Cambridgeshire U18 County Indoor Hockey Championship

Newport Free Grammar School’s U18 Girls matched the success of their U16 side in winning the Cambridgeshire Indoor Hockey Championship after a tense penalty stroke shoot out after the final had ended 1-1.

With eight schools entered the tournament began with two pools of four.  Newport’s first opponents were Hills Road and Hannah Burlinson struck twice from penalty corners to give them a comfortable victory.  Next up were Thomas Deacon Academy and goals from Milly Bushnell, Georgianna Coote and a brace from captain Natalie Chandler ensured Newport’s passage through to the semi finals.  Their final pool game against Hinchingbrooke saw Georgianna Coote strike first but Hinchingbrooke later equalised.  The semi final against Kimbolton was a close affair and only a penalty corner conversion from Georgianna Coote right into the top left corner separated the teams.  Meanwhile Saffron Walden had defeated Thomas Deacon by a similar score in the other semi final.

In the final Hannah Burlinson gave Newport the lead but Saffron Walden struck back late in the game.  Saffron Walden’s first stroke taker put the ball right in the corner but Georgianna Coote equalised.  Alice Watts then saved the second Saffron Walden stroke before Natalie Chandler put Newport ahead.  When Saffron Walden’s third stroke missed Newport were through.

Newport Free Grammar School went on to represent Cambridgeshire in the East of England finals in Colchester on December 5th and the U18 Girls ended up 4th in the East of England.