Girls' U18 Midland Hockey Finals

Monday 30th November at Rugby School, Horton Crescent, Rugby, CV22 5DJ

Repton are in Group A.  Group B - Denstone, Worksop, Leicester GS & Rugby.

9.30am Repton vs. Oundle  - Won 4-0 (Siebert (F), (F), Leigh (F), Smith (F))

11.10am Repton vs. King's High - Won 5-0  (Green (F), Leigh (PC), Juncker (F), Johnson (F))

12.50pm Repton vs. Bromsgrove - Won 4-1 (Green (F), Leigh (F), Siebert (F), Krone (PC))

3.30pm - Semi Final vs Denstone - Won 5-0 (Siebert (F), (F), Brown (F), Leigh (F), Juncker (F))

4.20pm - Final vs Worksop - Won 4-1  (McCallin (F), (F), Leigh (F), Juncker (F))

Repton become Midlands U18 Champions for the eighth consecutive year and progress to the National Finals in March.  These are to be held at Cannock HC on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd March.

Squad: H.Dunford, A.Church, A.Krone, L.McIntosh, M.Byas, L.Smith, W.Mumby, R.Siebert, J.Leigh, S.McCallin, E.Green (Capt.), R.Rogers, F.Juncker, R.Johnson, R.Brown, S.Hawkins, G.Sanderson (17)

Report:    This was a comprehensive victory for the Repton girls who performed well from start to finish.  Having laboured to a victory against Oundle in our school fixture this season, it was pleasing to see the ease with which the first game was won.  The girls looked composed in possession in midfield and at the back whilst being sharp around the circle.  Laura Smith's deflected goal was probably the pick of the four.  After beating Kings High well, a first-placed finish in the group was virtually assured before the Bromsgrove game.  In spite of this there was no let up and the girls turned in another confident performance.  Grace Sanderson made her tournament debut for the 1st XI and had an excellent game.

With two teams qualifying to the National Finals from this tournament, the semi-final was the most crucial game of the day. Denstone were the opponents and, probably with the earlier season game in the back of their minds, never threatened.  Jo Leigh scored the third with a calm but powerful finish after following up a rebound.  Friedi Juncker scored the spectacular final goal with a deflection after Meg Byas' powerful run and hit in to the circle.

Shona McCallin scored a superb reverse-stick strike after Jo Leigh had followed up another rebound to put the final out of Worksop's reach after about ten minutes.  After a very long day, the hockey in the final wasn't the best that Repton had played as possession was given away a surprising amount but the performance was more than good enough. 

This was the most convincing win of the last eight years and is credit to a superb team unit.  The next task is to win the National Finals in an equally comprehensive fashion.