and knocks players dispatched their opening four earned the title of The Double suffered throughout the final. And it penalties expertly, with Beth Thomas Champions. wasn’t just Wyvern who were suffering; making a fine early save to see Wyvern Head of PE Mr McCracken said: several Beaufort also went down with take a 4-3 lead by the end. With one “Football’s coming home (again). I am agonising cramp and muscle injuries. penalty left to take, it fell to striker Jodie proud of the girls and proud of their After 80 minutes of play, the Totton turf Spring, who played with such heart and achievements. Girls’ football here at looked more like a war zone than a determination throughout the game, to Wyvern has gone through the roof under football pitch. There were bodies down take it. However, it was not to be as the the leadership and guidance of Mrs. everywhere! Beaufort keeper stood her ground to Phillips. The girls were a credit to her Fighting for what seemed like to the palm Spring’s powerful shot away. 4-4. today. Once again the girls did the death, both teams carried on, rotating Sudden death! Who could hold their business. They did it for themselves, they players accordingly, with Twigt and nerve? Fair Oak’s Wyvern or did it for Mrs. Phillips and they did it for midfielder Maddison Freemantle coming Winchester’s Henry Beaufort? the Wyvern Dragon! The girls played for back on. There were last-ditch attacks It was Beth Thomas who stepped up each other and were a team today in the from both teams. The first came from once more, saving the crucial penalty truest sense.” Beaufort with Wyvern defender Megan that allowed defender Lily Meleder to The team celebrate at the end of a hard-fought game with coaches Mrs Phillips and Mr Davies 3 4 District Cup Champions 2016/17 District Cup Final which saw Rowland do her job as the team’s crestfallen goalkeeper on the ground in tears defensive midfielder to see the ball out for a during the half-time team talk. March 2017 corner. Five minutes played and as Kings’ With a comfortable lead secured at the pressed higher up the pitch, this allowed break, Mrs Phillips rang the changes, Wyvern 7-2 Kings’ School Wyvern to soak up the pressure and play long substituting Siena Millen and Grace Griffiths balls over the top to striker Millen. This also for Y10 girls, Megan Theobalds and Matilda benefited the pacey Wyvern wingers Miles-Hardt. Theobald dropped into the Exclusive Match Report Shepherd and Griffiths; a lovely through-ball centre back position with Alina Eichhorst by Mr Dickinson to Shepherd saw her take a touch before switching to central striker, while Louisa firing narrowly side into the side netting. Lineham moved up the field into the More pressure from Kings saw centre-back attacking winger position with Miles-Hardt The Wyvern Girls first historic title win of the Eichhorst work hard to track the run of Kings’ dropping in the full back position. And what a season took place on a wet and windy strong and skilful no.16 striker. Another brilliant tactical change it was! Within afternoon in March at Southampton attack from Wyvern saw them gain a corner. minutes of the restart, Eichhorst assisted University’s sports campus at Wide Lane, As the ball rebounded out to the feet of Wyvern’s fourth goal of the game; she Eastleigh. Their opponents were Kings’ School winger Griffiths, her fierce shot was palmed ghosted past two Kings’ defenders before of Winchester.