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CHAMPIONS -U14 Boys complete YYHL League and Playoff double.
Mike Rushmere5 Apr 2014 - 12:31
The U14 boys double our YYHL champion teams, joining the U14 girls.
Back row from left: Alex Docherty, Arthur Hunt, Harry Collinson, Luke Brownlee, Otis Williams, Oliver Houseman, James Houseman, and Connor Watson.
Front row: Josh Dale, Sam Bosomworth, Harry Goodall, James Foster and Paddy Medley.
Thirsk U14 Boys having been crowned Yorkshire Youth Hockey league winners two weeks ago at York, travelled to Halifax HC to compete in the YYHL playoff Championships. The team had not lost a game since November, but knew that the other seven teams, York, Ben Rhydding, Airedale, Doncaster, Harrogate, Bradford and Wakefield would be tough opponents all aiming for the trophy.
Thirsk were drawn in a four team pool with Doncaster, Harrogate and first opponents Wakefield. In this first game Thirsk were keen to take the game to Wakefield, but initially it was well matched, with both midfields trying to set their forwards running. Thirsk attacked down the right Sam Bosomworth supplying Oliver Houseman, he cut into the circle, and won a penalty corner. A well worked move, with Harry Collinson dragging the ball onto Oliver’s stick, he deflected it at the right post across the goal, where Arthur Hunt slammed in to open the scoring. Thirsk soon doubled the scoring as Otis Williams and James Foster worked the ball down the left, with Otis managing to get a shot in which was saved, but Arthur pounced on the rebound to get his second. A third goal was added when Sam drove into the circle, and earned another penalty corner, this time Harry’s drag was deflected in by Oliver. Thirsk did not have all the play, and Wakefield did attack well down their right, with Alex Docherty and Harry Goodall busily snubbing out this threat. Wakefield did grab a consolation goal with a well struck shot from the left of the circle beating Luke Brownlee in the Thirsk goal, but a 3-1 win was a very good start.
Next up were North Yorkshire rivals Harrogate. Thirsk did not play at the level they had in the first game, so James Houseman, and Paddy Medley in defence had their work cut out early on, and Alex in particular worked very hard to restrict their speedy forwards. It looked like Harrogate had opened the scoring from a penalty corner, but the goal was ruled out for not hitting the backboard. This seemed to kick Thirsk in to action, and Harry G, moved the ball left to Otis, he combined with James F, before beating a defender and confidently scoring with his lifted shot. Thirsk then scored a second, as Harry C burst into their circle earning another penalty corner. Another well worked routine with Harry and Oliver setting up Arthur to grab another. Harrogate kept battling, and Luke was forced in to a fine double save to keep a clean sheet, while as the other end Connor Watson on as sub nearly scored, having latched onto Otis’s cross.
The final pool game was with Doncaster, who had won their other pool games. They have a very skillful play maker, but it was noticeable that they were playing him in a more defensive role in this game . Thirsk started well and controlled much of the midfield play. Doncaster did break though, forcing a save from Luke, but Thirsk cleared quickly down the right James H, linking with Sam, and he found Oliver, whose early cross set Arthur away, and he rounded their keeper to open the scoring. Doncaster had a free hit just outside the 23m line, the thunderous lifted ball clattered into Harry C, and he had to come off. Josh Dale stepped on as left midfield, pushing Otis into the centre. where he took to the role brilliantly, controlling the game, in his own unique way. Otis set Josh away down the left, and Josh combined with James F, with his cross giving Arthur the chance to grab a second. Thirsk dominated the rest of the game, and in winning 2-0 topped Pool A, setting up a semi-final with York.
The semi-final was definitely one for the spectators. York started positively, while Thirsk were a little slow to get going, and this lapse let York burst into the D and thunder a shot in to gain a 1-0 lead. But within minutes Thirsk had replied, as Sam’s cross found a foot, and from the penalty corner, Arthur was able to net another from Oliver’s deflection 1-1. But Thirsk still looked a little tentative, and there was a drive down the right by their winger, he was forced wide by Alex, but was still able to get a shot off, and it was a sensational strike which beat Luke at the near post at shoulder height, so 2-1 to York. The game was still only 10 minutes old when Thirsk forced another penalty corner, thanks to Otis and James down the left, this time Harry C went or a strike, and it was too much for the York keeper, that made it 2-2. Thirsk then seemed to step up a gear, and a fine long ball from Harry G, following fine defensive pressure from Josh Dale, set Arthur away, he rounded the last defender, before doing the same to the goalie, so Thirsk took the lead for the first time 3-2. Soon after Harry C latched onto a poor defensive clearance from York, to grab his second, and make it 4-2. Thirsk were put under further pressure by York, and Paddy, James and Alex all did well, but York did grab a late consolation making it 4-3, but it was Thirsk who progressed to the final.
Thirsk played West Yorkshire team Airedale in the final, they had won their semi-final with Doncaster on penalty flicks following a 2-2 draw. The final did not disappoint, with both teams playing some fine hockey. Thirsk used both flanks well, and Sam and Oliver worked together to get a penalty corner, but the effort went just wide. Thirsk dominated the midfield with Otis, Harry G, and Harry C forcing Airedale to resort to long balls, and aerial passes. Airedale did though get a penalty corner from one long ball attack, but the drag flick went over the cross bar. Thirsk then forced their goalie into two fine saves, one from Otis’s flick, and another from a close range effort from Arthur. Airedale broke once more, and again managed to get a penalty corner, this time the shot was saved by Luke, and cleared quickly by Harry C, then Otis fed it to Arthur, 35 metres from goal, he drove past the final 2 defenders, and rounded the goalie, before scoring confidently. Thirsk celebrated the goal, but still had plenty of time left to show why they have been so successful all season. They kept possession well, and worked really hard as a team to put pressure on any Airedale possession, and thoroughly deserved the 1-0 win.
Thirsk U14 boys are therefore crowned Yorkshire League Playoff Champions, and this is a fantastic achievement for which they should be very proud. They have gone on improving all season, and in winning their second trophy in two weeks following the League title win, can proudly boast to be the best in Yorkshire. They play fantastically well as a team, with everyone knowing their role, working hard and supporting each other. Their achievements are also a first for the club with a Boys 11 a side team.
Front row: Josh Dale, Sam Bosomworth, Harry Goodall, James Foster and Paddy Medley.
Thirsk U14 Boys having been crowned Yorkshire Youth Hockey league winners two weeks ago at York, travelled to Halifax HC to compete in the YYHL playoff Championships. The team had not lost a game since November, but knew that the other seven teams, York, Ben Rhydding, Airedale, Doncaster, Harrogate, Bradford and Wakefield would be tough opponents all aiming for the trophy.
Thirsk were drawn in a four team pool with Doncaster, Harrogate and first opponents Wakefield. In this first game Thirsk were keen to take the game to Wakefield, but initially it was well matched, with both midfields trying to set their forwards running. Thirsk attacked down the right Sam Bosomworth supplying Oliver Houseman, he cut into the circle, and won a penalty corner. A well worked move, with Harry Collinson dragging the ball onto Oliver’s stick, he deflected it at the right post across the goal, where Arthur Hunt slammed in to open the scoring. Thirsk soon doubled the scoring as Otis Williams and James Foster worked the ball down the left, with Otis managing to get a shot in which was saved, but Arthur pounced on the rebound to get his second. A third goal was added when Sam drove into the circle, and earned another penalty corner, this time Harry’s drag was deflected in by Oliver. Thirsk did not have all the play, and Wakefield did attack well down their right, with Alex Docherty and Harry Goodall busily snubbing out this threat. Wakefield did grab a consolation goal with a well struck shot from the left of the circle beating Luke Brownlee in the Thirsk goal, but a 3-1 win was a very good start.
Next up were North Yorkshire rivals Harrogate. Thirsk did not play at the level they had in the first game, so James Houseman, and Paddy Medley in defence had their work cut out early on, and Alex in particular worked very hard to restrict their speedy forwards. It looked like Harrogate had opened the scoring from a penalty corner, but the goal was ruled out for not hitting the backboard. This seemed to kick Thirsk in to action, and Harry G, moved the ball left to Otis, he combined with James F, before beating a defender and confidently scoring with his lifted shot. Thirsk then scored a second, as Harry C burst into their circle earning another penalty corner. Another well worked routine with Harry and Oliver setting up Arthur to grab another. Harrogate kept battling, and Luke was forced in to a fine double save to keep a clean sheet, while as the other end Connor Watson on as sub nearly scored, having latched onto Otis’s cross.
The final pool game was with Doncaster, who had won their other pool games. They have a very skillful play maker, but it was noticeable that they were playing him in a more defensive role in this game . Thirsk started well and controlled much of the midfield play. Doncaster did break though, forcing a save from Luke, but Thirsk cleared quickly down the right James H, linking with Sam, and he found Oliver, whose early cross set Arthur away, and he rounded their keeper to open the scoring. Doncaster had a free hit just outside the 23m line, the thunderous lifted ball clattered into Harry C, and he had to come off. Josh Dale stepped on as left midfield, pushing Otis into the centre. where he took to the role brilliantly, controlling the game, in his own unique way. Otis set Josh away down the left, and Josh combined with James F, with his cross giving Arthur the chance to grab a second. Thirsk dominated the rest of the game, and in winning 2-0 topped Pool A, setting up a semi-final with York.
The semi-final was definitely one for the spectators. York started positively, while Thirsk were a little slow to get going, and this lapse let York burst into the D and thunder a shot in to gain a 1-0 lead. But within minutes Thirsk had replied, as Sam’s cross found a foot, and from the penalty corner, Arthur was able to net another from Oliver’s deflection 1-1. But Thirsk still looked a little tentative, and there was a drive down the right by their winger, he was forced wide by Alex, but was still able to get a shot off, and it was a sensational strike which beat Luke at the near post at shoulder height, so 2-1 to York. The game was still only 10 minutes old when Thirsk forced another penalty corner, thanks to Otis and James down the left, this time Harry C went or a strike, and it was too much for the York keeper, that made it 2-2. Thirsk then seemed to step up a gear, and a fine long ball from Harry G, following fine defensive pressure from Josh Dale, set Arthur away, he rounded the last defender, before doing the same to the goalie, so Thirsk took the lead for the first time 3-2. Soon after Harry C latched onto a poor defensive clearance from York, to grab his second, and make it 4-2. Thirsk were put under further pressure by York, and Paddy, James and Alex all did well, but York did grab a late consolation making it 4-3, but it was Thirsk who progressed to the final.
Thirsk played West Yorkshire team Airedale in the final, they had won their semi-final with Doncaster on penalty flicks following a 2-2 draw. The final did not disappoint, with both teams playing some fine hockey. Thirsk used both flanks well, and Sam and Oliver worked together to get a penalty corner, but the effort went just wide. Thirsk dominated the midfield with Otis, Harry G, and Harry C forcing Airedale to resort to long balls, and aerial passes. Airedale did though get a penalty corner from one long ball attack, but the drag flick went over the cross bar. Thirsk then forced their goalie into two fine saves, one from Otis’s flick, and another from a close range effort from Arthur. Airedale broke once more, and again managed to get a penalty corner, this time the shot was saved by Luke, and cleared quickly by Harry C, then Otis fed it to Arthur, 35 metres from goal, he drove past the final 2 defenders, and rounded the goalie, before scoring confidently. Thirsk celebrated the goal, but still had plenty of time left to show why they have been so successful all season. They kept possession well, and worked really hard as a team to put pressure on any Airedale possession, and thoroughly deserved the 1-0 win.
Thirsk U14 boys are therefore crowned Yorkshire League Playoff Champions, and this is a fantastic achievement for which they should be very proud. They have gone on improving all season, and in winning their second trophy in two weeks following the League title win, can proudly boast to be the best in Yorkshire. They play fantastically well as a team, with everyone knowing their role, working hard and supporting each other. Their achievements are also a first for the club with a Boys 11 a side team.
Further reading