At the midway point of the academic year, we have a bumper edition of the weekly sports roundup with lots of success in Tiffin Sport to report on just before the well-earned half term break! The rugby season came to an end with a brilliant morning at Grists for the Dave Morris Cup and we have success to report on in Table Tennis, Basketball, Rifle Shooting and Netball!
The Dave Morris Cup was a wonderful celebration of the progress that’s been made this season in our rugby program and what followed was a great show of intense and well-spirited rugby across each year group at Tiffin! It was a great morning to be part of with TIPRA receiving funding and awareness of the great work they do, as well as the boys in each year group receiving awards for Coach’s Player and Most Improved across each year group – congratulations to all award winners! It was a brilliant opportunity to wave goodbye to the gifted Year 13 rugby cohort that have delivered on their potential this season in the 1st XV, leading to the most successful side Tiffin has produced in a number of years. Their win percentage finishes at nearly 73% with a record of 16 wins and 6 losses, a year that included a tour of a lifetime to Italy as well as an exceptional victory against KCS Wimbledon being the one that sticks out in the mind. We really hope that they take everything they’ve been a part of onwards in their journeys and that rugby stays a part of their lives as they go onto university and beyond!
The midweek fixture that followed the DMC was our annual ‘prospective 1st XV’ fixture against Harrodian, with some of next year’s potential 1st XV, including some of this season’s U16’s and 2’s players, getting a chance to represent the 1st XV and work on some chemistry going into next season. They ran out 33-6 winners and despite there still being a lot to work on, it was a positive result for them and we’re excited to see their development next year! Aaron H in Y13 evenmade a quick appearance to earn his 25th win in senior rugby, earning him the illustrious and rare gold tie – massive congratulations to him!
Netball capped off their half-term last week with a successful venture to Tiffin Girls for the boroughs Netball tournament, sending a strong A and B team to the competition. The A team put on a brilliant effort to finish 3rd in the tournament and the B team finished a very respectable 5th place. We hope they continue this good form into next half term and finish off the year strong!
On Tuesday evening our senior basketball team travelled across SW London for a seemingly difficult task against Epsom College, notwithstanding the fact that we were missing a couple of our stronger players for various reasons. The game was a low scoring affair but Tiffin found themselves down at the half and we knew we had work to do. We vowed to step the defence up a level and put pressure on their ball handlers and the energy from our whole squad meant that we slowed down their scoring significantly. A couple of big threes in the third quarter meant Tiffin were firmly back in the contest. The fourth quarter was particularly nervy, with the score going continually back and forwards, but with ten seconds to go, we found ourselves down two with a miracle needed. Up stepped Sulaiman and hit what we thought at the time was the game winning three! Alas, unfortunately the referee adjudged his foot on the line and was given as a two pointer – tie game at 25-25, overtime loomed. More impeccable defence ensued where we held them to only two points in overtime, and we managed to stretch the lead to three and hold on to win 30-27. A really good performance, particularly our defence, in the second half led to a brilliant victory on the road – well done to all involved!
Last week, five U13s headed to the stunning Whitgift School for a regional Table Tennis tournament featuring schools from all around the local area. The boys took part in a group stage with three other competitors for a chance to get through to the knockouts, with two wins realistically needed to do so. Leo (Y7) and Adam (Y8) both managed to win two matches in their pool to advance to the knockouts! Rahul (Y8), Teddy (Y7) and Brandon (Y7) all at least won one match in their pool though so well done to them as well! Unfortunately Leo and Adam lost their next game in the knockouts, but it was a great experience for all involved.
Max in Year 10 attended the British Target Shooting Schools Rifle Championships Final in Staffordshire. He achieved first place in the regional (SE England) competition and has qualified for a place at the final which took place on Wednesday. In the Intermediate competition, in the 10m Sporter category, Max amassed a total score of 153 which was enough to become ranked 2nd in the country in that category! An immense achievement for Max, really well done!
That wraps up this edition of the sports roundup and the final one for this half term! Everyone at Tiffin Sport wishes all the student athletes a restful break and we can’t wait for them to be raring to go in the run up to Easter!
