Gum Shields - A Warning Shot!

Following is a message from the family of one of our U12 girls, urging everyone to consider players have the appropriate protective equipment… please read!

Hi everyone, I’m Zazie, mum of Charlii in the blacks. Yesterday Charlii was injured in the In2 hockey hockey tournament. A sideline hit, that was intended to be hit very hard cross pitch, ended up in the air and hitting Charlii on the upper lip at five yard range. She has a nasty injury on the inside of her mouth - her upper lip has basically split on the inside causing a deep gash 4cm long almost to the outer skin. Sorry for the gruesome details, but A&E told me they have no doubt that if she wasn’t wearing a decent gum shield she would have lost multiple teeth.

Fortunately, I forked out £50 on an Opro custom-fit gum shield with enhanced protection this season. At first she resisted wearing it as it felt big and uncomfortable but it has saved her teeth. I am sending this message because I watch the girls playing hockey a lot, and I see so many of them wearing loose fitting gum shields that they have hanging half chewed out of their mouths as they’re running / playing. I urge you to please get them ones more appropriate for the level of play they are at now. As much as Charlii is suffering right now and looks like she’s had a Botox accident, it could have been a different story.

U18 Girls

EH Plate QF vs Spencer - 2-2, losing on penalty flicks

Scorers: Alice, Megan

The girls played an excellent first half and took the lead just before the break with a well-worked short corner which Alice scored from. We had some great runs of attacking play with several short corners and good chances on goal; the opposition’s goalie had to work hard. Megan eventually capitalised on this and we were in control of the game, leading 2-0 until the last ten minutes. Unfortunately, they scored two goals in quick succession and we went to penalty flicks.

So, we left the competition as we started, losing on flicks. A long journey to Dulwich and a frustrating outcome but the team played really well and should be proud of their achievements.

U16 Boys

EH Tier 1 SupraLeague Plate knockout vs Clifton Robinsons - 2-3

Scorers: George, Eddie

It's always disappointing when a cup run comes to an end, but in this high quality game there could be only one winner, and sadly it wasn't Winchester. Exit from the cup brings the competitive season to a premature end for the U16 boys.

The results of these two teams suggested that this would be a tight encounter, and so it proved. It has been a recurring theme for Winchester that they have played some superb build-up hockey, dominating possession and territory, but failing to convert this into the number of goals required to finish teams off. From the start of the game, Winchester - with Eddie once again in control of the midfield - dominated but just couldn't score. A couple of short corners were close, Bertie fired shots just wide and Thomas found the net at the back post only for the goal to be disallowed. CR on the other hand were reliant on counterattacks, and these were often very effective. Their fast, strong centre forward clinically finished when put through on goal, and another breakaway won a short corner which was scrambled in after Finn saved the first effort.

So at half time, despite their dominance, the boys found themselves 2-0 down.

The coaches and boys put their trust in the game plan, and resilience was in evidence as the boys fought back in style. Continued dominance of possession started to create more chances. George turned in a fierce shot from Tom N, and then Eddie slammed home a well-worked short corner. With ten minutes to go, the momentum was with Winchester, but CR remained dangerous on the break. Winchester had their chances, but with five minutes to go another CR counterattack won a short corner which was dispatched with a fine drag flick into the top corner. The final few minutes became chaotic as Winchester desperately sought an equaliser, but the final whistle soon came, to CR relief.

This group has been a delight to coach. They have tremendous friendship bonds and have approached the season in high spirits and always in good humour. The team philosophy developed pre-season has provided an important structure to how the team plays and conducts itself. Whilst some mid-season adaptations have taken place, there has been a consistent way of playing that has given the team a clear identity. Despite some disappointing narrow defeats, the team can be proud of a successful season.

U14 Girls

A’s EH Tier 1 Cup QF vs Wimbledon - 4-5

The GU14 A’s travelled to Wimbledon for their T1 Cup quarter-final. The Wimbledon girls hit the ground running and stunned Winchester with some fast moving hockey scoring two goals before the Winchester girls had got into the stride of their game. Another goal from Wimbledon saw Winchester 3-0 down in the first 15 minutes and a mountain to climb to get back into the match. But climb it they did, the one-on-one training has started to pay off, so when a long ball found Rosanna in the D one-on-one with the keeper, she coolly slotted it past her for a Winchester goal. Unfortunately, not long after - despite the best efforts of the Winchester back line (Ally, Poppy, Sophie and Bella) and a few great saves from Ella - Wimbledon scored another. 4-1 down but Winchester never let up and with Zoe, Ottilie and Venne working their socks off in midfield, the Winchester attackers (Emma, Thea, Orla and Rosanna) continued to penetrate the Wimbledon D. Just before half-time, Rosanna popped away her second goal for Winchester.

After half-time, Winchester continued to dig deep and were clearly the more dominant team in the second half; the Wimbledon coach was looking concerned. Violet took a great long ball to attack the D for another one-on-one with the keeper, there was never any doubt she wouldn’t score. 4-3 and the comeback was on. Annoyingly, pushing players high meant gaps started to show and Wimbledon slotted away another, 5-3. In the dying minutes of the game, Violet scored another to pull Winchester back to 5-4.

Sadly they ran out of time and the final whistle blew, but there were so many positives to take away from this game. Wimbledon were a strong team and Winchester pushed them all the way. They scored goals and finished opportunities, which they have struggled to do at times this season. And the girls showed great resilience, they never gave up and truly believed they could perform against some of the toughest teams in their age group. Next week will test this when they play Stourport who are currently sitting top of the T1 U14 Supraleague.

B’s EH Tier 2 Plate QF Vs Surbiton Ospreys - 1-6

Scorer: Aggie

It was obvious in the warm-up that the Bs were going to have their work cut out against a very skilled (and tall) Surbiton side. The first few minutes confirmed this with an early goal and a struggle to get out from our own D. The girls didn’t let this get to them and eventually Annabel managed to make a first break, but the sheer size of the Surbiton defence meant little ground could be gained by our attackers, leaving us defending hard to keep it to five goals by half-time.

After the break, the girls rose to the challenge magnificently, going toe-to-toe with a bigger and faster side, battling for every ball, first frustrating Surbiton and then starting to put together some attacks of their own. It was still going to take something special to score, and a quick and precise move was finished off by Aggie, cueing loud celebrations and a second half draw, to take the final score to 1-6.

Whilst Lara definitely earned her Player of the Match award after managing 32+ shots on goal, the whole team deserved it, fighting to the final minute and raising their game to match a side that may well go on to win the national plate.

U14 Boys

EH Tier 2 cup qf vs Surbiton Scorpions - 2-0

Scorers: Will L, James F

A spot in the semi-finals for the EH Tier 2 cup was at stake as Winchester U14 boys hosted Surbiton on a cold and wet February at Kings’ School Pitch. Surbiton were clearly out for blood as they started strongly and jumped at the chance to attack when one of the Winchester backs slipped on a saturated pitch. Covering tackles by Ollie R, Hines and strong saves by Berty kept them at bay.

Winchester then had to soak up ten minutes of sustained pressure and a couple of short corners before they could break out and put Surbiton under pressure.

It was a very close game and it was only through great interplay in the middle between Vinnie, Benno and Ollie B, resulting in a short which Lamby dispatched, which moved Winchester one goal clear going into the half-time break.

The weather didn't relent and neither did Surbiton’s desire for the win, with them now chasing a goal. However there was some great wing-play feeding the forwards with Isaac, Natt, Rossiter and James putting in the legwork to make sure they felt the pressure and making the pitch small so they couldn't easily break out. This pressure paid off as James F slotted Winchester’s second home, in open play.

They boys held off and every one of them put in a performance to be proud of. Thanks also to the supporting parents who were in great vocal form proving encouragement from the start to the last whistle.

Semi-finals here we come.

U12 Girls

Hampshire In2 Hockey Tournament

Winchester U12 girls successfully got through to the Regionals by getting to the final of the Hampshire In2 hockey tournament on Sunday 25th Feb. Haslemere hosted, but torrid rain and cold throughout made it a very challenging day. In the six group games, Winchester scored 17 without reply, with the toughest games being 1-0 victories against Basingstoke and old foes Trojans.

The team met Haslemere in the semi-final who are very strong, but Winchester battled back from a goal down to narrowly win 2-1. Then Romsey in the final took the lead, were pinned back but then scored with a few minutes left. The team tired a bit and lost Charlii as a key player to a nasty mouth gash from a raised ball (she will be OK, the gumshield saving teeth).

Top scorer was Emily with nine; Charlie scored four, Imo and Melita on three each and Millie with one. Eleanor in goal was decisive and punchy throughout. The back three of Rosie, Daisy and Flo rotated well and a +17 goal difference speaks for itself. Patterns of play from training were evident and unselfish circle play led to a lot of great goals. Imo, Betty, Millie and Charlii in midfield defended well and transferred the ball through the lines with skill. Melita and Emily led the line with constant threat, but got back where needed. All in all the squad of ten stood up and delivered under pressure. Well done.

U12 Boys

Hampshire In2 Hockey Tournament

Throughout the season we have maintained the club’s philosophy of “hockey for all”. Sunday was different and we selected a strong line up that we hoped would compete with the top teams in Hampshire. In the wind and the rain the boys did not disappoint.

First match up was Alton and after a nervy start the boys settled and won the game comfortably 2-0 with goals from Will and Bertie.

Basingstoke was up next; with confidence growing and Will charging down the wing the boys created chance after chance but they could not convert. Basingstoke against the run of play scored two breakaway goals to win 2-0. To their credit the boys rallied and wins over Portsmouth and Andover followed.

Up next was Trojans with a place in the semi-finals on the line. For ten minutes Winchester were the better team and took an early lead with a well-taken goal from Seb. But one goal was never going to be enough, losing their shape for a split second meant Trojans equalised 1-1. Then with the last play of the game Trojans were awarded a short corner which was struck well to make the final score 2-1.

Our final game was against an unbeaten Havant - a side top of the Hampshire Tier 1 division. Again the boys showed up and went toe-to-toe with a team that went on to make the final. Alas once again they were to be outdone by a shot from the top of the D that went top corner with the last play of the game. Final score 1-0 to Havant.

The team should be very proud of how they played and represented the club.