2018 HOCKEY WALES YOUTH FINALS

Last weekend saw the eagerly awaited 2018 Hockey Wales Youth Finals take place in Newtown.

The weekend started with an U18 Girls semi-final match (rescheduled from earlier in the season).  Colwyn Bay took an early lead with a goal from Eve Butler in the 10th minute.  Swansea City were not deterred and continue to chip away, with Vivian Izzie scoring an equaliser early in the second half before sealing their victory with a penalty corner goal in 67th minute and a Catrin Ferguson goal in the 68th minute

Final Score:         Swansea City U18 Girls                   3 – 1       Colwyn Bay U18 Girls

Dysynni played Swansea City in the U15 (North v South) Boys final – the Dysynni squad had played together for a number of years, being U11 and U13 national champions and with 5 players in the National Age Group Programme and 3 players in the Aspire Programme, Swansea City were always going to have their work cut out.  Three penalty corner goals, 2 from Aodhan O’Regan and 1 from Dafydd Jones gave the title to Dysynni

Final Score:         Dysynni U15 Boys                            3 – 0       Swansea City U15 Boys

Swansea City U18 girls took to the field again for their final against Whitchurch Saints.  Saints struck early with a goal in the 3rd minute for Alana Hamilton-Toombs, end to end play resulted in shots on goal and great saves from both teams and goalkeeper.  Jess Hill scored for Whitchurch Saints in 50th minute, Freya Fleming converted a penalty corner for Swansea City in the 63rd minute but despite constant pressure Saints held onto their lead

Final Score:         Whitchurch Saints U18 Girls        2 – 1       Swansea City U18 Girls

In the U18 (North v South) Boys final Colwyn Bay played Whitchurch.  Max Margetson converted a Penalty Stroke for Colwyn Bay in the 53rd minute, Rhys Williams converted a Penalty Corner for Colwyn Bay in the 61st minute, Whitchurch came straight back with Will Couston scoring from a Penalty Corner in the 63rd minute.  Max Margetson scored his second and Colwyn Bay’s third and final goal with 10 minutes to go

Final Score:         Colwyn Bay U18 Boys                     3 – 1       Whitchurch U18 Boys

In the final, final of the day Gwent played Whitchurch Saints in the U15 girls finals.  Gwent battled hard and never gave up, Cerys Edmunds in the Gwent goal made some fantastic saves but a well drilled Saints squad took their opportunities well and scored regularly throughout the match.  Gwenno Manley scored a hat trick, whilst Tegwen Applemford, Poppy Youngs, Katie Gwyther and Cerys Bailey scored one each

Final Score:         Whitchurch Saints U15 Girls        7 – 0       Gwent U15 Girls

Thanks to John Taylor and #thirdteam (Alice Gregory, Carol Lewis, Chloe McCall, Clare Barwood, Darren Lock, Jane Price, Jon McCall, Kevin Roberts, Lesley Bayne, Luke Rees, Megan James, Tesni Galvin, Toni-Lee Lambert) for umpiring and officiating throughout the day.

Thanks to Paul Riley, HW Board Director and Competitions TAG Chair, and Elliot Pottinger, HW Mid Wales Club Development Officer for making the presentations.

Thanks to Irfon Bennett, for taking photographs and capturing all those key moments – how does he do it?

Thanks to Anne Mullin and John Taylor, our National Competitions Coordinators, finals would not happen without their hard work and dedication and we are extremely grateful for everything they do for competitions in Wales.

U18 Girls semi-final                         Swansea City                      3 – 1       Colwyn Bay

U15 Boys Final                                   Dysynni                                3 – 0       Swansea City

U18 Girls final                                    Whitchurch Saints            2 – 1       Swansea City

U18 Boys Final                                   Colwyn Bay                         3 – 1       Whitchurch

U15 Girls Final                                   Whitchurch Saints            7 – 0       Gwent

#YouthFinalsHockey #Youthhockey