Taylorian

56

TAYLORIAN 2024 HOCKEY

2nd XI

P: 10 / W: 6 / D: 1 / L: 3 / F-A: 36-15 / GD: 21 When an early-season match against Reed’s ended as a disappointing draw having conceded an equaliser in the final thirty seconds, I must admit that I did not anticipate the resolve the team would demonstrate to overcome such a harrowing start. Indeed, the 2nd XI won their last six in a row to finish on a high. Ten different players scooped the Player of the Match award, and the team scored a staggering thirty-seven goals. Their efforts, enthusiasm and versatility enabled us to play with two different systems and maximise our attacking output. As a result, the Top Goal Scorer prize was jointly won by two players who scored eight goals each: Luca McCormick and Kyle Shah. The Players’ Player of the Season and the Most Improved Player were also hotly contested. Kyle and Luca were in the mix; Ollie Davies came up from the 3rd XI and scored six goals; George Killigrew grew into the central midfield role brilliantly, dominating games in the second half of the season; our goalkeeper, Louis Rosenbaum, was a rock behind the defence. Ultimately, the Players’ Player of the Season went to one of

season has been unparalleled; I would like to thank him wholeheartedly and wish him all the best in life beyond MTS. Miss E. K. Trafford A. Bettridge (Capt.), R. Bhasin, G. Dalton, O. Davies, K. Dixit, T. Embleton, J. Ives, G. Killigrew, K. Mangat, L. McCormick, U. Otibo, Y. Parwez, L. Rosenbaum, C. Schraut, K. Shah, R. Shah, O. Shaikh.

our Upper Sixth Formers, whose pace and composure we will sorely miss next year: Urijah Otibo. The prize for Most Improved Player of the Season went to Krish Dixit for his ability to pick locks in well-drilled opposition defences. The award for Clubman, or Coach’s Player of the Season, was given to captain Austen Bettridge. His commitment to the team this