Young Spalding Hockey Club team is rated ‘one to watch’

Spalding Hockey Club’s under-8 team went to Norwich in only their second appearance as a team hoping to score goals and build on their experience of last year.

Their fantastic teamwork and team spirit shone throughout the games and quickly showed that their hard work at training was paying off.

Coach Jason Naylor could not have been more proud of his charges.

The pace and power of attacking duo George Morris and Harry Naylor left any team for dust.

In a tournament of 16 teams from all over East Anglia, Spalding won their three group games scoring ten goals without conceding any.

In the final play-offs, Spalding continued their form, winning all three games and scoring a further 16 goals while conceding just two.

It gave an overall record of: P6, W6, D0, L0, GF26, GA2.

Leading striker Morris scored hat-tricks in his first three games before taking his final tally to 12.

Speedy Naylor, with his powerful hits, rapidly took his tally to seven goals.

Newcomer Harry Maplethorpe was excellent in defence, but also managed to bag a hat-trick in one of the final games.

Harriet Mowbray supported the team brilliantly with her solid tackling and vision when passing forward.

Harry Blackman used his reverse passing skills to great effect and managed to knock in a couple of goals.

Tabitha Dunnett used her strength to move the ball wide, switching play confidently from side to side and also managed to knock in a couple of cheeky goals.

Team manager Charlotte Morris said: “This is definitely a team to watch for the future.

“Their winning style was not just down to skill and hard work but supporting one another and driving forward together.

“Such a pleasing result.”

The Spalding team has been invited to attend further prestigious tournaments in the Norwich area through the summer and into next season.

This is testament to the strength and depth of the junior section at the club, which now regularly has more than 60 boys and girls aged five to 13 attend its Saturday morning junior sessions.

Results and scorers

SHC 4 Norwich City Black 0 (Morris 3, Naylor)
SHC 3 Bury St Edmunds 0 (Morris 3)
SHC 3 Norwich Dragons Purple 0 (Blackman 2, Naylor)

Play-off finals

SHC 6 Norwich City Blue 0 (Morris 3, Naylor 2, Dunnett)
SHC 4 Norwich Dragons Green 1 (Naylor 3, Morris)
SHC 6 Norwich City Yellow 1 (Maplethorpe 3, Morris 2, Dunnett)