National Hockey Silver Medalists!
U16 Indoor Hockey Success – National Final Runners-up.
After becoming Southeast Champions just before Christmas, on Thursday 12 January our U16 boys indoor side travelled to Whitgift to take part in the England Hockey U16 Super 6s Indoor National Finals. The team had already made history by qualifying for the finals for the first time in the school’s history, but, such is the quality of this team, the boys were not just there to make up the numbers.
After being drawn in a tough group, the team began their tournament with a game against reigning champions Whitgift. We were very quick out of the blocks, creating several chances which drew some spectacular saves from the Whitgift goalkeeper. We also created a number of penalty corner opportunities that we just couldn’t convert, and ultimately, we were punished by some slick counter attacking and lost out 3-0. The game gave the boys belief, and they put in a very professional performance to defeat King’s School Chester 4-0. This led to a crunch game against previous Champions Trent College with the boys knowing that a draw would be enough to take them through. After dominating the first half and taking a 1-0 lead, Trent grew into the game and equalised through a penalty stroke. Trent were pushing on for a winner and won a final whistle penalty corner. Up stepped A. Sherry in goal who charged out and got a touch to send it wide and send us through to the semi-final.
Our semi-final opponents, Yarm School, had come through as group winner, but our boys put in another fantastic performance to take the game 3-1. Goalkeeper A. Sherry was particularly effective, making numerous saves.
On to the final, and after an extended break to recharge the batteries including a rousing team talk from captain Mear, the team went toe to toe with a very strong Whitgift side who started strongly and found themselves up at half time. In chasing the game, we removed our GK and replaced him with an extra player which worked as we scored immediately. Unfortunately, fatigue set in, and our opponents were too strong, taking the win and the title.
Although disappointed with the result, the boys were extremely pleased with the progression of the team over the season and the achievement of making the final. Director of Hockey, Peter Friend, said “this has been an incredible journey and we are immensely proud of the development of the group over the season as well as the sportsmanship and spirit in which we played our games. The group work extremely hard and they fully deserve all the credit. Finishing second in the country has firmly put Caterham Hockey on the map, and they have inspired countless young players from our hockey programme.”
Three of the team, W. Lumbard, E. van Huyssteen and J. Ford, will now represent Epsom HC in the club National Indoor Finals this weekend taking place in Nottingham, (another great achievement) before the U16 outdoor squad turn their attention to the outdoor season.
U16A Indoor Hockey Squad:
- Sherry, C. Mear, W. Lumbard, W. Agnew, E. van Huyssteen, J. Ford, S. Gill, W. Taylor, S. Houlton, T. Banton, R. Wallace, O. Denton, A. Peachey
