MEN'S INDOOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011/12
28th January 2012, Caerleon
Cardiff & UWIC won the National Indoor title for the first time in many years in a tight competition.
In a fast and furious days hockey both clubs came through their early games unscathed although Whitchurch came a little too close to comfort in their narrow 5-4 victory over Swansea Bay who themselved are previous holders of the indoor title. Although Wrexham Glyndwr had only 7 players to select from who knows what could have happened if they had been able to bring a full squad - an upset could certainly have been on the cards in a number of their games. Cardiff University showed glimpses of their fomer glory in beating Swansea Bay but could not quite match the skills of the two other Cardiff clubs. Other than a heavy defeat in their opening game Swansea Bay ran every other team close and but for a few missed chances could have challenged at the top end of the tournament. The last match proved to be the final with Whitchurch only requiring a draw to take the title in view of the fact that they had scored more goals than Cardiff & UWIC with the goal difference being identical. Cardiff & UWIC took an early lead through skipper Dafydd Tomos but were soon pegged back through a well taken Brendan Baxter equaliser. Whitchurch went behind again when Tomos scored his second of the match but Ben Croxall pulled them level with just 12' gone. The action was end to end and the skills of the two EHL teams seemed to cancel each other out. Just after the break Luke Hawker gave Cardiff & UWIC the lead for the third time and this was followed up after 25' when Hawker scored another open play goal to give his team a bit of breathing space. With Whitchurch pressing to get back into the match but being unable to penetrate the solid defence the decision was made to substitute their goalkeeper with a kicking-back, giving them an additional outfield player. Chances came and went for both sides but it was Cardiff & UWIC who sealed their first title when Henry Ericsson converted a late penalty corner to give his side a deserved victory and the right to represent Hockey Wales in the EuroHockey Indoor Championships next season.
Match schedule
| 08:30 | Whitchurch | 10 | Cardiff Uni. | 1 |
| 09:20 | Cardiff & UWIC | 9 | Swansea Bay | 1 |
| 10:10 | Cardiff Uni | 4 | Wrexham Glyndwr | 6 |
| 11:00 | Whitchurch | 5 | Swansea Bay | 4 |
| 11:50 | Cardiff & UWIC | 10 | Wrexham Glyndwr | 4 |
| 12:40 | Cardiff Uni | 6 | Swansea Bay | 5 |
| 14:00 | Whitchurch | 16 | Wrexham Glyndwr | 2 |
| 14:50 | Cardiff & UWIC | 10 | Cardiff Uni. | 0 |
| 15:40 | Swansea Bay | 9 | Wrexham Glyndwr | 7 |
| 16:30 | Whitchurch | 2 | Cardiff & UWIC | 5 |
1st: Cardiff & UWIC (Champions) (12 points)
2nd: Whitchurch
(9)
3rd: Swansea Bay (3)
4th: Wrexham Glyndwr (3)
5th: Cardiff University (3)
