FINAL'S DAY IN CHS' TABLE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014

CHS’ Table Tennis Champion 2014 is.......

Today (Friday 28^th February) saw the final day of CHS’ second annual Table Tennis Championships. Over the past month over 50 students and staff have been battling it out to become CHS’ Table Tennis Champion. Last year was a huge success and so has this year.

Semi-Finals

The first semi-final was between defending champion, Mr de Souza against IT technician Mr Naylor, both very competitive players. Before the match, Mr Naylor said that he had been working on his serve but I am sure he would be disappointed with his performance from the serve. Mr de Souza said he “didn’t even have to break a sweat” in progressing through to the Grand Final in straight sets.

The second semi-final was a repeat of last year’s semi-final in the ‘Battle of James’’. Last year saw James Garside win the battle with James Hodgetts but Hodgetts was vying for revenge and said he was “much improved”. His improvement was shown in the opening few points with James Hodgetts leading 6-1, at one point, in the first set but Garside never gave up and fought back to win the match and reach the Grand Final for the second successive time.

Grand Final

This meant that it was a repeat of last year’s final with Mr de Souza looking to defend his title. However, he found himself immediately on the back foot losing 6-1 after the first seven points of the opening set. Pressure hadn’t got to him, had it? No not the defending champion. James Garside had enough to see out the first set but the 2^nd set was much closer with both players finding it hard to break the opposition’s serve. Garside kept his composure and forced Mr de Souza to be defensive in the final points of the match but Garside had too much for the PE teacher and took the crown and title of ‘CHS Table Tennis Champion’.

After the final, Mr de Souza said he was “really pleased” for James who thoroughly deserved the title. Although, I am sure inside he was a little gutted. The champion described winning as “brilliant”.

Well done James!

Interviews to follow.

Written by Adam Bailey

BREAKING NEWS: UNDER 15 GIRLS SEMI-FINAL POSTPONED

BREAKING NEWS: Under 15 Girls Semi-Final Postponed

If you were planning to go to Congleton Town Football Club’s ground on Wednesday to support CHS’ under 15 girls in their national semi-final then you are going to have to change your plans. As, unfortunately, the match has had to be postponed due to circumstances beyond the school’s control.

This gives both teams extra time to prepare and I know CHS have already been working hard and have arranged a training session for Wednesday to get themselves prepared ready for the rearranged fixture. The word from the CHS dressing room is that St. Bede’s, from Blackburn, “won’t know what has hit them”!  

The date for the rescheduled fixture is yet to be confirmed but has soon as I know I will post it on here and remember to follow @PhysEdCHS, on twitter, for updates straight from the PE department.  

Written by Adam Bailey

YEAR 11 GIRLS MAKE THEIR BASKETBALL DEBUT AGAINST KING'S- 13th February

Year 11 Girls Take A Lot of Positives from First Ever Game
 

Tonight (Thursday 13^th February) saw the year 11 girls basketball team welcome a King’s School side, consisting of year 11’s and Sixth Form students. It was always going to be a difficult debut game for CHS who came up against a well organised and well drilled side whereas CHS came into the game after just two training sessions. Considering this CHS did very well.

 

CHS lost the tip-off but soon found themselves on the attack and had the first chance of the game. However, it was King’s who put the first points on the board. King’s extended their lead to 10-0 after some un-organised defending from CHS.  CHS continued to launch attacks with most of them accounting for nothing however a 3-point wonder shot from Emily Hamand saw CHS add their first points to the board. King’s continued to extend their lead despite resilient defending. After a long first quarter for CHS the score was 19-3 to Kings.

 

CHS started the second quarter brightly, counter attacking quickly and effectively. Emily Hockenhull’s two free throws hit the rim, narrowly missing by a few centimetres.  Their brightness prevailed as CHS took their tally to 5 after Jenna Baxter’s jump shot, from close range, found the basket. King’s instantly replied making the score 21-5. However, it wasn’t that for long as Emily Hockenhull reduced the deficit. It looked like she had missed her chance but whilst being shielded by two King’s players she made sure her second attempt didn’t miss. By the end of the second quarter King’s had taken their advantage to 20 points over CHS.

 

Like the 2nd quarter, CHS started the 3rd quarter the better team and Phoebe Plant made sure that it counted with her second attempt triumphant. King’s replied with 5 baskets. CHS had chances in the 3rd quarter including a sequence of shots in the same passage of play which just didn’t fall into the basket. Nicole Taylor made it 11-39 in the final minute of the 3rd quarter but King’s quickly added another to make it 41-11 after the 3rd quarter.
 

King’s stepped up the pace in the final quarter catching CHS on the counter attack which saw King’s score 5 baskets in the opening minutes of the quarter. Phoebe Plant topped off a very good performance from her with her second basket of the match after a quick counter-attack saw Plant run half the court before finishing the move off with a fine jump shot. Was this the start of a late comeback? With less than a minute remaining on the clock it looked unlikely. Nicole Taylor reduced the deficit when she scored a bank shot after her initial shot came off the backboard. At the hooter the final score was 49-15 to King’s.

 

The match was very entertaining and drew much attention from the boys, who spurred the team on! Despite the result, the girls can hold their heads high they had a number of chances and could have easily had at least another 5 baskets. The result definitely isn’t a true reflection as it was not as comfortable as it sounds for King’s. All of CHS’ players can take great credit in their performance as they all worked their socks off. With a few more training sessions they may even give the boys a run for their money! After all, the boys lost to King’s earlier this season before coming back to win the South Cheshire Championships.

Written by Adam Bailey

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY- 26TH FEBRUARY

Date for your Diary- National Semi-Final

Put Wednesday 26th February (Wednesday after half-term) in your diaries as at 7pm CHS’ under 15 girls will play St Bede’s High School from Blackburn with a chance to reach another national final.

The match will be played at Booth Street, the home of Congleton Town FC, and there will be a small entry fee of £1 on the gate.

The girls’ have been performing outstandingly in the competition as have their opponents so let’s make the home advantage count and create an incredible atmosphere for the girls and give them the support they deserve.

I will be there! Will you?

Written by Adam Bailey

TOUGH SEMI-FINAL DRAW FOR UNDER 15 GIRLS

Tough Semi-Final Draw for Under 15 Girls

CHS’ under 15 girls football team discovered tonight who they would face in the semi-finals of the ESFA Cup. They were already guaranteed home advantage after coming out first in their tie and CHS are going to need to use all the advantage they have got.

This is because they will face St Bede’s RC High School from Blackburn, who are the stand-out performers in this competition, after they beat Idsall School 9-0 in their quarter-final. That victory took their tally of goals scored to a remarkable 58 in just 6 games.

St Bede's Road to the Semi-Finals

14-0, 13-1, 10-0, 4-1, 8-2 and 9-0

Preparations are now ongoing both on the training pitch and behind the scenes with CHS hoping to create a great atmosphere for the match with students going to support the girls’ and make the home advantage count.

There will be a full preview to the game against St Bede’s plus a match report and reaction.

Written by Adam Bailey

WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS WEEK- 27th-30th January

News in Brief- 27^th-31^st January

It has been a busy and successful week for CHS’ PE Department.

On Monday PE teacher Mr Cross shared his view on ‘should sport all be about winning’ live on BBC Breakfast.

Football

It was a great win for CHS’ 6th form football team in the Cheshire Cup on Tuesday as they triumphed 6-4 with a star performance from Dale Williamson.

Also the under 15 girls were given a tough semi-final draw against either St Bede’s RC High School from Blackburn or Idsall School from Telford but the tie will be staged at home.

Rugby

Thursday also saw CHS’ year 9 rugby team experience a “learning curve”, in only their second match, following a 35-5 defeat to Priestnall High School despite the team playing superbly well. They showed great spirit at the end, scoring a superb try.

Hockey

On Thursday, the year 7 Hockey team were runners up in a hockey tournament.

Athletics

Congratulations to the Year 8 Boys who are South Cheshire Sports Hall Athletics Champions! They will now go to the Cheshire final.

Basketball

The under 16 basketball team showed Eaton Bank why they were crowned South Cheshire Champions after they beat their close rival’s by a 38 point difference in a 51-13 win.

Then on Friday, the year 11 boys beat the year 11 girls (see below post for full report).

Written by Adam Bailey

BOYS TAKE ON THE GIRLS IN BASKETBALL- 31st January

Boys take on the Girls in Basketball

Fresh from a 38 point win against Eaton Bank’s basketball team on Thursday night, the year 11 boys went face to face with the year 11 girls in a basketball match.

Before the match, both sides went through their paces in several training drills before the girls’ had a chance to see the boy’s in match action as the year 11 boys played the year 10 boys in a training match, which saw the year 11 boys triumph.

Then came the showpiece, the match the gathered crowds had come to see. The opening minutes were as expected a one-sided game with the boys 6-0 ahead within a few minutes of the start. However, the girls replied and got their first basket on the board following a good, first attack which was finished off coolly by Louise Forster. Tom Spender then restored the boys’ 3 basket lead following a quick attack to make it 8-2. Danny Ihoya then made it 12-2 following two free-throws. The first head-to-head match finished 12-2.

In the next two head-to-head’s the boys comfortably triumphed in both being one sided games  with the girls’ not registering a basket.

The boys hate losing to the girls and the girls hate losing to the boys and this was shown through some fierce battles on the court with Emily Hamand reigning triumphant with her battle with Harry Holland. She denied Holland a shooting opportunity following some strong defending and had him rooted to the spot after stealing the ball from his hands. Another battle resulted in Phoebe Plant and Jay Mceeler lying on top of each other!

The girls’ effort was outstanding despite them being large outsiders for the matches and they will take a lot of positives ahead of their first fixture against King’s next Thursday.

Written by Adam Bailey