Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bay and United dominate finals day schedule
Roller hockey
Herne Bay RHC’S junior section rounded off a memorable season for the club with three wins out of four in the National Cup finals.
First match of the day saw the under11s pitched against Maidstone who, on paper, were the strongest team in the South East region having won previous encounters this season.
The match began with four goals shared between these competitive young teams but Bay eventually found their form and ran away with a 5-2 victory.
Bay’s under-15s were seeking a win to qualify for a European Cup winners’ tournament in Barcelona in October and came up against old foes Cottenham from the Eastern Counties. On this occasion, Bay controlled the game from start to finish, the final scoreline being 7-1.
Bay’s under-13s were also pitted against competition from the Eastern Counties region in the shape of Letchworth.
This group of players has previous National Cup pedigree, having won the under-11s trophy in 2015 and they played a competitive game to win 4- 0. Captain Joe Chipperfield received further recognition as National Player -of-the-year for this age group.
The under-17 match was the last game of the day and pitted Bay against local rivals HBU.
The previous week HBU won the South Eastern Counties Cup final 3-2 against the same opposition.
Bay fielded the same under-15 team that had played earlier in the day and set off strongly against an older HBU team, going into an early 2- 0 lead.
This prompted a reaction from HBU and they responded with a goal from Cameron Lawrie and two in a minute from George Daly to lead at half-time 32 despite missing a penalty which could have extended their lead.
The pattern of play remained the same in the second half was the same but HBU failed to extend their lead while both teams missed chances with Rhys Young saving a Herne Bay penalty to ensure victory.
HBU president Ron Barker said: “We have a strong team but the local rivalry got to our players and the Herne Bay goalkeeper Lucas Crow did a great job.
“Herne Bay club won all their other finals so we spoilt their perfect day. Apart from the senior men’s match, the two Herne Bay clubs won everything.”
Congratulations were due to Jasper Dobson for winning the national best player award in the under-11 age group. HBU: Rhys Young, Jack Thomas, Harrison Raven, Ollie Hudson, George Daly, Luke Huckstepp, Cameron Lawrie, Harry Slack, Max Bassom.
HBU’S other side also made it through to their final.
The under-20s and current National Cup holders faced King’s Lynn.
HBU started confidently but found it hard to break down the organised King’s Lynn side until captain Josh Branchett scored to make it 1- 0 at the break.
Five minutes after the interval Branchett made it 2- 0 and David Martindale added a third within two minutes, though Lynn pulled two goals back to return the tie to the balance.
With Lynn tiring and needing to press for another goal, HBU kept it tight until three minutes from time when goals from Lewis Greenwood, David Martindale and George Daly sealed a decisive victory.
Barker said: “King’s Lynn have won the Premier League this season and I knew we would be in for a tough match. Our team followed the game plan and produced a solid performance which we need as most of them will be part of our Premier League squad next season.” HBU: Rhys Young, Jack Thomas, Josh Branchett, David Martindale, Lewis Greenwood, Will Parkinson-wellard, Josh Butcher, Matt Lawrie, Ollie Hudson, George Daly.