Sports Highlights Week 3 2026

Unfortunately, the opening match against Winchester House was one where the surroundings were considerably more impressive than our rugby! It was clear that Winchester House had already had a festival under their belts, while we were a little rusty. We struggled at the breakdown, made some very basic errors and, most importantly, didn’t quite produce the effort and intensity that we know this group is capable of. They were the better team and just about did enough to beat us after a fortuitous heading off the ball into his teammates hands for the only score in the game.

So, we had a few words. We discussed what we expect from each other as a team and, perhaps more importantly, what the boys should expect from themselves when they pull on the Beacon shirt. What followed for the rest of the afternoon was a brilliant turn around with some breathtaking rugby at times.

The players suddenly looked like a completely different team. Powerful running, excellent decision-making, fearless tackling and some brilliant individual tries were all on display. Players began to back themselves, support each other and, most importantly, work incredibly hard for the team. The result? They won their next 4 matches! The rugby continued to improve with every game, and there were passages of play where the boys moved the ball, attacked space and defended with an intensity that was fantastic to watch. There was a real sense that they had discovered what they were capable of — and once they did, there was no looking back.

During the festival we talked about the famous “carrot and stick” metaphor. The players were asked which they thought worked better for them. There was a surprisingly unanimous response… the stick! What it really showed was that this group responds incredibly well when challenged and when expectations are made clear. They certainly showed that they can play some outstanding rugby when they meet those expectations.

A fantastic afternoon in a fantastic setting, and a brilliant response from the players after a disappointing start.

Team were Sebi W, Harley G, Barney K, Peter C, Jack W, Macsen T, Hamish M, Bertie H, Edward B, Teddy S-S, Quinn R, Hendrix K

Reported by Mr Robinson

The Under 8A tag rugby team made an excellent start to the rugby term with a very impressive performance!

The players ran some fantastic lines and showed great awareness in attack, scoring an excellent eight tries in their first match of the year. They supported and encouraged one another throughout, demonstrating a strong team spirit and a real willingness to work for each other.

I was particularly impressed by their tenacity when tagging the opposition, with everyone showing determination and enthusiasm. It was an excellent all-round performance and a very encouraging start to the season.

Well done to Elliott O, Areiss R, Eliot N, Wolfy C, Rafa M, Dylan S and Axe T on a great performance.

Reported by Mr Winter

There are some matches where you simply know that something special is beginning. For the U8D1s, their very first ever match for the school felt a little like arriving at Hogwarts for the first time — slightly nervous, incredibly excited, and not quite sure what magical adventures were about to unfold! But once the whistle blew, the magic began…

Zach B was simply impossible to catch! Zach weaved, dodged and disappeared past defenders like he had discovered a particularly powerful invisibility cloak. Two excellent tries were the reward for some wonderfully elusive running.

Dhillon B seemed to believe that the ball was his personal wand! Whenever it was available, Dhillon wanted it in his hands, and he wasn’t afraid to take responsibility. He was rewarded with a well-deserved try.

Next came Kavan, who seemed to have been supplied with a pair of enchanted trainers. His support play was excellent, his pace caused all sorts of problems and he finished some fantastic tries. His dive for the corner was particularly impressive — definitely worthy of a place in the Hogwarts Quidditch team!

Marcelo was the team’s defensive wizard. He worked tirelessly, organised those around him and showed great awareness of where he needed to be. A brilliant performance from a player who was always looking to help his teammates.

Shyam S was everywhere! He produced some excellent runs, was always available to support his teammates and, importantly, made some very good decisions when the ball was in his hands. A calm head amongst the chaos of the magic!

And then came Zack S – Zackus Thunderbolt!

From the restart, Zack picked up the ball and decided that there was only one thing to do — GO! He set off on an amazing solo run, leaving defenders in his magical dust before racing over the line. A fantastic individual try and certainly one that will live long in the memories of the U8D1s.

By the end, the scoreboard read Beacon 9 – 2 UCL, but the score only tells part of the story.

What was most impressive was the teamwork, enthusiasm and sportsmanship shown by the team throughout. There were, of course, a few mysterious referee decisions along the way, some parents were amazed how blind I was with some of the advantages that were played— some might even say there was a touch of Dark Magic involved — but thankfully the players took everything in the spirit of the game and continued to enjoy themselves.

And before anyone starts writing to the Department of Magical Matches, I should point out that I was only the referee! The real plaudits must go to Professor Barnettus, ( Mr Barnett) whose fantastic coaching has clearly cast the right spells on this group in a very short period of time.

For these players, this was just the beginning. Their first ever school match. Their first taste of representing The Beacon. Their first win… and nine tries to celebrate!

There is plenty still to learn, but if the enthusiasm, teamwork and enjoyment shown in this first match are anything to go by, there are some very exciting times ahead for the U8D1s. Next stop… Habs away! The next adventure awaits, and I have a feeling that the bus is going to be bouncing all the way there.

Well done, U8D1 — your magical journey has officially begun!

Reported by Mr Robinson

The Beacon U10A Hockey team welcomed Gayhurst School to The Beacon for two competitive fixtures against their U10A and U10B teams.

Our first match against the Gayhurst U10A side was a tough and competitive encounter. The team showed excellent teamwork, determination and togetherness throughout, with some impressive passages of play. Hugo produced an unbelievable save in goal to keep us in the game and demonstrated excellent bravery and reactions. Despite a strong team effort, Gayhurst proved difficult opponents and we eventually lost the match 4–0.

The team responded brilliantly in the second fixture against Gayhurst U10B. After identifying the effectiveness of their high press, we adapted our game plan and looked to play longer passes through their midfield line, allowing us to bypass the pressure and create more space in attack. This tactical change made a real difference, and the players produced a confident and composed performance.

The result was a fantastic 4–0 victory, with the whole team contributing to a much-improved performance. It was particularly pleasing to see the players reflect on the first match, make changes and then put those changes into practice.

A great afternoon of hockey, with plenty of positives to take forward — particularly the team’s resilience and ability to adapt during games.

Team: Amrit O, Aaran A, Khian V, Hugo H, August P-S, Tom B, Max M, Arlo C, Reyan S

Reported by Mr Harris 

The Beacon U10B hockey team put in a fantastic performance against Gayhurst School, coming away with an 11-7 Win. It was a thoroughly deserved result after a game full of energy, teamwork and determination from start to finish.

From the opening whistle, The Beacon started brightly and quickly put Gayhurst under pressure. The team made some great tackles and stuck to their positions really well. This led to the U10B’s making several good attacking opportunities. Their striking was sharp and the players showed great awareness to support one another and keep possession. This determination paid off as the team found the back of the net multiple times scoring 11 goals. Although we conceded 7, everyone came off the pitch feeling proud of how they had played.

It was a well-earned Victory showing just how much the U10B team is developing. The players should be very proud of their performance, particularly their teamwork and positive attitude throughout the match.

Final Score: The Beacon 11-7 Gayhurst School.

Reported by Mr Wright

The Beacon U10s enjoyed a fantastic first outing of the season at the rugby festival hosted by Stowe School. On a beautiful sunny day, the players made the most of the superb grounds and produced an encouraging performance throughout the afternoon.

Playing five matches against some excellent opposition, the team grew in confidence and improved with every game. They began the festival with a hard fought 5–3 victory over Dragon, before drawing 2–2 with Bedford. The team then produced a strong performance against Caldicott, winning 2–0, followed by a narrow 1–0 defeat to Winchester House. They finished the festival in style with an exciting 3–2 victory over Warwick.

Across the five matches, The Beacon recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat, scoring 12 tries in the process. More importantly, the players showed great teamwork and enthusiasm throughout. They listened, adapted and made noticeable progress as the festival went on, with every player contributing.

It was fantastic to see the team enjoying their rugby, supporting one another and playing their hearts out. A very encouraging start to the season and plenty to build on as the year progresses.

Beacon U10 Team: Finn A, Kian F, Mateo G, Charlie G, Thomas M, Dion T, Oliver H, Gethin W and Guy B

Festival Record: Played 5 | Won 3 | Drew 1 | Lost 1

Reported by Mr Barnett