Penarth Ladies 1’s unforgettable campaign

Unbeaten seasons are rare in the sporting world; winning every single game across all competitions is unheard of. But that’s exactly what Penarth Ladies 1 have managed to achieve this season, winning the West Premier, Welsh National Championship and EuroHockey Club Challenge I titles with an intact 100% record.

The spectacular achievement has meant the team has won all 30 of its matches throughout the campaign, earning promotion in domestic league competition as well as in Europe.

“At the start of season, we met and agreed our objectives for the season,” Head Coach Carys Gordon explained to Hoci Cymru. “This included a top-two finish in the league, winning the Welsh Cup and finishing in the top four of the EuroHockey Club Challenge I.”

While belief was always there within the strong Penarth Ladies side, expectations were shattered as they went on a barnstorming 22-game league season in which they didn’t drop a single point and a resounding Welsh National Championship journey that saw them lift the trophy having not even conceded a goal.

“It has been an amazing season,” confirmed Gordon, “with an amazing squad and one we will never forget!

It all started back in September, when a 4-1 victory away at Swindon provided the foundation for a memorable year.

And that foundation was certainly built on; 21 matches later, Penarth Ladies had secured their 22nd victory from 22 matches as they beat Bristol Firebrands 2 6-1 to conclude their league season.

Their unstoppable, unattainable and unrelenting form saw 16 different players notch 84 goals and only 14 goals get past them during the campaign, as they finished 21 points in front of their nearest challengers University of Bristol 1.

“Across the year, there has been a clear improvement in the team’s cohesion, communication and confidence,” commented Lottie Bates, team captain. “Balancing hockey alongside work, study and other commitments is never easy, but every member of the squad consistently showed commitment, worked hard for one another and contributed to the standards that drove the season forward.”

And in that time, Penarth Ladies 1 had made sure of their place at National Finals weekend in Swansea as yet another dominant run saw them score 15 and let in none on route to the final.

A 10-0 win over the club’s second team, a 5-0 win over Eirias 1 in the last eight, and a hard-fought 1-0 beating of Cardiff & Met 1 in the semi-final all led to the showpiece event, where they added four more goals to the season’s tally in a resounding 4-0 victory against Howardian 1.

But 26 from 26 and a double wasn’t enough.

Rounding of the season would be a trip to Poland for the EuroHockey Club Challenge I. With astounding momentum behind them, Penarth Ladies 1 continued their rampaging form as they claimed a 3-0 win against Gibraltar’s Europa HC and a 4-0 win over HC Luxembourg to start the tournament positively.

A rollercoaster of a match against Croatian outfit HAHK Mladost would come next, and an uphill battle ensued when Penarth found themselves 2-0 down within 11 minutes.

A fervent cocktail of momentum, belief and quality, however, proved instrumental in a thunderous comeback as Naomi Wilde and the tournament’s top-scorer Amy Burton bagged a quickfire double to make it 2-2 just after the half-hour mark; and, with 15 minutes remaining, Millicent Bushnell rounded off the breathless comeback win.

With the wind in their sails, Penarth went into the first / third play-off game against tournament hosts KS Hokej Start Brzeziny with the aim of getting their 30th win of the season in their 30th outing.

Another taxing battle saw the sides locked at 2-2 as the clock hit 60; fate, however, seemed to fall the way of the Welsh team as Harriette Wilcock proved the heroine to find the net right at the death and secure a third title of the campaign.

To accompany the domestic double, therefore, Penarth Ladies 1 returned home with a top-spot finish in the EuroHockey Club Challenge I to their name.

A truly astonishing season is now at an end, but the future will bring more exciting challenges for the team.

Next year will see them jump from regional to national competition thanks to promotion to the Women’s Conference West, as well as a higher level of European competition as they compete in the EuroHockey Club Trophy II.

“For the players, it’s hard to put into words what this season has meant,” Bates told us. “Everyone in the squad has committed so much time and energy, so to see that hard work pay off in such a special way has been really rewarding. Winning the league, Welsh Cup and then competing in Europe together has created memories we’ll never forget.

“What’s made it even more special is how close the group is off the pitch as well. We’ve built a really positive environment where everyone works hard for each other, and I think that togetherness has been one of the biggest reasons behind the success we’ve had this year.

“Looking ahead to next season, I think the group is really excited by the challenge,” she continued. “Promotion back to National Conference and stepping up into EuroHockey Trophy II gives us an opportunity to keep testing ourselves against stronger opposition and continue improving. We know the level will be higher, but this squad is ambitious and motivated to keep pushing forward and see how far we can go together.”