Slazengers’ under-12 boys A team missed out on qualifying from the In2Hockey West Yorkshire tournament despite scoring eight goals in their last two games.
A slow start to the five-team round-robin competition ultimately proved their downfall as the Slaz youngsters lost to both Ben Rhydding sides who were taking part.
Slazengers dominated their opening match against Ben Rhydding B but found their opponents’ keeper in top form with a string of fine saves, before a breakaway goal led to a 1-0 final scoreline.
There were more early chances against Ben Rhydding A but again it was the opposition who opened the scoring.
Aaron Hunter did equalise, showing good composure when one on one with the keeper, but there was a sting in the tail as Ben Rhydding hit a late winner.
Those two defeats meant Slazengers would be unable to progress to the Yorkshire stage of the competition but they picked themselves up to finish on a high.
They beat Wakefield 3-0 as Hunter doubled his tally of goals before Lucas Smith and Tommy Randle also found the net.
Then Slazengers concluded by defeating their B team stablemates 5-0 with two goals by Alex Stacey, backed up by others from Smith, Will Gascoigne and Hunter’s third of the day.
