WOMEN'S INDOOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011/12
29th January – Merthyr Tydfil
Howardian regained their indoor title despite being run close by Dowlais
Howardian, Dowlais, Cardiff Athletic and Cardiff University made it through to the Finals on Sunday at Merthyr, after securing their places having competed against seven other teams in the South Wales Indoor League over the previous three weekends.
Although Howardian and Dowlais were the favourites going into the tournament, in the very first match the students almost caused an upset in a very close game against Dowlais. At half time Dowlais led by a single goal but eventually ran out winners 5 – 3.
All three teams ran out comfortable winners against the fourth team in the tournament, Cardiff Athletic.
The fourth match of the day proved to be the most exciting with the students taking on League winners Howardian. In the 4th minute the students, playing very good hockey, took the lead, which they held on to until half time. Howardian came out in the 2nd half looking very determined and put the University under a lot of pressure but it took until the 28th minute before they could draw level and they then added a second goal 2 minutes later. The last 10 minutes saw play going end to end with both sides making chances only to be thwarted by good goalkeeping. Finally the more experienced Howardian team ran out winners by 2 goals to 1, which meant that the final match of the day Howardian v Dowlais would prove to be the tournament decider.
Both teams started very tentatively and it wasn’t until the 16th minute that Howardian managed to break the deadlock with a well taken Penalty Corner. There followed a hectic four minutes which saw Dowlais draw level only to be overtaken once more on the stroke of half time.
Five minutes into the second half Dowlais again drew level only to be well beaten by the end of the match by five goals to two.
Before presenting the cup to Howardian, who will represent Wales in the EuroHockey Indoor Championships next season, Anne Ellis, Hockey Wales president, thanked the South Wales Competitions Committee who organised the SW Indoor League, the Cup organisers, Umpires and Table personnel. Anne then went on to wish Dowlais good luck hosting and playing in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge to be held at Merthyr from the 24th – 26th February 2011 and asked all teams to support their endeavours.
Match schedule
| 10:00 | Cardiff University | 3 | Dowlais | 5 |
| 11:00 | Howardian | 10 | Cardiff Athletic | 0 |
| 12:10 | Dowlais | 4 | Cardiff Athletic | 0 |
| 13:10 | Cardiff University | 1 | Howardian | 2 |
| 14:20 | Cardiff Athletic | 1 | Cardiff University | 8 |
| 15:20 | Howardian | 5 | Dowlais | 2 |
1st: Howardian Champions (9 points)
2nd: Dowlais (6)
3rd: Cardiff University (3)
4th: Cardiff Athletic (0)
