JV Touch
The start of any Junior Varsity season is a challenge in regards to team dynamics. You have older athletes disappointed not to have earned a Varsity spot and other enthusiastic and somewhat less experienced ones. This year’s dynamics were no different and becoming a team was much a challenge for all. The team found early success in BISAC league play with clinical and one-sided victories over NIST, Harrow and Shrewsbury before heading into the Winter Holidays. On return, the team continued to dominate league play with victories over ISB and RIS. These 5 wins ensured we finished top of the league heading into the annual BISAC tournament. The last week leading up to the BISAC tournament the team was determined to learn from our mistakes at the previous week’s ISB “Friendly Tournament” where the girls finished a disappointing 4th. The team demonstrated a renewed focus lead by our captain Luka Hekkelman. Our new focus was on doing the basics better and executing in attack from the 5 metre line. At the BISAC tournament the team cruised to pool wins against Harrow and NIST executing the basics better and scoring some well-constructed scores from the 5 metre line. More significantly, the team was coming together and the girls were now playing for each other, and with these two wins we were assured a spot in championship game against ISB. The championship game had all the usual pre-game tension and nerves. The team dominated possession early and were denied what looked like an early score. ISB responded with a score and the team suddenly found ourselves on our back heals defending. We were also faced with an early serious injury to Katy Boardman which impacted our focus. It was not to be our final and the hosts ISB went onto victory. The team has athletes that will push for Varsity spots next year and it is hoped all will continue to get involved in Patana Sport.
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