HOPES AHEAD OF WEMBLEY FINALS

Canterbury Ladies head to Wembley Arena this weekend believing they can be crowned national indoor hockey champions for the first time.

The Polo Farm outfit finished third in the Premier Division after recording five wins from their eight games at Telford School either side of Christmas to book a Super6s semi- final against Bowdon Hightown at Wembley on Sunday (12.15pm).

Canterbury are seeking a return to the final, where they lost to East Grinstead last year, which will be held at 4pm against the winner of the day’s first semi-final between Slough and Sutton Coldfield.

Co- captain Helen Fagg (pictured) said: “It probably helps us to be the second semi. We were the first last year and still won but it’s good to acclimatise and get used to the atmosphere.

“The most important thing for us, though, is our preparation, we want to relax and focus on ourselves. It’s all about that first game.

“The final would be a bonus and we’ll only think about that once the semi is out of the way. We have to take it one at a time.”

After helping the city club qualify for the finals, Tinesha Carey has returned to New Zealand and Fagg said: “It’s unfortunate but it was down to visas.

“She’s a loss for us because she did well and she is a character but we are still pretty happy with the strength of our squad.”

Bowdon keeper Amy Tennant is expected to return for the showpiece and her opposite number Fagg said: “If she does play it is a great addition for them. She’s been the difference for them in the past.”

Tennant showed her class with a series of saves as Bowdon beat Canterbury 5-4 in the semi-finals of the Super5s two years ago. Canterbury beat Bowdon 5-3 on the final day of action at Telford School on January 8 and also overcame them 2-1 outdoors at Polo Farm in November but Fagg said: “It’s going to be tough. Bowdon are so experienced and have played so much indoor hockey at this level. “The fact that we beat them outdoors doesn’t make much of a difference as the games are so different but the fact that we beat them indoors gives us a lot of confidence. “We know we can do it, we have to play with a similar intensity to that game to do it again.” She added: “Last year we made it through to the final, so we know we can get there. “We have a young squad with a lot of energy and hopefully our fitness levels would help us if we were to make it to the final.” East Grinstead beat Canterbury to claim the sole place in Europe last year and with outdoor European competition already

‘Every team will be going there thinking they can win it and we are no different’

to look forward to in the spring, Fagg added: “It’s definitely doable for us to make it in both indoor and outdoor. That’s the dream.

“Every team will be going there thinking they can win it and we are no different.”

priced from £18.50-£33.50 for adults, or £8-£18 for under-18s are available from www.englandhockey.co.uk or at Wembley Arena on the day.