East Grinstead Hockey Club
I have a confession
to make. I’ve never
played hockey before,
only know a handful of
people who have ever
played it/had an interest
in it, only ever watched it
on TV (the highlights!) when Team GB
were winning a medal and always thought
Ice Hockey was probably more exciting!
That was until Sunday January 31st! I was
very kindly invited to watch the Super 6’s
Finals Day at the SSE Arena at Wembley
(known to most of us as simply, Wembley
Arena!) Essentially, it was indoor Hockey,
6 a side with rolling subs and featuring
the best 4 mens and the best 4 women’s
teams in the country.
I was invited by the Chairman of East
Grinstead Hockey Club, Simon Longhurst
and was promised a day of pure
excitement and full on entertainment! Well
he was right, it was brilliant!
There was piece in the programme,
entitled ‘Can anyone stop them?’ But noone from EG wanted to read it, as it was a
reference to the EG Men’s team who had
previously won this competition 7 years in
a row, beating Canterbury the last 2 years
in succession.
The action started with the first semi
final for the women, Canterbury beating
the University of Birmingham 4-2 and
this was followed by East Grinstead
women against Bowdon Hightown
from Altrincham in Cheshire. EG ladies
were beaten 1-0 in the final last year by
Bowdon, so in a tight encounter, it was
sweet revenge as they triumphed 1-0
courtesy of a second half goal by Malou
Pheninckx. It should have been 2 but
Captain Joanna Davis missed a penalty.
The pace had been unrelenting as the
game flowed from one end to the other
and by the time I’d discovered it was 20
minutes in each half and got some sort of
understanding of the rules, it was time to
settle down for the men’s. I was reliably
informed that this was a newish looking
squad having lost a few players from
past campaigns so the pressure was on,
especially when everyone wants to knock
you off your perch as the best team for
the last 7 years!
The men’s semi saw EG take on
Sevenoaks. If I enjoyed the women’s,
then the men’s was even more frenetic,
interspersed with high levels of skill and
drama a plenty! After taking a 2-0 lead,
EG were pegged back and even fell 2-3
behind. With GB player, David Condon
in their ranks, EG stepped up a gear
eventually winning 6-3.
There was an electric and colourful
atmosphere in the Arena right from the
off and by the time Canterbury men had
seen off their counterparts from Reading,
it was time to take a breather and have
some lunch.
During lunch, the ladies GB team made
an appearance, and never having been
one to pass up on an opportunity, I was
straight over for some autographs and
photos.
So on to the finals then. It was going to
be EG v Canterbury in both matches.
Having watched the semi finals from the
posh seats it was suggested that we join
the 250 plus EG fans on the other side of
the Arena. This proved a masterstroke for
me, as the singing, (friendly) chanting and
cheering gave rise to an atmosphere close
to what I imagine you would experience
watching GB In the Davis Cup tennis!
2 goals from Malou Pheninckx and one
from Takara Haines saw EG triumph 3-1
to claim their first ever national indoor
crown.
As for the men, well the only time it
was ever in doubt for EG, was when
Canterbury equalised Simon Faulkner’s
opener. After that it was one way traffic as
EG ran out 5-1 winners to record a record
eighth successive indoor title, with the
pick of the goals from 16 year old Josh
Coniglio, who went past several players
before clipping a delightful shot past the
keeper in to the top corner
Simon revealed to me that he was very
nervous before each match, so I can only
imagine the ecstatic celebrations that
would have followed long in to the night.
So well done to EG Hockey Club and
success means that both the men and
women will be representing England in
Europe next year.
A fabulous experience and I can’t wait for
next year now. If you get the chance and
wonder what all the fuss is about I would
strongly recommend you go and watch.
I for one will definitely be supporting EG
and have more than just a passing interest
next time.
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