10.1 – Y5 basketball tournament at Ashington Leisure Centre

As part of the on-going Hoops for Health programme we are running with our current Y5s, we took 2 teams to this 5-a-side event. Both teams played 6 group games which led to final league standings. Team 2 had a mixed set of results which unfortunately kept them out of the play-off games. However, they played some decent basketball creating plenty of shooting chances and were strong in defense. Baskets from Ollie Mather and Daniel Bolton.

Team 1 had an exceptional tournament and thanks to fantastic team play throughout the full squad, creating attack after attack in each game, they won all their group stage games. This then led to 2 further play-off games in which they continued to play in the same superb style and subsequently won both of these games as well. Baskets from Ben Hewitt (10), Adrian Swinglehurst (5), Mark Wales (3), Jasmine Rochester (3), and Chloe Coward.

Very well done to all our players and good luck to Team 1 who have now qualified to play in the Area Finals at the Newcastle Eagles game on the evening of Friday 3rd February. Free tickets available for any pupils who want to go and support both our team and the Eagles!

The 2 squads:

1			2
5D	Ben	BELSHAW	5D	Daniel	BOLTON
5P	Chloe	COWARD	5D	William	GARBUTT
5P	Ben	HEWITT	5D	Kate	KENNEDY
5P	Jasmine	ROCHESTER	5P	Isabel	DAVIDSON
5P	Adrian	SWINGLEHURST	5P	Eva	SMYLIE
5T	Charlie	LOWES	5T	Jack	DINNING
5T	Mark	WALES	5T	Adam	LEATHERLAND
			5T	Oliver	MATHER

 

17.1 – County Cross Country at Temple Park

19 of our 24 athletes that we took to the Area Cross Country qualified for this stage which is definitely our highest number, so firstly they must all be congratulated for that fantastic achievement. The conditions were fantastic for cross county running and our athletes rose to the occasion in which they gave it their all in their respective races. Special mention goes to Orla Callaghan (15th), James McConnell (9th); and Ben Walker (4th, racing against Y9s!) who all qualified for the Inter-Counties on 4th Feb in Cumbria.

Full team:

7B	Bella	Deacon	8B	Rebecca	Bradley
7J	Izzy	Bird	8B	Fay	Smith
7J	Fran	Takher	8C	Charlie	Lane
7J	Matty	Walton	8C	Ben	Waterfield
7R	Ollie	Bruce	8SW	Ellie	Dandie
7R	Orla	Callaghan	8SW	Aidan	McInally
7R	Molly	Ions	8SW	Laura	Stevenson
7R	Lola	Jackson	8U	Dylan	Gooding
7R	James	McConnell	8U	Ben	Walker
7R	Roan	Parker

 

18.1 – Y7 B-team National Cup Round 5, away at St John Fisher School, Harrogate

The glamour of the National Cup finally came to an end in round 5 for this team who have stayed in the competition longer than any other Newminster team. So for that, very well done! The boys certainly enjoyed the two hour bus journey down, signing all the way! On arrival they were slightly overawed by the prestigious school, but it was the poor quality pitch that the team struggled with most. The pitch was very boggy and the ball was heavy, so we found it hard to clear our lines, which meant we were under immense pressure for most of the game. We went in at half time 4-0 down and at that point we could have easily given up, but I must gave the team fantastic credit for a much better, rallying performance in the second half when they were much the better team, working hard in defense and creating some dangerous attacking moves. It was bitterly disappointing for me that they didn’t get at least one goal that they thoroughly deserved and were caught twice on a quick counter attack, ending the game at 6-0. However, the boys soon shook off the disappointment with the memories of a superb cup run. And then sang all the way home as well!

Full squad:

7B	Chris Johnstone
7B	Dan Walker
7B	Evan Logan
7B	Joe Lennox
7B	Josh Morina
7J	Joe Hardy
7J	Joe Cromar
7J	Ethan Young
7R	Alfie Clarke
7R	Kieran Edwards
7R	Finlay Keith
7R	Tom Mckenna
7R	Harvey Gillie
7W	Karun Kahlon

 

20.1 – Sportshall Athletics at Chantry

Well done to all our athletes that took part in this competition. In the morning our KS2 team competed against our partnership schools. Our team was a good mix of Y5 and Y6s competing against full Y6 teams and after the complete set of running, jumping and throwing events I was extremely pleased to see our team earn second place. A great achievement by all our athletes and a fantastic effort for our Y5s who will take this experience into next years competition.

Team:

5D	Kate	Kennedy
5P	Ben	Hewitt
5P	Adrian	Swinglehurst
5T	Daisy	Jackson
5T	Hailie	Kidd
5T	Charlie	Lowes
5T	Mark	Wales
5W	Holly	Brind
5W	Max	Bultitude
5W	Lucas	Kidd
6F	James	Ash
6F	Harry	Boag
6F	Ruby	Houseman-Wilkinson
6F	Ava	Nevins
6F	Dylan	Walker
6J	Leonas	Engelhardt
6M	Sophia	Cunningham
6M	Erin	Johnstone
6P	Olivia	Gent
6P	Katherine	Hedley
6P	Hope	Hedley
6P	Molly	Waddington

The afternoon session saw the turn of our Y7 and Y8 athletes in their respective competitions. The pupils once again competed to a very high standard, with some exceptional individual and team results. The pupils then had an agonizing wait to find out the results as the competition overran and some schools had to leave before the results were announced. I can now confirm that out Y7 and Y8 girls teams both finished in a very respectable second place and the boys went one better and both our Y7 and Y8 boys won their event and will now represent the Area at the Finals on 17th March at Morpeth Leisure Centre. Well done to all!

Teams:

7B	Bella	Deacon	8B	Rebecca	Bradley
7B	Josh	Grenfell	8B	Rhianna	Brennan-Davies
7B	Tom	Wales	8B	Theo	Brown
7J	Izzy	Bird	8B	James	Herron
7J	Lucy	McConnell	8B	Fay	Smith
7J	Fran	Takher	8C	Fergus	Barclay
7J	Matty	Walton	8C	Ava	Da Costa
7R	Eadie	Barakat	8C	Ellie	Dandie
7R	Ollie	Bruce	8C	Charlie	Lane
7R	Orla	Callaghan	8C	Dan	Lloyd
7R	Emma	Gerrard	8C	Ben	Waterfield
7R	Harvey	Gillie	8SW	Ben	Loknes
7R	Lola	Jackson	8SW	Ellie	Scrowther
7R	James	McConnell	8SW	Maia	Smith
7W	Ollie	Crooks	8SW	Laura	Stevenson
			8U	Danny	Dowd

 

20.1 – School trip to the Newcastle Eagles game v Worcester Wolves

We took our highest number of pupils on this annual trip and considering we had 64 pupils at the Sport Central stadium, can I congratulate each and everyone of them for their impeccable behaviour and organisation throughout. Unfortunately the Eagles couldn’t quite replicate this in their performance with only their 3rd defeat of the season, but our pupils didn’t seem to mind too much and thoroughly enjoyed the night.

A reminder that our Y5 team have qualified to play at this same venue on Friday 3rd before the Eagles next home game. All of Newminster pupils are entitled to free tickets for all of this and need to come to see me if they require one.

 

23.01 – National Cup: Newminster U12 v NSB

On bright but chilly afternoon at Red House Farm FC, Newminster U12’s produced one of the performances of the season against NSB in the National cup. With a full strength squad fresh after their winter break, Newminster dominated the game from start to finish. First half goals from James McConnell 2, Tom Wales, captain Ollie Bruce, Georgio La Rosa 2 and an own goal put Newminster 7-0 up at half time. Not content to sit back in the second half Newminster quickly got back into their groove with more goals from Josh Grenfell, another goal a piece from Ollie Bruce and James McConnell and 4 from Lucy McConnell who came on as a second half substitute to terrorise the NSB defence.

Final score – NSB 0 Newminster 14

Performance of the match for an unstoppable second half performance awarded to Lucy McConnell.

26.01 – County Cup: Newminster U12 V Heaton Manor

On a freezing cold afternoon in the east of Newcastle our U12’s took on Heaton Manor in the 4th round of the county cup. After a very even start to the game it looked like it would be Heaton who would take the lead when they were awarded a very dubious penalty. Fortunately for Newminster, Dan McConnell in goal did enough to put the Heaton striker off and the penalty was blasted over the bar. Newminster grew into the game as the half went on and created a handful of chances but unfortunately we’re unable to hit the back of the net. With the scores level at half time, the half time talk was more of the same, playing through the middle and running at Heaton’s centre backs. Midway through the second half it was the Newcastle side who struck first against the run of play. A deflected shot from outside the Newminster box squirmed its way into the back of the net. Newminster dominated the majority of the second half playing some fantastic football and at the same time, keeping their heads against some very short tempered opponents. Unfortunately, for all the possession and hard work, Newminster were unable to find that vital equaliser but still came away with their heads held high after a very hard fought cup tie. Final score – Heaton Manor 1 Newminster 0. Performance of the game awarded to the team as a whole for their ‘never give up’ attitude in freezing conditions.

U12 Squad

Dan McConnell 7W

Josh Armsworth 7B

Ollie Bruce 7R

Matthew Walton 7J

Tom Wales 7B

Louie Gourlay 7W

James McConnell 7R

Giorgio La Rosa 7W

Josh Grenfell 7B

Roan Parker 7R

Finlay Coulson 7W

Orla Callaghan 7R

Lucy McConnell 7J

26.1.17 – Y8 Basketball tournament at Chantry

Our squad of 9 performed extremely well in this very high standard competition. They created many shooting chances and were very strong in defense in every one of their 5 games. The lads will be the first to admit they unfortunately lacked in shooting accuracy which, in a seven minute game, was the deciding factor in most of their games. Despite the results their attitude and commitment stayed very positive throughout and deserved a victory in their final group stage game against Rothbury. Well done to all:

8B	Joe	Berry
8B	Theo	Brown
8C	Tom	Holden
8C	Charlie	Lane
8C	Dan	Lloyd
8C	Charlie	Newsome
8C	Ben	Waterfield
8U	Tom	Andrews
8U	Douglas	Robson