Hockey
National event is a huge success

Buy photos » Bromsgrove u18 girls. (s)

BROMSGROVE School hosted teams from around the country at the weekend as they hosted the National Indoor Girls’ Hockey Championships for the first time.

Taking place in the new Sports Arena, Bromsgrove’s u18 girls represented the school in the finals, starting with their first game against Dean Close School.

Despite losing 2-0 the girls made up for the result with a thrilling win against Rossall in the last match of the day. In a pulsating encounter in front of a large, partisan crowd, Marie-Christian Heller scored with 28 seconds to go with what was the only goal of the game.

In another exciting game on Sunday morning, the girls played extremely well against a strong St George’s School but went down 3-2 when conceding on the last play of the game.

In their final group game they came up against reigning champions Ipswich School and, despite being played with great skill and commitment, went down 6-1.

Deputy Head Philip Bowen said: “Both U18 and U16 events ran very smoothly, as did normal School and weekend fixtures.

“Our pupils were superb and our support staff were complimented both by England Hockey and the many hundreds of visitors. The President of England Hockey, Simon Mason, expressed his gratitude and delight at the quality of the facilities and the warm hospitality of all at Bromsgrove School.”

BROMSGROVE’S u18s team also had a strong run in their own National Finals competition at Whitgift School.

In the group matches they beat the hosts and reigning champions 3-2, despite being 2-1 down with two minutes to go before going on to draw 2-2 against Dean Close.

On Sunday morning they beat Egglescliff 6-0 and then an athletic Thomas Deacon Academy 4-3 to move into the last four.

That was where their run came to an end though as they went down 3-2 against Ipswich School with the decisive goal coming from a penalty corner in the final 30 seconds.

“For both teams, it was a long journey and one distinguished by great character and personal growth.

“The girls reached the top ten in the land and the boys the best four and all will look back on it as an exciting and rewarding campaign. Thank you also to the parents - home and away - who supported our teams so well,” Mr Bowen said.

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