U14 Girls are Grand Slam Champions!!

HC Knole Park’s U14 Girls lifted their fourth trophy of the season over half-term as they took part in the indoorhockeyUK Grand Slam event in Derby. Biba top scored with eleven goals, with strike partner Evie S scoring nine times. Celia and Isla scored once each as Knole Park wrapped up their second indoor title of the season.

In match one the team got off to a flying start with a 6-0 win against Stourport. Biba and Evie S both opening their accounts with hat-tricks. In the second match against the UK Lions a Biba brace secured a 2-0 win. Connie in goal and Betsy effectively managing anything that came through the right board in the process! Finishing top of the group the A-team would go on to advance to the medal matches.

In the first match it was again Biba who opened the scoring after Celia stole the ball off the Old Georgians defender before squaring the ball to Biba to finish. Evie S scored twice, before two lapses in concentration in defence gave the Surrey team a way back into the match. However, Biba converted a late individual effort to secure a 4-2 win.

In the match of the tournament Knole Park were superb against Repton HC. Celia scored a cracking first goal, before Biba double the advantage after an epic piece of defence from Ines. Boadicea was brilliant throughout against the Repton HC centre midfielder.

With potentially the toughest match out of the way it was on to Surbiton HC. Biba was once again the opening scorer from an excellent penalty corner routine before Celia’s sublime skills put Isla in to make it 2-0. Evie S scored a well-deserved third from another penalty corner. Lilly's calmness and quality in defence was really starting to come through into the team at this point too which was fantastic to see!

With the gold medal sealed it was onto the final match of the tournament against the other UK Lions side. The girls relaxed and played some wonderful attacking hockey. Evie S got the team going with two fantastic finishes before Biba converted another penalty corner. UK Lions scored one back to make it 3-1, before Evie S and Boadicea combined to make it 4-1. Top scorer Biba completed the scoring and the tournament with her eleventh goal from a penalty corner for a 5-2 win.

Played 6, won 6, goals for 22, goals against 4. Simple incredible! What a magical group! Well done girls!

Knole Park’s B-team were also playing and did superbly. In a tough group they beat Surbiton 1-0 with an Evie W penalty corner rocket, but then lost to Maidenhead 2-0. With all the teams ending up on the same points it came down to goal difference. Sadly, with the worst goal difference Knole Park dropped into the 11th – 15th group. Despite this, the girls continued to play very well against all other A-teams.

In the first match of this phase, the girls secured a 1-1 draw with Marlow. Evie W was once again the scorer. The performance of the tournament was against Belper HC who they beat 2-0. Evie W and Daisy were the scorers. Against Stourport they drew 1-1 as they struggled to break down the stubborn Midlander’s defence. Emily B scored the goal of the tournament in this match.

In the final match they cruised to a 2-1 win against Litchfield to finish 12th overall – missing out on 11th by goal difference! Isabel and Rose were the scorers. With only one defeat across the six matches the girls can be very proud of their efforts.

The U12 Girls were also at the Derby Grand Slam. The A-team beat Sevenoaks (2-0), Stourport (3-1), Canterbury (6-0) and Marlow (3-0), and lost to Surbiton (2-1) to finish second in the pool.

In the cross-over final they lost 2-0 to eventual winners Hertford HC. In the bronze medal match it was Surbiton once again, but despite an improved performance it was defeat once again (1-0). Emily top scored with six goals. Georgie scored five goals, Connie three and Liliya one.

In the B-Team defeats to Surbiton (4-0), Hertford (4-0), Cambridge City (3-1), and Repton (2-1) made for a tough tournament, however a tremendous 5-0 win against Wakefield put the team in the 9th – 12th group. Erin scored a super solo effort in the 2-1 defeat v Repton. In a 0-0 draw with Sevenoaks, the team then lost on penalty shuffles, before finishing in 11th with a 4-0 win against Canterbury. Erin and Imogen take a starring role in the goals scored!

Imogen top scored with 5 goals. Olivia, Erin and Sofia all scored twice. Well done to all the girls involved - it is truly amazing to see how far our indoor programme has come in such a short period of time!