Hockey: success under pressure for U15 boys

Congratulations to the U15 boys’ hockey team who have won on penalties twice this week, continuing an impressive record of success under pressure into 2024. 

On Monday, 22 January, King’s hosted Repton School in the Independent Schools Cup. Repton, who are are ranked in the top three nationally, gave a competitive match. Ending 2-2 after normal time, the game was decided on penalties in sudden death with King’s holding their nerve to take the win. 

The following day, the boys travelled to Manchester Grammar School to take part in the annual MGS tournament. With decisive wins against the likes of MGS, Bolton School, RGS Newcastle amongst others in the early rounds, they went confidently into the final against St Peter’s School, York.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw and was decided by shootout. The shootout was introduced in 2023 and features a 1 v 1 between the striker and the keeper where the striker starts on the 25 yard line and has eight seconds to score. Victorious again in sudden death, the team returned to Chester as MGS tournament winners. 

Hockey Coach, Dr Chris Ashcroft, is impressed at the success of our teams in tightly drawn matches.

He said: “Huge congratulations to our U15 boys who won twice in two days, both times in a sudden death situation.

“Over the past few years, we have a remarkable record of success under pressure; King’s teams have won an incredible nine of the last ten penalty shootouts. Long may it continue!”