13/04/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Basingstoke Bulls 2

Last Sunday, the 1s finished off our season with a game against Basingstoke 2s who made life hard for us, particularly their tall boys! A big fight in the second half saw Rooks eventual 14-12 winners🙌

The opposition MVP and our female MVP was Amy for her movement and making space in attack, great runners and long shots, and her defensive work and partnership!

The male MVP was Max for his hustle (as always), making a difference in defence when he came back on, and brilliant support play in attack!

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and supported on Sunday too - it was great having you cheering us on throughout!

Overall, this result leaves the 1s 5th in Division 1 with 49 points - our highest ever league position as a club and a real testament to the progress everyone has made this year! It's been a really strong season for everyone and I'm a proud captain! Looking forward to next season already

06/04/2025: Reading Rooks 2 v Basingstoke Bulls 3 and Reading Rooks 2 v Southampton Spartans 2

Time for the final match reports for the 2s, after two big games this weekend! First of all I just want to say it’s been a pleasure being captain this season, the hard work across every game paid off in this final weekend 💪🏼

First up was Basingstoke, a game we knew was one to win and we went out fighting! Basingstoke kept us on the edge with a big second half comeback but we snatched it from them! 
MVP was given to Eric for his fantastic shooting & intercepting form. Luke & Stu share team MVP for their energy, dynamic hustle and some lovely goals keeping us in the game. Angie joined the 2s for this weekend kindly helping out and was voted MVP here, 2 beautiful goals, out hustling Basingstoke boys, she did it all 🔥

Next up was Southampton, we started strong but SC found their form and pulled away with some great runners as much as we held them off. Eric takes away team and opposition MVP here for another round of great shooting, defensive play and just keeping his cool around the post as always winning the rebounds! Lucy takes female MVP for her calm presence in defence and attack, popping in some lovely goals and adapting to whoever was defending her to find those goals 😍

Winning the league is a fanatic way to end the season & it’s been a pleasure but that’s all from me now, over and out.

23/03/2025: Reading Rooks 4 v Southampton Spartans 3

Rooks 4s finished off their season in style with an impressive 10-12 victory away at (top of the table) Southampton Spartans 3s on Sunday 👏 The match was was well fought by both sides. It was a tightly scoring game with the lead passed back-and-forth throughout. However, it was Rooks who ran out victorious with a couple of goals right at the death before the team calmly saw the game out!

It was wonderful to see a lot of the skills that we’ve learnt throughout the season on display: front defending, walking the block, shooting and collecting. Alex and I were both really proud of the way that the team stuck to the game plan, made even sweeter with securing victory!

Spartans 3s gave their MVP to Lisa for her fantastic positioning in the collect and her defensive work rate. Congratulation, Lisa, and very well deserved! 🏅

The rooks shared their own kudos after the game, with everyone getting a nomination of some kind! 
Attacking MVP went to Alex L, the team was super impressed with your shooting rate and your 5 goal haul! A perfect demonstration of more shots = more goals, really well done! 👏 
Defensive MVP went to Ellie, the team referencing her relentless work rate culminating in several defended shots that helped to keep Spartans at bay. Amazing work, Ellie, well done! 👏

Rooks 4s finish the season with a winning record: six wins to four losses. 💪 I’d like to thank everyone who has played for the 4s this season. I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we are so proud of the camaraderie, the teamwork, and the desire demonstrated throughout the year. Looking forward to seeing you all at summer training and potentially throughout the summer tournament series.

16/03/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Oxford City 4

Yesterday the 1s continued their winning streak, winning 20-10 against an Oxford City 4 side with some good players and different styles of play! It was a strong team performance and another tough one to vote MVPs on🙌

The opposition MVP was Sion who also shared our male MVP with James! Siôn was nominated for always being switched on to their play, great hustle, taking opportunities at the post, strong rebounding and managing coaching and playing simultaneously, James was nominated for his hustle on the outside, great control, excellent rebounding and driving and an all round strong performance! As testament to how close this poll was, all the boys got at least 1 nomination!

The female MVP went to Becks for her calming presence in attack, strong rebounding, good support play and goals herself, and for spotting and exploiting their weaknesses!

09/03/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Oxford University 1

Last Sunday the 1s faced an Oxford Uni side who have some very strong players - in a high scoring game, Rooks were the eventual winners 26-20! It was a tough one to vote for MVPs on too but the winners are...

The male MVP went to myself - I was nominated for lots of driving at the post, hustle in defence, creating opportunities and for some quick goals. Big thank you all❤

The female MVP went to Penny🌞 for her strong defence, creating opportunities, a great job marking their strong girl, and "being everywhere all the time in attack"!

Oxford Uni gave their MVP to Selby for bringing some calm to the div, fantastic shooting and good defence!

Big congratulations all - another great win! We go again next Sunday at Blue Coat against Oxford City 4s at 12:45 - please come down and support if you can! Looking forward to it!

02/03/2025: Reading Rooks 4 v Guildford Thunder 3 and Reading Rooks 4 v Guildford Thunder 4

It was a Super Sunday for the 4s with a double win! We achieved our largest ever goal tally against Guildford 4s winning 6-20, followed by a more challenging Guildford 3s match, closely tying throughout but we managed to squeeze the win 11-12, with Bora scoring the winning shot in the last 30 seconds!

Opposition MVP for both matches went to Peter who also won male MVP for our second match for his great interceptions, assists and free pass as well as plenty of goals and being very ‘bouncy’! Male MVP for our first match went to Tommy for his good defending of difficult players, constant hard work and willingness to learn

Female MVP for our first match went to me for my consistency and leadership and was split between Laura and Lisa for the second match, both for being great team players and going out of their comfort zones to play matches so soon after learning the sport

Special thanks to all those who played down from the 2s and 3s so the matches could go ahead. Next up is our joint social with the 3s tomorrow!

02/03/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Abingdon Atoms 2

Yesterday the 1s faced off against Abingdon 2s - after a close first half, the 1s pulled away in the second half scoring an incredible 17 goals to win 26-13 overall! This gave us our biggest winning margin of the year and the most goals we've scored in a game all year too - including every player getting on the score sheet at least once🙌

The MVPs were a tough one to vote on this week as everyone played well!

In the end, our male MVP was Selby for his great structure and following the process, instigating many high fives, great shooting and persistence, good rebounding against a much taller boy and generally good vibes!

Our female MVP was Becks for her constant drives and effort in attack, taking the right shots, strong rebounding and support play, and creating lots of opportunities and assists!

Abingdon gave their MVP to Ainhoa for her rebounding, great shots and goals, and her team work!

Our next game is this Sunday away against Oxford Uni.

23/02/2025: Reading Rooks 4 v Guildford Thunder 3 and Reading Rooks 4 v Guildford Thunder 4

Sunday was the first of our three double headers to end the season and it was great having so much support from a home crowd cheering us on! Thank you everyone who stayed to watch and special thanks to Paul who continues to come along and support the 4s and Tom for his managing and coaching

Guildford 3 won 13-18 but we came roaring back to claim 10-5 victory against Guildford 4! The team has grown massively since the New Year and we welcomed an amazing four Rooks debuts from Laura, Lisa, Peter and Quynh.

There were lots of nominations for MVP across both matches with all the girls receiving a nomination. Opposition MVP and female MVP for the first match went to Lisa for doing lots of runners and scoring a lovely goal on her debut whilst male MVP was split between Mark for his great team spirit and goals and Peter for his excellent penalties

Opposition MVP and male MVP for the second match went to Bora for his boundless energy and perfect shots whilst female MVP went to Laura for her solid defensive performance and reliable rebounding

Well done 4s! We look forward to our re-matches against Guildford 3 and 4 again away this Sunday and hopefully welcoming even more new players as the team continues to grow!

23/02/2025: Reading Rooks 3 v Southampton University 1

Rooks 3s got back to winning ways on Sunday against Southampton Uni 1. The match finished 12-9 to Rooks 3s with everyone playing their part against a very energetic university side. I’d like to give big thanks to all of the 4s and 2s who came to watch the game and for supporting the team. Especially in the latter moments where energy levels were depleting it was amazing to hear everyone’s support from the sidelines to help roar us over the line!

Angie was voted MVP by Southampton and it’s no surprise because she must’ve covered every square inch of the court on Sunday (even fighting on the floor for turnovers)! 😂 Determined, ever positive, and giving her all for the cause, Angie sets a great example to the rest of the club and thoroughly deserved MVP, congratulations! 👏 No surprises that Rooks 3s wanted to give attacking kudos to Grace following her four goals 💥 💥 💥 💥! Defensive kudos was shared between David and Bora who were both absolute monsters in rebound! 💪 Really well done everyone!

The 3s now have a week off before the season finale double-header against Reading Uni and Rooks 2s!

23/02/2025: Reading Rooks 2 v Southampton University 1

The 2s took on SU1 for our final time this season, with the final few games before our double header end of season finale we were looking for every goal and point possible on the table 💪🏼

Finishing with a 16-5 win we saw a real range of goals & some amazing defence! Lauren was awarded MVP by SU1 for her lovely goals, defence (some lovely intercepts into the feed) & all round great structure! 👏🏽

Eric was male MVP for being the king of rebounding & walking the block and getting us into our second phase attacks plus some lovely goals & Lucy picked up female MVP for 4 stunning goals, picking up the energy and hustle across both ends!

The 2s have a well earned weekend off this week but was a great day across all the teams yesterday 💪🏼

16/02/2025: Reading Rooks 3 v Reading University 1

Reading Rooks 3s took on the Reading Uni 1s on Sunday. In a highly entertaining match, Reading uni ran out 20-11 winners, but I don’t feel this is a fair reflection of how Rooks 3s played. The team generated lots of opportunities: lots of nice runners and shots that, on another day, would have nestled lovingly in the korf.

As ever, the Uni team were full of energy (even more impressive considering they had played the twos in the earlier game) and they scored plenty of shots from deep. Having said all of this, it’s another game under our belts and it’s clear to see that the team is going from strength to strength.

The Reading uni team voted Bora as their MVP for his endless energy and determination in rebound and collect, congratulations! Additional special shoutouts goes to Sarah and Alex who were nominated by the 3s as Attacking MVP; and Sarah and Carly as 3s defensive MVP, really well done all! 👏

16/02/2025: Reading Rooks 2 v Reading University 1

Hot off last weekend’s win against Southampton City, the 2s were back in force yesterday looking to add some more points to the table in our final game against Reading Uni!

Riding high off their recent BUCs championships qualification we knew RU were bringing their strongest team yet, including some returning alumni with some great shooting skills…

It was close with the first few goals going 1 for 1 until we managed to pull away at half time and in the second half, kept them to one goal in 30 minutes with the final score being 11-6 to Rooks 🤩

The opposition MVP and one half of the boy MVP went to Luke for his drives in attack, dynamic play and good defending on strong boys and he was also joined by Matt who was voted for his great shift at both ends this weekend, some lovely attacks and very controlled marking!

This weeks female MVP went to Lizzie for her big hustler energy fighting for the rebound and her two lovely goals on the scoreboard!

We are on the home stretch now with a few games left before our big end of season double header, thanks to everyone who came to watch too… we go again this weekend against Southampton Uni 1.

09/02/2025: Reading Rooks 3 v Basingstoke Bulls 3

Reading Rooks 3s recorded their second victory in succession in a highly entertaining match against a very strong Basingstoke Bulls 3s. The 3s were out for revenge having narrowly lost the reverse fixture at the end of 2024, and the match started at a fast pace with both teams exchanging early goals. With the score equal at halftime, both divisions, working closely with Lizzie and Rachel, shared and discussed their feedback and the team adjusted their approach for the second half. This attention to detail and teamwork paid off. Slowly but surely, Rooks 3s began to pull ahead with some lovely worked runners and shots from open play. The team defended resolutely and stuck to the task of playing the Rooks way as Basingstoke continued to rally a comeback. A couple of late goals secured victory, the match ending 16-12, the 3s ending with 10 different scorers on the scoresheet. This victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication shown by the team throughout the season and demonstrates how far the team has come!

The Basingstoke team nominated Sarah as their MVP for her solid defence and three runners! 🏃‍♀

Congratulations are also in order for Bora, playing in his first 3s match. Bora had an excellent game, scoring a lovely goal and providing plenty of energy right to the final whistle. 🔋

Looking forward to our match this Sunday, a local derby against Reading University, where hopefully our good form continues!

09/02/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Basingstoke Bulls 1

On Sunday the 1s faced a tough opponent in top of the league and unbeaten Basingstoke 1 - we put up a very strong fight all game but ultimately Basingstoke won 17-13. It was a great team performance from the 1s and a solid defence ensured Basingstoke scored the least goals in any game this year! A huge thank you to everyone who came and supported - it was great to hear you all cheering us on❤

Our male MVP was Tom S for his team play and calm against a strong opponent, making their life very difficult with lots of hustling in defence causing intercepts and defended calls!

Our female MVP was Sam for her quick fire goals to get us going, great hustle to create opportunities and stifle their attacks, and great rebounding!

Basingstoke gave their MVP to Sion for his high pressure defence on good players, scoring lots of goals, and rebounding!

The 1s now have a couple of weeks' break before we face off against Abingdon 2 on the 2nd of March.

09/02/2025: Reading Rooks 2 v Southampton Spartans 2

Yesterday the 2s had one of our biggest games of the season, our second game against SC2 who are vying with us for top of the league…

The team really hit their stride yesterday falling 1 goal short of Siôn’s 20 a game target with the final score being 19-12! Lots of amazing Korfball, a variety of shots going in and every single person could’ve been MVP yesterday so it was a tough vote 💪🏼

The opposition & team kindly gave me MVP yesterday, after a season of flops it was finally my game to score a few long shots and hustle in defence as much as possible - thanks team! 🥹

We had a joint win in the girls, firstly Alisha who was marking one of SC’s strongest girls and Alisha kept her out of the game whilst also constantly keeping the division calm with some lovely walking the block and assists too! 
Hannah was our other worthy winner this week with some stunning running in shots, rebounding and defending against another of their strong girls!

Well done team and what a great day of Korf yesterday for everyone.

02/02/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Guildford Thunder 2

This morning our 1s faced off against a Guildford 2 side who held us to a draw earlier in the season - this time we were victorious with a 17-8 win🙌 it was a strong game in both attack and defence, well played all!

Our female MVP was Penny🌞 who hustled continuously and was nominated for her strong rebound, cutting lots of feeds, creating lots of opportunities and getting feeds herself and taking all the right shots!

Our male MVP was Selby for his persistent shooting, a lovely free pass, strong rebound and general good vibes!

The opposition MVP was Sam for her hard work in both attack and defence and marking her player out the game!

Next Sunday we have an away game against top of the league Basingstoke 1 which will be a good challenge.

26/01/2025: Reading Rooks 4 v Guildford Thunder 3

After a last minute forfeit from Reading Uni 2, we only played one match in the end yesterday but managed to fill the time playing some fun mini games with the 1s and 2s before storming to victory against Guildford with a 13-9 win!

Special thanks to all those who played down for us and to those who stayed to watch, it was great having your support! Thanks too to Tom H who helped with some last minute coaching and Sion who made sure to be a fair referee

This match saw Bora make his Rooks debut, scoring an amazing four goals and winning both opposition and Rooks MVP for his energetic gameplay and good control of the ball. Well done as well to Tommy for scoring a great penalty under pressure and Alex, Josie and Tom B for their goals

We have a break now for a few weeks before a double against Guildford 3 and 4 at the end of February.

26/01/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Oxford University

Yesterday 1s faced a potentially tough game against Oxford Uni 1s, absolutely smashing it and winning 21-12 for our biggest win of the season by far! It was a super strong performance from everyone involved and I really struggled to vote for MVP, I know a few others voted for multiple people as it was too tough to decide! Special shout out to Eric and Luke who we borrowed for the day and both fitted in seamlessly with strong performances 🙌

Our male MVP was Eric for his incredible rebounding, leading to long attacks and many goals, as well as bringing in composure and getting some good shots up.

Our female MVP was tie between Amy and Sam - both marked international players and massively limited their chances whilst still creating their own opportunities and getting some great goals between them.

Oxford gave their MVP to Ainhoa for her driving, intercepts and rebounding as well as some nice goals herself.

A really strong team performance all around that everyone should be proud of! We go again next week against Guildford 2s.

26/01/2025: Reading Rooks 2 v Reading University 1

After over a month and a half the 2s were back in action for a very early start against Reading Uni 1 yesterday! Despite some warm up chaos and a quick turnaround we hit the ground running and nabbed a 12-2 win over the enthusiastic uni students 💪🏼

Uni chose Lucy as their MVP - Lucy brought the energy across both ends with some lovely goals, strong rebounding and her signature side runners coming in handy!

Luke was voted male MVP for his big drives to score some lovely runners and hustling for the ball throughout the entire game! Lauren won female MVP - 4 goals on the score sheet, Lauren was bringing the energy with runners, long shots and some sneaky rebound shots keeping uni on their toes!

Well done team!

19/01/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Abingdon Atoms 1

Our second game was against another strong side in Abingdon 1 who we narrowly beat at home - this time we got ahead and stayed ahead, winning 25-19 in our biggest win of the season yet and completing the double over Abingdon! It was a great game with lots of long attacks and great structure combined with good defence leading to lots of goals!

The opposition MVP and male MVP was myself, which I was nominated for my goals, good structure and good attitude! Thank you all❤️

Our female MVP was Ainhoa, who was nominated for her cheeky spins, getting a strong feed and walking the block lots to get a good rebound too!

Overall, it was really strong day from all with a good team spirit! We return after a trip to Edinburgh with a home game against Oxford Uni 1s on the 26th🙌

19/01/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Oxford City 3

Yesterday the 1s headed to Oxford for a tough double header against Oxford 3s and Abingdon 1s - everyone played well all day, shown by every player receiving nominations for MVP in at least one of the games!

First up was a tight game where we stayed in it throughout but Oxford got a couple of quick goals at the end to win 14-10 in the end, a scoreline which doesn't show the effort put in by all!

Our male MVP was a tie between Selby and myself - Alex was nominated for his great shots, cutting feeds and hustling for balls; me for creating good chances and trusting the process! Thank you all❤️

Our female MVP was also a tie, between Hannah and Sam. We borrowed Hannah for the day and she fitted in flawlessly, bringing calm and structure; Sam was nominated for her solid rebounding and putting up all the right shots!

The opposition MVP went to Sion, who was nominated for his calm and structure and lovely goals! 

05/01/2025: Reading Rooks 1 v Southampton Spartans 1

On Sunday we welcomed a strong Southampton 1s side to Reading - Rooks 1s put up a fight but ultimately the result was 16-13 to Southampton, with Rooks battling back well to earn a bonus point! Well done to all in a tough game, particularly having come in having not had any training sessions since before Christmas!

Southampton gave their MVP to Max for his hustle and hard work all game, marking tightly in defence and scoring some nice goals!

Our male MVP went to Sion for his great defending against a tough boy and rebounding as well as getting up some good shots!

Our female MVP was Ainhoa for her lightning start, following the process throughout and an overall strong game in attack and defence, with lots of turnovers as always!

Next up is an away day in Oxford this Sunday with a double header against Oxford 3 and Abingdon 1🙌

05/01/2025: Reading Rooks 4 v Southampton Spartans 3 
So today ‘Purple Sunday’ the Rooks 4s took on the Spartans 3s in a hard fought match.
 

It was so good to have the Rooks crowd en-masse to cheer on our motley crew. We were also well supported by the 3s team, with Alex, Tom B, Carly, Lizzie, Amy, Hannah and Kelly all providing help making up our numbers. 
 

The first 30 mins was a trial and a half, with the Spartans aggressively defending and chasing every ball. The 4s managed to win some Free passes and Penalties with Hannah and Tom B converting them for goals. The score at  half time, definitely didn’t reflect the Rooks effort put in. (2-9 or something!). After a great team talk from Sion, the team was ready for the second half with the focus on useful and planned attacks and more shooting.
 

Alex and Tommy were getting shots off like it was going out of fashion, hitting the Korf rim on numerous occasions from good distances. Carly was being a superb feed and hard to beat defending. Lizzie had a tough challenge against a never ceasing number 12. Amy was partaking in her usual one armed shots, getting a score in the second session. Tom B was hard working chasing everything, getting plenty of shots off, Sarah also had her work cut out for her against a difficult opposition however improved throughout the game to get them under-control by the end. Jack was proving a menace to the Spartans - always quick on the collect and taking shots when in range. Hannah brought her usual quick movement and accurate passing and positive vibes. And finally the oppositions voted MVP Kelly was a prize returnee for the Team - she outwitted her defenders, provided crucial passing opportunities and generally was uplifting and positive for the team morale.
 

The final score was 6-14 - however how the team played, remained confident, full of energy and quickly listened & acted on Coach Sion's tips and game adaptions really well.
 

And for my final words, I was really proud of the team today. The opposition were experienced and knew their tactics and were unrelenting throughout, it would have been easy to get down about the score, however positivity remained. Thanks for letting me shout from the side-lines, it was a pleasure to hear the squeaking of trainers, familiar calls and general Korf positive vibes throughout the game. See you all soon.

01/12/2024: Reading Rooks 3 v Basingstoke Bulls 3

The Rooks 3s delivered their most impressive performance of the season against Basingstoke Bulls 3s on Sunday, despite the 8-15 final scoreline. The team displayed a strong team ethic, individual brilliance, and a willingness to learn and adapt.

As always, there was plenty of Kudos shared after the game! Grace showcased impressive footwork and scoring ability, forming a formidable partnership with Lauren. David provided valuable feedback to the team and also delivered a strong personal performance, particularly in rebounding. Lizzie exhibited strong defensive skills and effective switching, while also contributing valuable team feedback. Alex L produced some spectacular shots and demonstrated great perseverance against physical opposition. Lauren impressed with her shooting accuracy and effective partnership with Grace. Alex S showcased exceptional speed and made crucial interceptions, while also offering helpful suggestions to the others in the division at halftime.

Sarah W delivered a standout performance with strong defensive work, effective switching, and dangerous attacking runs. She was also receptive to feedback and implemented it effectively. Notably, Sarah W was voted MVP by the Basingstoke team, a testament to her exceptional performance.

While the final scoreline may not reflect the Rooks 3s' strong performance, the team should take pride in their efforts and continue to build on this momentum. The team's positive attitude, hard work, and commitment to improvement are sure to pay dividends in future matches. Match report for Uni 1 vs Rooks 3s coming soon 👀

We wish Paul a speedy recovery from his achilles injury and look forward to seeing him back on the court soon ❤️

01/12/2024: Reading Rooks 2 v Basingstoke Bulls 3

Going into our final game of the first half of the season we were full of festive cheer but nervous to revisit Basingstoke, the only team we’ve lost to so far this year!

However, right off the bat we came out strong and steady, holding our nerve with some fabulous front defence and a charcuterie board variety of shots dropping from across the team!

Cinching a 14-10 win we denied Basingstoke a bonus point a la the Grinch and comfortably hold the league top spot going into the festive season 🏆

Eric was rewarded with MVP from the bulls for his impressive front defending, game play and some lovely goals too - well done Eric!

Josie picks up team female MVP for scoring our first 2 goals in what felt like seconds, some gorgeous interceptions and her unwavering energy in both ends 💪🏼

Thanks team for voting me MVP for shutting down some dink shots and front defence around the post - much appreciated!

No more of these from me now until January - that’s the real Christmas gift🎅🏼

23/11/2024: Reading Rooks 3 v Southampton University 1

The Reading Rooks 3s faced a challenging away fixture against Southampton University. Despite the final score of 14-7, the team displayed resilience and promising signs of growth.

Southampton's run-heavy strategy posed a significant challenge, but the Rooks defense adapted well as the game progressed. The scoreline doesn't fully reflect the team's efforts, as many promising shots narrowly missed the target.

Big thank you to Austin and James who joined from the 2s for the match. Austin was recognised as the Rooks MVP by Southampton, highlighting his valuable contribution to the team. I’d very much like to highlight the strong performances within the team: Alex's dominance in the collect and rebounding, Emily's impressive defensive work, Sarah WM demonstrating experienced leadership in her div, JT's positive influence on team morale, and Sarah T and Amy's unwavering determination. 💪

While the wait for a first win of the season continues, the 3s gained another game of valuable experience and definitely demonstrated our potential. The team is eager to apply the lessons learned from this match on Sunday against Basingstoke.

23/11/2024: Reading Rooks 2 v Southampton University 1 and Reading Rooks 2 v Southampton Spartans 2

Yesterday Rooks 2 had a double away header down in Southampton, with 10 players we went down and we showed Southampton how it’s done with 2 fantastic wins 🌟

SU1: in our first game we snatched the win 13-6 with opposition MVP going to Hannah for her consistent driving and fab shooting opps (after already stepping in for the 1s!)
There’s a new Korfball power couple in town with James & Lizzie snatching team MVPs for their constant hustle, shooting and fight around the post!

SC2: a hard fought win with a 09-11 scoreline, with Matt picking up the opposition MVP for his big drives and runs at the post keeping them on their toes!

Male MVP went to Luke for his collecting, consistency and calm in attack creating great opportunities! Hannah won team MVP too for her amazing defence on a very experienced player keeping the scoreline in our favour!

One more game next Sunday against Basingstoke before the Christmas break and if we can win, we are sitting at the top of the table 👀🤞🏼

23/11/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Southampton Spartans 1

Yesterday saw the 1s face off against a strong Southampton side, with us battling back a few times to just miss out on a draw with the final score 19-18 to Southampton - it was a really strong team performance and everyone came together well!

The opposition MVP and our male MVP was Max for his great driving, infinite hustle and energy, amazing defence against Owain making him look ordinary, and winning penalties!

Our female MVP was tightly contested with everyone getting votes, the winner being Becks for her strong defence and switching really well, good shots, good rebounding and structure!

It was the last game before Christmas for 1s - we return in January with the reverse fixture against Southampton 🙌

17/11/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Oxford City 4

Our second game of the day saw us face off against Oxford 4 who we had close games with last year - this time we were triumphant with a 20-14 win! A really solid game all around with lots of work for the team, well done all!💪

The male MVP and opposition MVP was Tom S, nominated for his "8 goals 😱", structured play, looking for the right shots, good rebounding and putting on more pressure in defence.

Our female MVP was Sam who was nominated for her ever reliable front defence, forcing good opportunities in attack, creating space, scoring at key times and for playing on even when being whacked by Siôn...

Two great wins for the team putting us in a very healthy position in the table!

Next up is Southampton 1 away on Saturday - looking forward to it🙌

17/11/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Abingdon Atoms 2

1s first game on Sunday was against a new opponent in Abingdon 2 where we took an early lead and maintained it well to win 15-9 overall! Well played all🙌

The female MVP was a three-way tie between Amy, Penny🌞 and Sam! Reasons for Amy were driving well at the post, creating opportunities and great shots, Penny was nominated for great structure, mentality and defence making a solid 60 mins, and Sam was voted for great defence, creating space in attack and getting shots up.

The male MVP was voted as me, with reasons as great goals and defence, good positioning and movement, and making things happen. Thank you guys!❤️

The opposition MVP was Sion for his intercepts in defence and sneaky goals in attack!

17/11/2024: Reading Rooks 4 v Southampton Spartans 4

Well done team! Today saw a rematch against our first opponents: Spartans 4. It was a tough match with only 7 players but we pulled together and battled through to produce a respectable score of 7-12 to the Spartans.

Special thanks to all those who played down, especially Alex, Alisha and Tom B who played in a division of 3 and all managed to score goals! Alex had an amazing hat trick, Alisha defied the odds and saw off two defenders and Tom was constantly hustling whilst providing endless words of support as our manager.

Spartans gave their MVP to Alex for all his wonderful goals and collects. Rooks split our MVP between me and Paul: me for my defending and feeds and Paul for his multiple interceptions and boundless energy leaping around the court. We look forward to returning to the SportsPark again for our next match in a few weeks.

10/11/2024: Reading Rooks 2 v Reading University 1

The 2s had a fab game yesterday making it our 4th win in a row and going into the season with a strong goal difference after a cracking 19 - 4 win against RU1!

Everyone played fantastically with a lovely mix of goals and RU gave Matt as their MVP and he was voted MVP too, to none's surprise as he was on fire with SIX goals with penalties, runners & long shots!!

All the girls were nominated as they all played amazingly but Josie takes the MVP this week for her stunning interceptions and some cheeky shots around the post!

Looking forward to a weekend off before we bounce back again for a Southampton double header 💪🏼

10/11/2024: Reading Rooks 4 v Reading University 2

Our match yesterday against Reading Knights 2 saw an impressive 9-7 win. There were two wonderful penalties from Paul and lots of good defending, applying the tactics we’d learned last week at team and club training.

Knights gave their MVP to Alisha for all her wonderful goals and hard work throughout, whilst Rooks awarded their MVP to Joe for his fantastic defending and lovely long shot.

Thanks again to all those supporting the 4s. We’re looking forward to our rematch against Spartans 4 this Sunday!

03/11/2024: Reading Rooks 4 v Southampton Spartans 4

It’s been a good start to Rooks 4s inaugural season. Our first match against Southampton on 27th October saw Paul and Tommy making their Rooks debuts, with Paul even managing to score a goal!  

Special thanks goes to all the 3s who joined us and played down despite being exhausted from their own match against Spartans 2s immediately beforehand. It was a tough game with our opponents unfortunately scoring the winning goal in the final 30 seconds, winning 8-7.

Spartans gave their MVP to Paul for his hard work throughout the game and amazing debut goal. Rooks shared their MVP between me and Tommy; me for my support as a first time captain and Tommy for his impressive hustle and determination throughout.

03/11/2024: Readig Rooks 2 v Reading Rooks 3

Last weekend, we were treated to another fiercely competitive game between Rooks 2s and 3s! Rooks 3s showed incredible heart and determination, especially in the second half when fatigue started to creep in. Both division kept going right to the final whistle and it was a great team effort.

It was satisfying to see both teams executing the plays we've been practicing in training. Grace’s excellent drop offs and Sarah’s determined runners were great to see. David was immense in rebound and worked tirelessly with the runners. Tom showed great technique, scoring a lovely goal from deep in the second half. JT also had a great game, getting himself on the scoresheet and battling hard the whole game.

Emily and Richard were voted 3s MVPs, respectively, with Emily also taking home the match MVP having been recognised by the 2s for her excellent defence and hustle for the full 60 mins!

We're really proud of how far this team has come in such a short space of time.

Now for the 2s! Our second derby of the season and the 3s were certainly making us work hard but it was great to see everyone applying lots of great structure and energy into their play!

Alisha was nominated team MVP for her constant hustle and energy, popping up some fantastic shots that’ll drop next time 💪🏼

Team MVP for the girls went to Lucy for her 6 amazing goals with a mixture of runners, long shots and more - truly versatile! Shoutout to Matt for winning male MVP for his high energy, good rebounding and strong attacking throughout!

Looking forward to the derby in 2025 😍

03/11/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Abingdon Atoms 1

Huge congrats to everyone involved for a great game against Abingdon where we won 20-19 in the end - it was a really strong team performance and loudly cheered on by many on the sidelines, thank you all for coming along to support!

Abingdon gave their MVP to Max, who also won the male MVP and was very deserving of both! Some of the reasoning was for implementing what was asked in training, good discipline, driving for runners, great hustle and defending well against a strong boy - getting compliments from the opposition captain at the end too!

Female MVP went to Rachel for her runners and following in shots, taking under the post opportunities and generally creating lots of chances in attack!

Well done all! Looking forward to another game this Sunday against Milton Keynes!🥳

27/10/2024: Reading Rooks 3 v Southampton Spartans 2

Reading Rooks 3s faced a tough challenge against Southampton Spartans 2, in a closely contested match. Despite the final score of 12-8 in favor of the Spartans, the 3s continued to demonstrate great team togetherness and promising signs for the rest of the season:

Sarah W impressed on her full 3s debut, applying her korfball experience and skills to the Rooks model; Alex showed tireless work rate and dedication to his division. Much needed throughout some of the more frantic stages of the match, Carly maintained a calm presence on court, combining steady play with impressive shots; and David played a vital role in defence, securing crucial rebounds and facilitating ball movement. As voted by the team, Angie earned the Female MVP award for her relentless energy, strong defensive contributions, and impressive goal-scoring. Richard clinched the Male MVP title for his clinical finishing and positive team spirit.

It's clear from the progress being made each week that the first victory of the season is just around the corner. Eager to build on this performance, the 3s seek redemption in the rematch against Rooks 2s this Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

27/10/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Basingstoke Bulls 1

The game against Basingstoke 1 was a tough one, but you should be proud of having many great plays and fighting hard! As we all know, Basingstoke 1 is the best in the league, (and could even be considered regional!) and we still managed to have plenty of shots against them and created some good opportunities. With practice and more play, I am certain that we’ll be better prepared next time and ready to win! 💪🏻.

Basingstoke gave their MVP to Selby, who had an assertive play and was given multiple penalties due to finding opportunities and going strong for them.  

Our Rook´s Male MVP is Austin, who came in to support our game and had lots of good shots, and strong defence against a difficult opponent!

Our Rook's Female MVP is Becks, for making opportunities and hustling against the 'aggy girl' [agreed, but not my own words on the Basingstoke girl - I don't want to fuel the fire I created 🙃]

Thank you all! 🥳

20/10/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Oxford City 3

Well done for the relentless work and keeping heads up in such a tight game!! Sunday´s game reflects on how far we have come as a team since we played them last year and the high likelihood that we can beat them when we play them again 💪🏻.

OC3 gave their MVP to Selby, who had amazing shots and was very strong in defence.  

Our Rook´s Male MVP is Max, who had a great drive and hustle in attack and defence.

Our Rook's Female MVP is Sam, who was amazing at defence and didn't let anything past her, had great collecting and a lovely goal. For bossing it even when ill and playing supporting roles really well to assit with all the boy goals.

On a side note, a quick shout to Eric, who scored 3 goals when helping Rooks 1!

Thank you all! 🥳

20/10/2024: Reading Rooks 3 v Basingstoke Bulls 3

Another amazing game for the 3s this weekend up against a very strong team but we really held the scoreline back against some really strong players from Basingstoke.

Opposition voted MVP was JT for his well deserved goals and all round great play. Our own MVP boys were a joint vote for Alex and JT. Both of you played really well scoring some lovely goals and forming a lovely little duo down your end.

Our girl voted MVP was Kelly making a very welcome come back to the court helping us out last minute and picking up right where she left off. Scoring a beautiful goal and making some great switches

20/10/2024: Reading Rooks 2 v Southampton University 1

It was the first game up against the Stags this season and pleased to say the 2s came away with a stunning 17-6 victory, falling just short of our 20 goal a game target!

It was a great game with a lovely mixture of goals with runners, long shots and penalties all dropping!

Southampton Uni gave their MVP to Josie who was also voted female MVP - no one can deny her accuracy banging in some stunning long shots (& some great celebrations too 💪🏼) - male MVP went to me for some good runners and intercepting the feeds! Thanks to everyone who stayed and watched, now to enjoy a Sunday off 😍

13/10/2024: Reading Rooks 1 v Guildford Thunder 2

On Sunday the 1s drew with Guildford after a tense game and a beautiful free pass right at the end from Selby to bring it level! Lots of strong performances all around from everyone and we remain unbeaten so far🎉

The opposition MVP and also male MVP was unsurprisingly Selby who had a really strong game against Dhanush, his constant hustle, adapting defensively and in attack, and that free pass (someone just commented "chefs kiss!")😍

It was a very tight poll for the female MVP, with the final result a draw between Amy and Sam - both very well deserved! Amy was nominated for her excellent debut, awareness in attack, some beautiful goals and calmness, with Sam nominated for her great collecting, creating shooting opportunities for herself and others, and her endless calm in a tense game.

I'm sad I can't be there on Sunday but go smash it again against Oxford 💜

13/10/2024: Reading Rooks 2 v Reading Rooks 3

On Sunday we had the first of our 3 derbies this year with the 2s taking on the 3s for the first time at new venue Ryeish Green (I’m not on commission I swear but it was a lovely hall well done Lizzie!)

With both teams coming in strong and displaying lots of the moves and tactics we’ve worked on in training, there was some lovely Korfball all round and some official Rooks debuts for Emily, Sarah T & Richard! 😍

The score finished 18-5 to the 2s with a great effort from everyone involved!

Team MVPs went to Lizzie for the 2s for her constant hustle, fight and calm play & for the 3s it went to Richard, who also was voted male MVP by the 3s for his high energy and hustling for the collect (sorry Culley, the boy can jump!)

2s Female MVP went to Lucy, for some lovely runners, goals and all round team play & male MVP went to Luke for his tremendous 5 goals and keeping Stu on his toes!

3s female MVP we had a dramatic tie with Amy & Sarah T sharing the win! Amy for her great captaining, shooting and passion & Sarah who scored a goal on her debut and for so quickly throwing herself into the game and doing a fantastic job!

Here’s to the next one 💪🏼