Junior Awards Evening - Buy Your Tickets Now!!

U14 Boys

Fantastic commitment from the U14 boys on Sunday at a triangular against Sevenoaks and Wimbledon. With only 11 players, the boys narrowly lost 4-3 to Sevenoaks and 3-2 to Wimbledon in back-to-back games.

U14 Girls

EH supra league vs Isca - 6-2

Scorers: Violet (4), Venne (2)

After their first Supraleague loss a couple of weeks ago against Bath, the Winchester girls knew that they had to get a win against Isca if they were to keep themselves in contention for a good league placing and a chance of qualifying for the finals in May.

It was a long drive to Exeter and with a slightly depleted squad due to a school trip and injuries they only had 12 players, but something clicked on the pitch and the girls came out of the blocks pretty quickly. Winchester scored within the first five minutes with a driving run from Violet and a superb individually finished goal, another a couple of minutes later, again by Violet, saw the Winchester girls settle into some nice passing play and dominating the match. Midway through the first half Isca started their comeback with several breakaway attacks, covered nicely by Poppy, Sophie and Alice EH, and some great goalkeeping from Ella. Unfortunately Isca pulled a goal back and looked like they were back in the game. However, two minutes from the end of the first half the duo of Venne and Violet split the defence and Violet banged home a great goal for her hat-trick to make it 3-1 at half time.

With all the girls giving so much energy in the first half and only one sub to Isca’s five, they had to dig deep in the second half. With the wide midfields of Charlii, Millie and Flossy making some great line runs and Alice W and Emily annoying the defenders up front, everyone continued the second half as they had finished the first. Venne slotted away a well-worked goal within the first ten minutes and then took advantage of a short corner squeezing it into the corner of the goal. At 5-1 up, Winchester looked like they had the game sewn up, but Isca weren’t giving up and with tired Winchester legs they were taking advantage of their many subs running the Winchester girls slightly ragged. However defence held strong again requiring some fabulous heroic saves by Ella, and clearing for the screens of Aggie and Violet for a number of great counter attacks, Violet again penetrating the Isca D and getting her fourth, Winchester’s sixth. Deep into the end of the match Isca pulled back another goal with a great left hand top corner shot, but they had left it too late and the final whistle gave Winchester a well won 6-2 victory.

Next week it’s Clifton Robinson’s with an even more depleted squad but we know now what we are capable of in this T1 Supraleague.

Players of Match: Ella & Emily

U10s

WHC U10 boys and girls come out top at the Hampshire in2 finals!

Winchester Hockey Club’s U10 boys beat off their rivals to lift the Hampshire in2 county championship for the second year running. A packed Basingstoke crowd saw them win four out of their five pool matches and qualify for a semi-final against New Forest. Tied 2-2 at the whistle, the game went to penalty shuffles. Brave goalkeeping and a captain’s start led the team to their second final in two years, this time against Haslemere. While the drizzle came, the boys were not to be deterred. Losing one-nil in the pool game drove them on, and a well-taken penalty corner followed by a delicious open play strike saw them lift the trophy with a 2-0 final score.

Winchester’s U10 girls were also crowned Hampshire in2 county champion from a highly competitive field of Hampshire’s leading clubs, posing a difficult challenge for the girls. Drawn in a tough group they won all their pool matches without conceding a goal and scoring 10 goals across their four matches. As group winners they faced Romsey in the semi-final; having led 1-0 for most of the game, Romsey equalised on the final play sending the game to penalty shuffles. Winchester scored all three of their shuffles and some fabulous saves from the goalkeeper sent Winchester into the final against Haslemere. Once more having led from the start, Haslemere scored on the final play of the match sending the final to penalties, again! The teams could not be separated after the first round of shuffles so it went to sudden death. Winchester’s talent shone through, with all penalties converted and fabulous keeping securing a well-deserved victory.

With the U12 girls winning their league and grabbing silver at their championship the week before, Winchester’s dominance at this level continues.

Next up – regional finals.