Slazengers were crowned Yorkshire Youth Hockey League under-ten boys champions after finishing unbeaten in the final competition of the season at Weetwood in Leeds.
The Slazengers team won four and drew one of their five Group A round-robin matches – and remarkably did so without conceding a single goal.
Keeper Aidan Coughtrey was well protected by Fraser Cass and Matthew Royston, who provided a defensive brick wall to keep out rivals from Huddersfield Dragons, Airedale, Leeds, York and Ben Rhydding.
Slazengers opened with a 3-0 win against Huddersfield courtesy of goals from James Sanderson, Tommy Randle and Charlie Bland, who was also on target in a 1-0 victory over Airedale.
Will Gascoigne was the scorer in another 1-0 win, this time against Leeds, before Gascoigne (2), Bland and Alex Stacey netted to see off York 4-0.
This gave Slazengers a healthy plus-nine goal difference – which was to prove significant as they drew their final match 0-0 against season-long foes Ben Rhydding, who were three goals worse off.
So Slazengers – coached by under-16s player Matthew Stacey, who also umpired throughout the series of tournaments – were able to celebrate lifting the trophy as county champions.
Meanwhile, the Slazengers B team have improved throughout the season and rounded off with a win, a draw and two defeats in their final competition.
