Marshland High School students immersed themselves in a different culture and were put through their paces by an international coach during a memorable trip to Spain.

The school’s hockey players were coached by Barcelona Hockey Club’s Borja Campos at Pau Negre, which is next to the 1992 Olympic Stadium.

They then travelled to Iluro Hockey Club, where the boys equipped themselves well in their first competitive game.

Sam Hale, Cam Lawson and Ben Coxford were all denied by outstanding saves from the opposition goalkeeper.

In the second half the hosts class started to show and they hit the Marshland team on the break, scoring three quick goals and adding a fourth late on. Player of the match went to Will Naramore who was outstanding in the middle of the pitch.

The girls struggled to get into the game but they showed a lot of heart throughout, working extremely hard for each other, in a 10-0 loss. Player of the match went to Beth Brooker.

During the basketball day students received guest coaching from Mateo Rubio, who is an international coach for Uruguay. The tour then moved onto Calbris Basketball Club for the boys to play their matches and the girls to support loudly from the stands.

The Marshland Herons second team was made up of seven players who hadn’t played basketball before apart from during a training session that morning and three 13 year olds who also played for the first team in the second game.

From the start of the match the Herons dominated with superior skill, pace and power and scored some fantastic team baskets as well as plenty of moments of individual brilliance.

The final score was 56-27 which meant Marshland’s first ever overseas basketball fixture ended with a win.

Freddie Collison scored 22 points for the team and the player of the match went to Lewis Thoebald whose all-round play was outstanding.

The Herons first team took on a very strong and experienced Calbirs side that included two extremely talented players. Trailing 14-8 at the end of the first quarter, a passionate team talk and a change of defensive tactics followed and the team showed drive and determination to turn the six point deficit into a 10 point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The whole team showed a lot of character and desire to ensure the first match in the brand new kit resulted in a 60-53 win.

Player of the match went to Cameron Lawson who was outstanding. His defensive work was superb and he scored 22 points.

Dom Stannard, of Marshland High School, said: “The students were incredible all week, their behaviour, effort, determination and performance were all outstanding. They were a real credit to the school, themselves and their parents. All the staff were extremely proud of every student on the trip.”