The 2024 season has started tremendously for Park House Sport, as always we have high numbers attending a range of our extra- curricular clubs. This term we focus on district girls football, boys rugby with national and county cup football fixtures. Interspersed this term we’ll also have a number of badminton festivals, a footgolf competition and continuing our link with Reading Rockets there will be a number of Reading League basketball fixtures.

Within the three weeks since school returned, Park House have fulfilled fifteen fixtures. The Year 8 girls kicked started this off playing St Gabriel's A and Theale in football. They built on their game play from last year having some good linking passes and a solid defense worked hard to clear the ball and stop any attackers which meant they kept St Gab's to a 0-0 draw. Their second game they beat Theale 1-0 with a great break away goal. The two Year 7 girls teams started their Park House sporting journey off with a win and loss for the A team and the Bs followed suit with one win and two losses. Lastly, the Year 9 girls continued from last year with great numbers and played three games with varying results, they won against Theale, drew against Trinity and lost to the St Barts A team.

Rugby Seniors

Our senior rugby players have trained superbly through term six, the summer holidays and since our return. After a keenly fought internal game, we now look forward to regular Wednesday fixtures each week and a tour to the rugby stronghold of Gloucester in October! The first round of fixtures have started well with 12-0 and 8-0 wins over Leighton Park School and Claires Court School. We are incredibly excited to see how this season plays out for this committed and talented group.

Rugby National Cup

Year 10 boys kicked off their campaign with an away trip to Court Moor School. Played in what was near perfect conditions on a brand new pitch, the boys demonstrated a scintillating style of play. Up against a significantly bigger team in size, the Year 10s boast an array of ball carriers that can trouble any defence. After weathering the early storm from Court Moors’ bulky ball carriers with some fine defence, the boys eased through the gears and their superior speed, fitness and handling skills saw them run in some excellent tries. A very hard fought 46-0 win is how I would describe the game with us getting away in the latter stages. A special mention for the front row who showed incredible resilience against heavier opponents and provided a great platform for the flowing rugby that followed. We head into the next round and potentially a trip to Marlborough College!

Rugby 7-9

We have kicked off the term by combining Rugby training for all year groups on a Friday night. Just a few weeks in, this has proved to be hugely popular and enables all students to feel a sense of camaraderie and belonging, over 100 boys participating in training. Fixtures are going to be coming up thick and fast in the coming weeks. It has been very exciting to get all students back involved as we look forward to seeing what the season brings.

Basketball

Basketball has started very well this term with lots of opportunities for training sessions, which are on Tuesday and Thursdays at lunch times and afterschool, with our Reading Rockets external coach. The Year 7-10 girls team kicked off our basketball fixtures with a friendly game against Downe House. There were 9 girls that attended with three Year 7s playing against Year 11s on the opposition team, the girls managed to put up some great defence against Downe House, including making the opposition score in our basket making us 2-0 up in the first two minutes. We had some great shots from Misha (Year 10) and Georgie (Year 8) in particular, but unfortunately Downe House fought back against our defensive strategies and ended up taking the win.