Last Friday, we hosted the U16 county indoor tournament in our sports hall. The event was a round robin between ourselves, Kent College Canterbury and Tonbridge. Our side, following a whole half term’s worth of weekly lunchtime practice were well drilled and raring to go.

The U16s played Ashford in their first game, playing some flowing and efficient indoor, adapting well to the varying rules from outdoor, coming away 5-0 victors. Next up was Kent College Canterbury, a team that the U16s are incredibly familiar with, having met in two county finals in the last four years. In a fast paced, passionate and evenly contested game, with both sides being awarded penalty strokes, the scoreline finished 1-1.

In the final game of the afternoon, the U16s played Tonbridge, with the winner progressing to regionals with Kent College Canterbury, and a draw meaning penalties would be needed to decide the winner. Despite creating chances and having a decent amount of the ball, Sutton Valence went into half time 1-0 down. After a detailed and encouraging half time team talk and cries of ‘it’s only 1-0’ from lots of the boys, the U16s eventually broke Tonbridge down, scoring two goals and winning 2-1. Booking their place at regionals next half term! A monumental effort from a side made up of 6 Fourth Form (Seb H, Archie A, Wian B, Cian N, Marek O and Max J) and 2 Third Form (Barney B and Ted B).