Slazenger Hockey Club U16 Boys produced some outstanding hockey to beat Thirsk HC by 13 – 0 in the England Hockey Board Cup, Yorkshire semi-finals at College Grove on Sunday.
This succeeded in booking their place in the next round of the national competition and setting up a Yorkshire final against City of York. In a convincing team performance, seven players saw their names on the scoresheet including hatricks from captain Aidan Hopkinson and Matthew Stacey.
In a close fought final, both teams again produced some outstanding hockey which was enjoyed by spectators from both clubs. The game eventually finished with a 2 – 1 defeat for the Horbury based Slazenger team. York took the lead with some early pressure, and forcing Slaz onto the back foot. However in the second half, the pressure was with the Horbury team, forcing a penalty flick converted by James Higgins. The team continued to press, but unfortunately a goal was disallowed, and Slaz ran out of time to find an equaliser.
The team progress through to compete against the best in the North of England for a place in the National Finals.
PHOTO – U16 squad;
Back row (L-to-R) Dan Levitt, Will Copley, James Higgins, Isaac Fisher, Matthew Stacey, Rowan Tejura, Alex King,
Front Row (L-to-R) Luke Gueli, Mathew Feather, Tom Pitchforth, Ralph Toon, Aiden Hopkinson, Dan Atkinson, Robert Caan.
