14th April 2013 – Boys U16’s
A sterling team effort saw Slazenger U16 Boys round out a winning season at the recent YYHL Playoffs. Having finished fourth on goal-difference in the league out of 18 teams, after a season curtailed by bad weather, they matched their seeding losing a closely-fought semi-final to the eventual winners on the day. Earlier, this young side, most of whom have at least one more year in this age-group, had had a further thrilling encounter with Doncaster – an older side with whom they had drawn and and who they beat earlier in the season.
This time luck ran against Slaz, who after a tense, tight game were beaten by a goal from a penalty corner awarded just seconds before the umpire blew for time. Slaz regrouped against a skillful York side, and quickly went 2-0 ahead, but the long season which had seen most of the boys graduate to Senior hockey took its toll and they were pegged back through two breakaways to draw 2-2. In the final game, Slaz needed to beat Thirsk by four clear goals to qualify. They managed a 3-0 win which saw them play some confident, fluid hockey, their best of the day, and which was enough to enter a tense penalty shoot-out versus York.
Two solid saves from HiPAC ‘keeper Ralph Toon and assured and confident penalties from Elliott Golding, Luke Gueli and James Higgins saw the boys through. The skill and tenacity shown by all the boys bodes very well for next season.”
