The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Close to 170 youngsters from 14 different primary schools formed 20 teams to contest the second of five tournaments at Spalding Hockey Club on Friday.
As per the normal format, the teams were split into four ability groups; advanced, intermediate and two beginner leagues.
In the advanced league, reigning champions St Norbert’s continued their winning ways with four wins.
A comfortable 7-0 win over St John’s got them off to a great start, but they were made to work hard against Gosberton Risegate A (3-1), John Harrox A (4-1) and Boston based Tower Road A (1-0).
Stars of the tournament, however, must be Gosberton Risegate A. They entered these tournaments just a year ago at beginner B level and have worked their way up through the leagues in remarkable fashion. They beat John Harrox A (1-0) and Tower Road A (2-1), while a goalless draw with St John’s meant that they finished in second.
In the intermediate league, Eye Primary were outstanding in recording four wins over Ayscoughfee A (2-0), Monkshouse (5-1), Weston Hills (3-0) and St John’s B (7-0) to win the group.
Monkshouse, who had moved up from the beginner league B also played extremely well with wins over Weston Hills (3-0), St John’s B (3-0) and Ayscoughfee A (1-0) to finish in the runners-up slot.
Competition for the top spot in the beginner A league was extremely fierce and was not decided until the final game. Surfleet Primary, Ayscoughfee B and Pinchbeck East all won three of their four matches and so with 9 points each, the top three places were decided on goal difference. Surfleet took the prize with their goal difference of four being just one more than the other two teams.
In the beginner B league, Gosberton Risegate B finished top of the tree on goal difference from Spalding Parish. They recorded wins over St Norbert’s B (2-0), Tower Road B (4-0) and Gosberton Academy (2-0) and drew one all with Spalding Parish in a thrilling decider.
Spalding Parish underlined their progress with wins over Tower Road B (2-0), Gosberton Academy (3-0) and St Norbert’s B (2-0).
