Select a region
Young Guernsey hockey players have gained invaluable experience after scoring against some of the UK’s top sides.
The island’s under 16 boys’ and girls’ squads faced some of the toughest opposition they have ever encountered during the preliminary round of the under 16 England Hockey National Championship in the UK.
The local players were praised by their coaches for their individual and team performances despite losing their matches, which have given them vital experience against high quality opposition. Continued support from Ravenscroft has allowed the teams to enter the championship.
In their opening game, the under 16 boys squad, coached by Zak Damarell and Sam Dawes often dominated against Reading HC, and Guernsey’s Jay Piset, who has been selected to play for England, scored with a screaming first touch shot. The Guernsey team, who’d only played together a few games previously, showed strength throughout the game and weren’t fazed by their larger and more physical opponents.
However, the greens eventually lost 3-1 to what is one of the best hockey teams at this age level. In their second game, they put in another controlled performance against Oxford Hawks. Despite penetrating the opposition D on several occasions, the Guernsey shots on goal were cleared and clinical counter-attacks meant they went on to lose 2-0. After the two games in Reading, the island’s under 16 boys will face Oxford HC and Marlow in February.
‘We could have easily won both of those games and both Zak and I as coaches are very proud of the way the under 16s played and handled the game. We are all looking forward to the next trip for the tournament, as the players will have more training sessions and more games to play to get them ready for the next round,’ said Dawes.
The under 16 girls, coached by David Bromley and Sally Bushell, took on Tunbridge Wells first and then Sevenoaks HC in their first games of the competition.
They forced hosts Tunbridge Wells to fight for every ball and a strong defence marshalled by skipper Katie Halliday repelled the home side’s attacks, with goalkeeper Lauren Hagerman producing a string of fine saves. Guernsey eventually went down by two goals which were scored by Tunbridge Wells’ two county players.
Guernsey’s girls started as the underdogs in their second match against a Sevenoaks HC side featuring numerous county players and an England age group player. From the outset, it was clear that this was the best side that the island’s under 16 girls have ever faced, and they used their experience to score two goals in the opening 10 minutes.
However, the greens continued to battle for every ball with the defence fending off short corner after short corner. Apart from the occasional break by Rosa Bonner Morgan and Eloise Chubb, the final score was 4-0 to Sevenoaks.
‘Given the quality of opposition these were pleasing results. The spirit of the team was brilliant and a credit to all as they battled for everything. The Guernsey girls can take a lot of credit and learning points from the game and the trip,’ said Bromley.
The under 16 girls inter-island match, which will double up as a league game, has been arranged for 22nd January, and in February the team will play Marden Russets and Canterbury.
Ravenscroft’s group MD, Mark Bousfield praised the teams for their efforts. ‘Both teams clearly played well against strong and experienced sides which have county and England players amongst them. What is particularly impressive is that even when the game was against them, they continued to play their best. They are making Ravenscroft and the whole of Guernsey proud for their commitment and determination,’ he said.
