Match Reports Compiled By:- Paul Graham Junior hockey match reports - Halifax Hockey Club Sunday 11th April The Halifax U14 boys team had a really good day at the Yorkshire league play-offs on Sunday 11th April coming 2nd (narrowly losing out to Wakefield 1-0 in the final. The top 6 teams in Yorkshire came to Park Lane High’s double astro (home of Halifax HC) to play in the end of season Play offs. The 6 teams were split into 2 pools of 3 and each pool played each other (ie 2 games each). The winners of each pool played in a final , the 2nd in each pool played for 3rd & 4th position with the 3rd in each pool playing off for 5th & 6th Place. Halifax were drawn with Ben Rhydding and Rotherham. 1st game was a scrappy game with neither side getting the basic skills correct on a dry slightly bobbly pitch. The game however was an exciting one which was end to end and either side looked capable of winning. Peter Garside and Arron Charlton were solid in defence and Matthew Ward was sharp to block out the threat of the dangerous Ben Rhydding centre forward. Good work from Ethan Hogson earned the team a penalty corner and Connor Sutcliffe stepped up to crash the ball in from the well worked routine. Ben Rhydding pressed forward and deservedly equalised late in the game. (1-1) The game between Rotherham and Ben Ryhdding was also a draw so the Halifax lads knew they needed to beat Rotherham to top the group and go into the final. The team played a lot better with the passing and control more precise. Fred Owen (the teams top scorer) however had a back injury and was unable to complete the 2nd game and his finishing skills were missed in this game and the final. However Matthew Bairstow worked tirelessly to deny Rotherham space and with Kristian Mayland (The Halifax’s speedy winger) causing Rotherham all sorts of problems, chances started to fall for the team. Mayland finished off a fine move after good work from Matty Stubley flicking the ball home high into the net. Halifax kept the spectators biting their nails as they missed 3 good chances to finish Rotherham off and on the break Rotherham created a couple of chances for themselves. The team won the game 1-0 which was a fair result. The final against Wakefield who convincingly won both their pool games was a very competitive match with Josh Sutcliffe and the Wakefield star player having a battle royal in midfield. Zack Sutcliffe made some crucial saves to keep the Halifax lads in the game but was helpless when a powerful drag flick flew into the net from a penalty corner. Max Tingle had a good game keeping possession well and once again Bairstow, Josh Sutliffe and Ward were influential. Halifax didn’t give up and Josh Sutcliffe made a tremendous solo run only to see his final shot saved. Twin brother (Connor) also went close to equalising but his shot when agonizingly inches wide. Charlton and Garside showed lots of skill and control coming forward from defence but the loss of Mayland to cramp late in the game was decisive and despite the work of all the team to equalise, it was not to be. 2nd place was a fine effort and it has been a few years since one of the junior teams has done so well. Connor Sutcliffe received the runners up trophy. Yorkshire Junior Hockey league 17/01/2010 After several cancelled games, the Halifax Hockey Club U14 boys team managed to play their 4th round of matches in the Yorkshire league and despite the enforced 5 week break, the team managed a full house of 3 wins from 3. Coach, Johnny Sutcliffe was pleased but did feel the lads played as if they had eaten too many mince pies over Xmas. The 1st game was a comfortable 4-0 win over Leeds Adel. The defence was rarely troubled with Matthew Ward and Peter Garside in fine form. Fred Owens scored 2 goals cutting in from the right wing after good work from both Matthew Stubley and Matthew Bairstow both of whom excelled in all 3 games in the right channels. Ethan Hodson opened his account with a solid strike after good work from Arron charlton. Joshua Sutcliffe scored the 4th goal showing good close skills in the D to create space for the decisive shot. Game 2 was a more competitive game against sheffield but good finishing produced a fine 2-0 win. Ethan Hodson scored the 1st finishing off a fine move down the right. Connor Sutcliffe scored the 2nd from a penalty corner. The 3rd game could have gone either way and perhaps the lads were a little luck to come away with a 2-1 win against a strong Huddersfield outfit. Josh Sutcliffe scored a terrific 1st goal against the run of play taking the ball from the ½ way line before beating 3 opponents and firing into the corner. Huddersfield equalised quickly but the winner was scored by Mat Walker who finished off another fine move down the right with Fred Owen supplying the cross. Well done to Zack Sutcliffe in goal as he pulled off 2 fine saves late on to deny Huddersfield and points. Paul G Halifax Hockey Club – Junior Academy The following junior players have been successful in reaching the final trials for the West Yorkshire JAC(Junior Academy Centre) squad sessions. U13 Boys – Matthew Bairstow U14 Boys – Joshua Sutcliffe, Connor Sutcliffe and Kristian Mayland U15 Boys – Arron Charlton, Fred Owens and Matthew Ward U16 Boys – Benedict Barron, Oliver James, Sam Spencer and James Smith U17 Boys – Henry Shelton and Michael Jones Good luck to all these players at the trials in Leeds in January 2010. We hope several of these will be successful in the selection for the West Yorkshire teams. The Boys trials will take place at Leeds University(Weetwood) as follows U13 and 14 on January 10th 10am – 1pm U15 and 16 on January 31st 10am – 1pm U17 on January 31st 1pm – 4pm Sunday 6th December U16 boys The lads travelled to Thirsk on Sunday 6th December and played some good expansive hockey which surprised 2 of the very strong teams they had to play. Against Doncaster, Henry Shelton had an outstanding game in defence and was ably supported by Arron Charlton and Sam Spencer and Peter Garside. The team held out for some time against one of the strongest outfits in the North of England but were powerless to stop 2 terrific goals fired in by the Doncaster centre forward. James Smith got a goal back latching onto a great pass from Joshua Sutcliffe, but as the team pressed forward, Doncaster got a 3rd to seal the game. It was a similar story in the match versus Driffield with the highlight being a great goal from Younger West on his debut after skilful work by Benedict Barron and Oliver James down the right wing. (3-1 defeat). Fred Owens had a good game in goal and was rewarded with a clean sheet in the final game against Huddersfield as the Halifax lads dominated the game. James Smith’s speed was too much for the Huddersfield defence and he grabbed a brace of goals to give him 3 for the morning. Georges Moss worked tirelessly in all the games and was a strong influence throughout the morning. Sunday 22nd November U12 boys Like the U14 girls all but one of the U12 squad are either U11 or U10 so this year with many very new to the game. As a result, this was always going to be a development year although promotion at the last round of games in October was a good sign. However the team found the going fairly tough this Sunday in their 5 matches in the higher league although they were competitive and the games were all close in terms of possession and territory. Results V York lost 1-0 V Huddersfield lost 1-0 V Bridlington Won 1-0 V Leeds Lost 2-0 V Driffield lost 2-0 While the games against Leeds and Driffield were deserved defeats, the other 3 games could have gone either way with Cameron Rushworth going so close to scoring on 2 or 3 occasions. Rushworth had a good morning controlling the middle of the pitch and distributing bthe ball well. Tom Brady also was very good both in defence and passing the ball into attacking areas. Brady was unlucky to have a goal disallowed against Huddersfield as it seemed perfectly ok and would have given the team a deserved draw. David Garside was very good as the teams keeper and showed he has a good sense of positioning. Andrew MacDonald is improving every game as is Jamie Ambler both of whom only started playing the game in the last few Months. Marcus Burge scored the teams only goal after a good move down the right wing started by Max Frost and included contributions from James Fearnley and Brady, Burge finishing with some style. The team are likely to be playing in the lower league in their next set of games in January when they will hope to bounce back. Halifax Hockey Club U14 boys match report from Sunday October 25th at Brigshaw HS – Yorkshire league games. With such a small squad and with players away on ½ term holidays, the team have been able to call on some Bradford Hockey Club players(Bradford were unable to enter a team in the league this year). These 2 Bradford players ( James Celaire and Ben Bateson) joined the 8 Halifax lads and had a good 2 games(despite still only having 10 players) – the team dominating both games and now remain unbeaten this season. Halifax 1 Huddersfield 0 Halifax playing with 10 men dominated a Kirklees team the score line doing no justice to the shots on goal and possession. Fred Owen playing out of goal scored the only goal after good work from Matt Bairstow. Bairstow, Owen and Josh Sutcliffe all squandered easy chances and the game could of ended in a draw apart from a fine 1-1 save from James Celaire Matthew Walker and Max tingle both had steady games in the midfield working hard to create space for the front players. Halifax 5 - Leeds 1 Halifax clicked in to gear in front of goal with Fred Owen opening the scoring after wing Christian Mayland sped away down the right and delivered a pin point pass. Leeds didn't learn or couldn't cope with Maylands speed and skill, Connor Sutcliffe and Matty Bairstow both getting on the end of Maylands passes. At 3-0 HX let in a break away goal James Celaire narrowly beaten. Bairstow and Ben Bateson both missed chances and after sustained pressure and a number of short corners Connor Sutcliffe finally found the net blasting home from the top of the D. To round off a fine day Arron Charlton made a great pass to Josh Sutcliffe who used his skill to manufacture an opening in a crowded D and slotted home from a narrow angle. Keeper Celaire was only called upon occasionally but he showed good technique and a lot of potential for the future. Sunday October 18th 2009 – Yorkshire Junior Hockey leagues U12 boys played 2 games on their visit to Pocklington. The young and inexperienced team who are still largely U11s made great improvements during the morning. The game against a strong York team was fairly even but Yorks finishing was much better and although Cameron Rushworth and Andrew MacDonald were excellent in defence, the York lads scored 3 times in a space of 10 minutes. The lads fought back and after good work from Max Frost, Marcus Burge found the net to give the team heart. Unfortunately they were not able to add to their tally and went down 3-1. The 2nd game against Driffield saw the lads playing much more as a team and the Burge/Tom Brady combination produced 3 fine goals – 2 for Brady and one for Burge. Jamie Ambler in his 1st matches came into the game and came close to opening his scoring record as did MacDonald. James Fearnley had his best game of the morning. Driffield got a consolation goal but Goalkeeper David Garside was solid in goal making some good saves and never looked like conceding another goal. A good 3-1 win.