The 2024/25 season has been exceptional in terms of schools attending festivals and the overall development of players. Most years we struggle to get players contact ready by festival 6, this year all schools are contact ready by festival 4. Huge applause to coaches, teachers and players.
All teams are competitive which hopefully means that the championship will be decided on the last day of the competition.
8 teams battled it out on a chilly but dry Wednesday afternoon in South London.
Bacons College were as usual the first to arrive and faced current champions St Michaels in the first round. A 2 – 2 draw got the festival underway, it will be interesting to see how St Michaels take to contact in the next festival (after forgetting mouthguards this time round).
The battle of the Haberdashers went to Borough as they pipped Hatcham 2 – 1 in the opening game.
Charter Bermondsey acquitted themselves very well against Sacred Heart who tend to improve hugely as soon as the festivals enter the contact phase. Sacred Heart prevailing 4 – 2
Harris Academy might suit a slightly wider pitch as their elusive runners found it difficult to get going against the more direct ARK Allsaints. ARK winning 1 – 0
Highlights of round 2 saw Charter getting their first win of the season with a 2 – 1 against Hatcham, ARK Allsaints prevailing over Bacons in a high scoring 6 – 4 and St Michaels quietly going about their business with a 2 – 0 over Borough.
Round 3 saw Bacons on the receiving end of another 6 – 4 defeat at the hands of Sacred Heart and Harris picking up their first win of the day against Hatcham (3-2). St Michaels beat Charter 3 – 2 to make it an unbeaten day.
The table has yet to be updated but it’s going to be close.
