Spirit Day – October 2021

Each year we focus on a number of school events to support, including sport, drama, music and art, inspiring the pupils involved to perform as well as they can and creating an atmosphere of inclusivity, where we remind ourselves of the pride we have in our school and the support we have for each other.

This was the first Spirit Day  held since before the pandemic began and  saw our senior hockey girls and rugby boys playing matches against Llandovery College to round off a very busy half term.

As well as the action on the sports fields,  there was plenty on offer for spectators and pupils alike. Around the school there were  games stalls, competitions, mural creations and face painting. The Spirit Day saw the return of the  popular Hot Dog stand which was  joined this time by a fresh pizza stall, barista coffee van and amazing ice cream creations  from the ice cream van.

It was great to see so many parents, past pupils and friends of teh school supporting the pupils. We look forward to seeing everybody again at the the next Spirit Day in February.

Girls Hockey v Llandovery  : Match Report by Head Coach – Chris Marriott

In a fixture in which CCB traditionally dominate, it is totally fair to say that we are having to keep working hard to stay on top of an ever improving Llandovery team led and inspired by their coach Clare Flowers.

With a sizeable crowd on the sidelines, in numbers alien to the hockey girls, it was perhaps inevitable that the team was not able to play with the freedom and expression that characterises their hockey, and in fact the visitors got their noses ahead with a well executed penalty corner routine.

The goals was perhaps the wake up call that the CCB girls needed and although not always playing at the standard that they regularly display,  they started to dominate proceedings, limiting the hosts to sporadic counter-attack opportunities, led by their ever dangerous captain Ffion. Two goals for CCB quickly settled the nerves a little however, and the girls in green and gold never really looked like losing the game.

Despite their continued pressure, and multiple penalty corner opportunities, CCB were unable to add to their tally, denied on so many occasions by the Llandovery keeper who made some acrobatic saves low down. Final Score : CCB 2 – LC 1

Whilst not perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing match for the crowd, sometimes in big matches the result is the most important thing and the girls were happy to have come away with the win and after their debrief and cool down, went off with satisfaction and perhaps a little relief to meet friends and parents and then to support their rugby counterparts in their match against the same opponents.

Boys 1st XV Rugby vs Llandovery Development  : Match Report – Head Coach Dan Parry

The  return of the fixture under new guidance brought  a new and exciting competitive brand of free flowing rugby. With the biggest crowd this season, and faces old and new watching on from the sidelines , there was an energetic buzz around the school. It was the toughest game to date that we had played, and Llandovery’s elusive runners posed a real threat to our side. Their strong physical pack also posed a different challenge to what we had come up against this year so far.

We took the lead in the first half after a fiery and cagey start to the game. We bundled our way over the try line with a very patient build up from our forward pack. Owen C was the man to get up from crossing the white wash. He was a stand out ball carrier on the day and  claim his first try ,with Jack G. and his reliable boot adding the extras. 

The visitors were soon to respond with a try and conversion of their own, scored by some elusive running from their fleet footed fullback. Despite their continued pressure, we were able to hold the visitors at bay and provide them with some of our own pressure. This  provided us with our second try of the day ( Iwan C)  with some great inter play from our forwards.

With the game being played in a great spirit and free flowing style, the game was end to end an exciting match to watch. Llandovery capitalised on one of our errors to exploit a missing link in our defence. Yet again it was their elusive 15 and substitute 23 who cut us open and put their team level.

With the pressure building against us, our discipline let us down a yellow card, and a penalty was awarded within kicking range. Llandovery went for the posts and took the lead 15-12.

As the game went on  you could see the nerves on the players faces, but the boys stuck to their system and continued to play. We continued to break through with our strong powerful runners. With some great handling skills and tough running lines, we crossed the line once more to regain the lead and victory. Owen C.’s very strong run off the shoulder of his team mate, saw him cross for his second try of the day, in a stand out performance by the Christ College Number 8. Final Score CCB: 19 – LC (Dev) :15

End to end expansive rugby was played, with both sets of coaches, supporters and players enjoying the day in great spirits. This was a day that has been a long time coming and was played in all the right ways. Our thanks  go to  Nathan Thomas and the Llandovery team for the great game of rugby and  for working  with us to get this great historical fixture back underway.

One  sentence that will stick with me from this day, came from a junior pupil who will in the future be involved in this fixture – “I’ve wanted to play or be involved in this fixture since I was in St Nicholas House”.