On Sunday, our under 11 boys we’re split into Year 5 and 6 teams to compete in Chelsea Academy’s 3v3 football invitational tournament at NIST. Both teams entered the Year 6 competition.

The Year 6 team were placed in a ‘Group of Death’ featuring St Andrews 71’s ‘A-Team’ and Chelsea Academy’s ‘A-Team’. After drawing the first game 2-2 against Chelsea (the eventual tournament winners), the Year 6 team won their next game 6-4, against St Andrews 71, to move into the quarter final of the cup competition. Unfortunately, after a tight game, the Year 6 boys lost 4-3 to Bravo Football Academy.

Having not been behind, in the game, until the very last minute, it was a heart-breaking defeat for the valiant Bulldogs. After dazzling during the group stages, they had shown enough potential to suggest that they were good enough to be crowned champions. Sadly, it was not to be!

Playing against older opposition, the Year 5 team were also outstanding! Despite losing their first two games, against Bangna Academy and The Power Academy by single goals (1-0 and 4-3), the Year 5s displayed fantastic resilience to bounce back in order to beat St Andrews 71’s ‘C-Team’ 3-2. Finishing in third place, they qualified for the plate competition.

In an astonishing display of passing football, the young Bulldogs demolished the CUD ‘B’ Academy team 8-1 in the quarter-final to set up a plate semi-final meeting with NIST’s Year 6 ‘A’ team. Unfortunately, this was one game too far for the battling Year 5s as they succumbed to a 6-3 defeat.

Both teams performed brilliantly all morning and were a joy to watch.

Simon Callow
Year 6 Teacher and Primary School Numeracy Coordinator