Long Road sports stars qualify for AoC Sport National Championships
College sport is starting to get some normality back again with the AoC Sport league, cup and regional tournaments returning this academic year. We are pleased to confirm that we have a strong contingent of sports students who have successfully qualified for the National Championships and will be representing Long Road Sixth Form as well as the Eastern Region.
First up to qualify was the Women’s Football team. They managed to top their group by beating Easton College 3 – 1, East Norfolk Sixth Form 2 – 0 before finishing with a 2 – 2 draw with Hills Road. They then met the other group runners up Peterborough Regional College in the semi-finals. It was a very physical contest but Long Road managed to prevail with a 3 – 1 win and progressed to the final. In the final they were up against SEEVIC College who won the previous regional tournament to progress to Nationals before the pandemic. In a very tight, even game, Long Road scored the only goal just before half time to win the match 1- 0 and be crowned Eastern Region Champions.
On the same day there was more success as Julija Konahina managed to come 3rd in the regional Women’s Table Tennis event and joined 1st and 2nd place competitors to represent the region at the National Championships.
Next to qualify was Laura Stephens and Freya Smith. The 2 girl’s will be part of the Women’s Rugby Eastern Region team to compete at the Nationals. The regional team is selected by colleges from the East putting forward nominations for a trial. A squad of 15 is then selected to make the Women’s Rugby 7’s squad.
The final addition to the Long Road competitors going to Nationals were the Men’s Basketball Academy. The guys won the last regional tournament but sadly due to the pandemic were not able to go to the 2020 National Championships. The Basketball Academy managed to remain unbeaten for the whole tournament winning all their group games beating USP, Peterborough Regional College and College of West Anglia. In the semi-finals they were up against Hills Road Sixth Form. It was always going to be a difficult game against local rivals but Long Road prevailed to the final where they would come up against College of West Anglia again from the earlier group. In an incredibly tight back and forth final, Long Road finally secured the victory in triple overtime.
We wish the Women’s Football team, Men’s Basketball Academy team, Julija (Women’s Table Tennis), Laura Stephens and Freya Smith (Women’s Rugby) the best of luck at the AoC Sport National championships which will be held at the University of Nottingham in April 2022.
