A big thank you to everyone who made it down to Swansea this afternoon. A fantastic day of hockey for Gwent Youth! A special congratulations to the U9s who won both their A and B team competitions. I was lucky enough to watch them put Howells to the sword, to take the cup having somehow managed to draw with Rhondda earlier on. Despite being crippled with illness they did the business to bring the cup back to Gwent. The future of the club looks secure in their hands.

Representing U11 Gwent B

Harri
Cameron
Ellis
Alex Turner
George
Miles
Dewi

They played in the B team competition and sadly only had 2 games. First up was Swansea B. I was slightly surprised to see their best player (and probably one of the best players in the whole tournament) turning out for their “B” team (they were clearly desperate to win something !). I was very proud of the way the guys got stuck in. Dewi had never played in goal before but he certainly looked and played the part. The beginning of a great career me-thinks. I am not sure what Harri has been on - but whatever it is he needs to share it around! He single handedly took on the whole of Swansea’s back line and scored 3 goals. Cameron worked the midfield well, getting the ball out wide and up to Harri time and again. Alex and Ellis patrolled the flanks, getting the tackles in, taking the game to the wide open spaces of the wings. George and Miles stuck to their task protecting Dewi. Dewi pulled off a fantastic save deflecting a rising, flashing shot wide. Cameron ran 1 at short corners and took a big hit to the shins. A great advert for shin pads. I think that is the definition of taking one for the team. Most impressively he got up and did it all again and again. Unfortunately we could not handle the 1 Swansea player who walked through us at will and thus we went down 4-3. We certainly won the moral battle.

Next was Penarth B - a much more level playing field. Harri again filled his boots, supplied and supported by Cameron and Ellis. A solid back line of hard tackling from Miles and George. We were hitting our stride now and it is a shame we didn’t have any more matches. Dewi showed he is a fast learner and cleared to the sides with more confidence.

Somehow Swansea must have lost to Penarth. We had the same goal difference with Swansea. Finally we were second - based on our head to head record with Swansea. A great effort from a scratch team. Well done guys.

Representing U11 Gwent A

James
Chris
Jack
Will A
Ewan
Harvey
Garv
Harri
Cameron

First of all congratulations for qualifying first in our group and thus avoiding a play off. I am not sure I could have coped with the stress and certainly not the possibility of not qualifying so thanks v much.
First up was Bridgend. A team we should have put away in our sleep. Chris opened the scoring slotting away on the far post as all good left wings should. I think at times we over complicated things and in our eagerness to score goals didn’t do the simple things well enough. The net result was that we made heavy weather of this match. We finally put away 2 further goals (sorry can’t remember who scored). 3-0 was ok but would it be enough ?!

After a very long break the key match of Whitchurch was next. A team we have had some great contests with over the season. I missed the first half as I was umpiring but everytime I turned around Harvey was screaming down the Rt wing or Garv and Ewan were lining up their goalkeeper with another blast. How we turned around 0-0 I don’t know. The second half was a little disappointing, The pitch became too narrow and too often space and time were used up running with the ball rather than taking the opportunity to release the killer pass which we are more than able to produce. James pulled off at least one fantastic save which would turn out to be all important. Jack and Will A provided a wall at the back mopping up everything, turning defence into attack and protecting James for most of the match.
Ewan and Harvey showed why they are the best double act around, linking fantastically time and again. We just couldn’t get the damn thing in the goal. Garv is getting better and better at leading the line, making himself available and running the channels. Chris nearly got on the end of several crosses making the back post his own. Just a little more defence please Chris !

Having been unable to put away Whitchurch it was then down to how many we could score against Fishguard and Goodwick. I was a little worried before the match that they would drag us into a midfield war of attrition. How wrong I was. Right from the push back we stole the ball, a couple of simple passes and we were in on goal. 5 more goals quickly followed without any real threat to our goal. James was a bystander. Jack and Will ( as they did all day) joined in attack and swept up any loose balls. Harvey stayed “widish” and Ewan ran the game, as he should. Harri and Cameron came on at half time and seamlessly continued the good work. Thankfully 6 were enough to allow us to progress without a play off.

So we move on to the SW cup final on the 16th of April ( yes a Saturday) back down to Swansea. Sadly this will just be the A team.

A big thank you to Louise for all her organising. You just need to work on your impartial face a little more Louise !

We will be training on Thursday for those who are still standing and not away skiing

Alistair