Thanks once more to Roger for supplying the following account of this year’s tournament:
The wind blew furiously and kept the rain away last Wednesday 22 June at Filsham Valley School where the annual 7-a-side soccer tournament between schools associated with the Hastings partnership with Sierra Leone took place.
In the four years that this contest has been staged there has never been a climax to compare with the boys’ final this year. After the preliminary Group matches Little Ridge A and St Paul’s battled it out for top place. The football was of an outstandingly high quality – no kick and rush here. Sensible man-to-man marking and skilful running and passing, coupled with brilliant goal-keeping, provided an attractive and hard-fought game and a 0-0 scoreline. Extra time produced no deciding goal and with the score still at 0-0 it was five penalties each. Several minutes of nail-biting for supporters found the score at 3-3. So a sudden death finale it had to be. Little Ridge emerged triumphant and the crowd felt huge sympathy for St Paul’s who had fought so valiantly and lost by little more than chance.
In the girl’s tournament Blacklands overcame all their opponents to claim the crown for the second year running. The girls from St Mary Star of the Sea were runners-up.
Other schools taking part were St Leonards, Christ Church and Elphinstone.
As in previous years the tournament was organised with enthusiasm and skill by Teresa Bennett and colleagues from Filsham Valley School, assisted by members of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Community Sports team and Active Hastings. Students from the School’s Sports Leaders cadre provided all the officials. The added bonus this year was the presence, not only of our Sierra Leonean friends living in London, but of the party of teachers from our Twin Town of Hastings in Sierra Leone who were here for an exchange visit funded by the British Council.
In his introduction to the competition Roger Mitchell, who organises the schools links, welcomed all the visitors and thanked the Headteacher of Filsham Valley School and all those who made it possible – not least those in Filsham Valley and our visitors from London who provided ample refreshment for the large number of spectators. In introducing the Mayor he thanked her for attending and for presenting the trophies and medals.
Results. Boys 1st Little Ridge A; 2nd St Paul’s; 3rd St Leonards; 4th Blacklands; 5th equal Christ Church and St Mary’s; 7th Little Ridge B; 8th Elphinstone.
Girls 1st Blacklands; 2nd St Mary’s; 3rd St Paul’s; 4th Little Ridge; 5th St Leonards.
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