EHFC Day Three Review & Day Four Preview
After three days of competition we have reached the climax of the 2008 England Hockey Futures Cup at Cannock HC, and what a ride it has been.
Day three, Saturday, saw our second day of U16 competition and the Mercia Lynx U16 girls started things off in dramatic style as they inflicted another 7-2 defeat on the Pennine Pumas a day after the Saxon Tigers girls had beaten the team in black by the same score. In truth, 7-2 was a bit of a surprise scoreline after the Pumas had fought back from 2-0 down to go in at the break with the scores level at 2-2. Unfortunately for the team from the north their own mistakes cost them dearly as first they presented Deborah Greer with the ball on the top of the circle just two minutes into the second half and she made no mistake to restore the Lynx’ lead. From there it was one-way traffic as the Mercia Lynx girls fired in another four goals - including Emily Court’s hat-trick goal - to go top of the table, albeit with the Saxon Tigers and Wessex Leopards still to play. In the second U16 girls game the Saxon Tigers dispatched four past the Wessex Leopards to level things at the top of the girls table with Minnie James netting her fifth of the tournament after just five minutes.
Despite there being no ‘final’ in the U16 tournaments the match between Saxon Tigers and Mercia Lynx is effectively just that with both sides locked at the top of table on six points and identical goal differences while the Leopards and the Pumas are separated by just two goals difference, the Leopards on -8 to the Pumas’ -10.
In the U16 boys competition, goals from Adam Clarke and Luke Emmet gave the Wessex Leopards a two goal lead over the Saxon Tigers who could only manage one goal through Tom Batchelor, who managed to hold off three Wessex Leopards defenders before firing home. For the Leopards it was a great result, thanks largely to some excellent goalkeeping from Harry Gibson and firmly put to bed the 6-2 defeat of the previous day. In the other U16 boys game, Tom Brown’s late goal from close range snatched all three points for the Pennine Pumas, who had gone behind early in their match with Mercia Lynx to a great reverse stick strike by Charlie Willars. Mercia Lynx ultimately paid the price for a series of missed first half opportunities as the Pennine Pumas controlled the bulk of the second half and their persistence around the Lynx circle was rewarded with a free hit late on. From the hit, Tom French found Tom Brown’s stick just a yard from goal and he secured three points for the Pumas. The results meant that after two games each, all four sides have one once and lost once, and are tied on three points each going into their final matches.
Going into the last round of games all four teams can top the group having won one and lost one. With the Saxon Tigers and Mercia Lynx both sitting with positive goal differences all eyes should be on their match at 9:00am for the potential group-topper.
There were wins for the Wessex Leopards and Mercia Lynx in the girls U18 competition, with the Lynx win putting them into today’s final, topping the table with three wins from three and a +17 goal difference. Their win in the U18 girls’ second match of the day, 4-0 over the Saxon Tigers sealed an impressive three days for them with goals from Lucy Horn, Hayley Turner, Holly Brown and Rachel Mac. Prior to that match the Wessex Leopards eventually beat the Pennine Pumas 3-1 after a poor first half. Two from Georgia Rawlinson and one for Louise Hopkins gave the Leopards their three points after Rosie Tootell gave the Pumas the lead from a penalty corner.
It is hard to look beyond the Mercia Lynx girls for the U18 girls competition with their +17 goal difference and no goals conceded but tell that to the Wessex Leopards who showed they in yesterday’s game against the Pumas that they can battle when they need to. With the U18 Saxon Tigers girls yet to score a goal they go into the 3rd/4th playoff against Pennine Pumas with a point to prove.
Going into day three, the boys’ U18 tournament was wide open and after the Tigers and Lynx had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw (with a goal each in the last three minutes) the Pumas and the Leopards met knowing that a win was all that would put the Leopards into the final while, for the Pumas a draw was enough. In a fast-paced game in which four yellow cards were brandished, the Leopards contributed to their own downfall as they asked one question too many of the umpire’s decision to award the Pumas a free hit on the edge of the circle. The result was an upgrading of the corner and a yellow card for the Leopards’ lead protester and the Pennine Pumas duly took advantage as Andy Bull scored his second corner of the competition to share the points and secure a place in Sunday’s final against the Saxon Tiger, whom the Pumas beat 2-0 on the opening evening.
Since that loss to the Pumas the Saxon Tigers U18 boys have netted seven times in two games while the Pumas have scored just once. Could we be in for a Tigers victory? In the 3rd/4th playoff the Mercia Lynx boys, who have improved in every game this week, take on the Leopards who managed one win, one draw and a defeat in the pool stages.
With eight games on show again today and every side with something to play for, we are sure to be in for a treat.
To keep up with all the results throughout the day, click here.
