RAF CAREERS - WELSH WOMEN'S U-18 SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
Glyndwr University, Wrexham, Wednesday 4th March
Gorseinon College edge out Rydal Penrhos to take the title
All round robin matches were keenly contested with Pool A being won by Caerleon with 2 wins and a draw and runners up Sir Thomas Picton with 1 win and 2 draws.
Pool B was a much closer section with Rydal Penrhos and Gorseinon College on equal points. Gorseinon College went through as winners on goals scored rule as the teams drew with each other. The hockey was superb – fast and skilful.
Pool A
| NORTH EAST WALES | GLAM VALLEYS | DYFED | SOUTH EAST WALES | Goals for |
Goals against |
Goal diff' |
Pts | Pos' | |
GLAN CLWYD |
0-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 | 4 | |
PORTHCAWL |
1-0 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 | 3 | |
SIR THOMAS PICTON |
0-0 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 5 | 2 | |
CAERLEON |
2-0 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 7 | 1 | |
Pool B
| POWYS | ERYRI | CARDIFF & VALE | AFAN NEDD | Goals for |
Goals against |
Goal diff' |
Pts | Pos' | |
CHRIST COLLEGE |
0-2 | 0-2 | 1-4 | 0 | 8 | -8 | 0 | 4 | |
RYDAL PENRHOS |
2-0 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 7 | 2 | |
WHITCHURCH |
2-0 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 | 3 | |
GORSEINON COLLEGE |
4-1 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | 1 | |
Semi-finals
Caerleon (SE Wales) 1 v Rydal Penrhos (Eryri) 1 (aps)
Rydal Penrhos attacked strongly and took an early lead. However Caerleon refused to give up and they took advantage of a rare defensive error to equalise. The winner had to be decided with a penalty stroke competition. This was won by Rydal Penrhos 4-3 in sudden death after a tense affair with both teams failing give a result in the first series of 5 strokes each.
Gorseinon College (Afan Nedd) 0 (aps) v Sir Thomas Picton (Dyfed) 0
This match was again keenly contested with both teams having chances to open the scoring during the first half. The second half continued in the same vein with both teams creating scoring opportunities but at full time it remained 0-0. Again penalty strokes would decide who contested the final with Gorseinon winning through.
Final
Rydal Penrhos (Eryri) 0 v Gorseinon College (Afan Nedd) 0 (aps)
During the first half both teams played fast flowing attacking hockey creating scoring opportunities which were not converted into goals. The second half produced some fine attacking play from Rydal Penrhos who created several opportunities to take the lead. Gorseinon had fewer opportunities to attack which were comfortably dealt with by the Rydal Penrhos defence. The final result was 0-0 with the match being a credit to both teams.
So again it went to penalty strokes with Gorseinon winning 5-4 to be crowned U18 Welsh School Champions. WHU President Anne Ellis congratulated both teams on a fine display of skilful hockey. After drawing in the round robin games there was little to choose between them and each squad was a credit to their coaches and school.
