Over two days staff and students battled it out across three disciplines; Volleyball, Netball and Football. The effort and commitment put in by all teams provided a very competitive dual one which pupils of Hampton Academy had the privilege of seeing for just a small donation to Comic Relief.
On Thursday the 17th of March at lunch time the Volleyball teams came head to head. Nerves began to rise as spectators filled in and the first serve was taken. The closely fought game lasted the entire lunch with neither team wanting to stop. There was some great serving from team captain Miss Glendening and even a surprise appearance from Mr Edmead. Both teams played superbly and the sets were very close but as the final serve was taken the staff were crowned victorious 2 sets to 0.
It was 1:0 to the staff after the first battle with just netball and football to go...
The next day, Friday the 18th, the sports hall was once again filled with expectant spectators. The atmosphere was electric and the match set off at a blistering pace, as the match continued clashes between the staff and students became rougher in a bid to win. The students were on top form though (obviously well taught!) and managed to score point after point. The staff just couldn’t contend and at the end of a fiercely fought and exhausting 14 minutes the students stormed to victory 7-1. A special thank you and congratulations goes to Migena Dollani, who created, organised and coached the students team, well done!!
All was square in the Staff vs Students war, one a piece...it all came down to the football.
Comic Relief Staff v Student Football match review
By Andrew Harries 7WT
This was to be very exciting game where every single pass and shot counted as it went down to the wire. It was cold; muddy and very entertaining. The fans were ready. The game was to be half an hour each way. The ref (Mr Humphreys) and the teams started the game with very high morale. In the early parts of the first half the students dominated with most of the possession and lots of chances but an on form Mr Mayfield kept denying the student chances but there were signs of the staff getting to grips with the game. After about 10 minutes Billy (one of the mentors in the arts and performance) committed a foul that earned him a ticking off from the referee, from the first half was not much football but a lot of substitutions for the staff by Miss Nuttall who was the manager of the Staff however there was no manager for the students. The half time whistle signalled the end of the first half which gave both teams to swap goalies have a drink and sort out some tactics for the second half. The teams were refreshed after a short break and raring to go. Shortly into the second half... “here’s Mr Chiremba on the ball there’s two defenders marking him, he shoots and scores!”... “First blood to the staff!” That annoyed the students a bit. On the return...“It’s Tyler the student captain on the run, good dribbling skills brought down...PENALTY!!!”... “Can the students peg it back here?”... “Tyler steps up to take and scores!” Now if you thought the students were annoyed when they conceded you should have seen the staffs faces, not the happiest of bunches then. So the two teams slaughtered on with lots of chances but lots of misses as well. At the end of full time there was nothing to separate the two teams at the end of normal time. So the game had to carry on into extra time, with 5 minutes each way. I heard that if the staff didn’t score that Miss Nuttall was going to come on to, well hopefully, seal victory. In the first half of extra time there were no goals and not much play. The second half came and three minutes in “here’s Ricky good dribble shoots... oh my goodness me!”... “What a goal from what 30 metres from goal, which will really put a nail in the staff’s hearts” But now the question was could the staff have a comeback. The answer was well, no. It was the students’ victory! It wasn’t the best game in the history of football, but by heck was it a good one.
Match reporter Andrew Harries.
So to round up...Thursday and Friday saw some brilliant competitive action and it was fantastic to have so many people involved, staff and students both playing and spectating. YES the students won (sigh) and us staff are slightly devastated BUT what keeps us going is knowing that everyone’s efforts managed to raise over £130 for comic relief. An extremely worthy cause that the PE Department, sports teams and our benevolent teachers of Hampton academy are proud to support!
Miss Davidson.
