Congratulations to our Girls’ Hockey 1st XI Squad, winners of the National Playing Field Championships for the second year running.

Report by 1st XI Captain, Sarah Russell.  The Banbridge Academy 1st XI Girls’ Hockey Squad has been named as the National Tournament Trophy winners for two consecutive years. The girls began the campaign to win the Trophy once again on Saturday 5th of September, at the regional tournament held at Edenvilla, Portadown, where a series of 15 minute matches were played to qualify to the final stage of the tournament. It was a great start for Banbridge as they kicked off with a win with a 1-0 score against hosts Portadown, during a hard fought match resulting in Portadown reluctantly letting Banbridge into their circle. Banbridge defenders held strong, making it hard for Portadown attackers to enter the circle, with Charley Brush cutting their attacking play short.

Next was an extremely challenging match, resulting in a 1-1 draw with Armagh Royal School. With both sides fighting hard for a goal. The majority of the play took place in midfield, with Banbridge’s Emma Gregson holding the centre, and making threatening advancements up the pitch.

Another Win followed for Banbridge, with a 2-0 score against Dungannon Royal. Hard work from the Banbridge forwards paid off as the first goal was scored through a penalty corner, and the second through great connection play between midfielders Emma Gregson and Ellen Reid.

Finally, Banbridge played the last match against tough competition, Lurgan College. Both teams’ defenders had their work cut out, with Banbridge’s defenders Claire Liggett and Jayne Scott excellently clearing the ball up either sides of the pitch, ending with a 0-0 draw.
After playing hard all morning, Banbridge progressed to the final round of the Trophy, by points, to be played on Wednesday the 9th September.

Wednesday proved to be another successful day for Banbridge as they won the Semi-final 3-0 against Regent House. Banbridge relentlessly attacked Regent’s circle to score all three goals in the first half, with Nadia Benallal scoring the first goal with a crisp reverse shot, Lauren McGaw slotting in a second goal with a slick deflection on the right post, and Sarah Russell picking up on an attempted clearing of the ball by Regent, to hit into the right hand corner of the goal. Half time came and even though Banbridge were feeling slightly tired after a high intensity first half, they were determined to continue their record of conceding no goals in the tournament. In the second half, Banbridge kept composure and defended Regents’ bursts of attack, with defender Alex Taylor letting nothing down the right hand side. The full time whistle blew and Banbridge Academy was once again through to the final.

Banbridge faced extremely tough opposition in the final, as they battled for the Trophy with Strathearn Grammar. Both teams showed determination to win with an intense 0-0 score in the first half, with centre back Gina Woods having to mark tightly and cut out attacking play from Strathearn’s skilled forwards. Banbridge had centre pass to begin the second half, where Katie Mckee showed skills that Strathearn couldn’t defend against, running the ball up the pitch to make a lovely reverse pass in the circle finding Lauren McGaw to score the first goal of the match. Minutes later, Banbridge scored a second goal, with fantastic passing between the midfield, Orla Thompson, Emma Gregson and Katie McKee progressing up the pitch to once again find Lauren McGaw at the right hand post to put the ball in the net. The final whistle blew, and Banbridge Academy had won the final with a 2-0 score, whilst conceding no goals throughout the tournament.
Well done to all the girls with an outstanding performance from the whole team.

Coach Neil Madeley commented: “The girls have really come out all guns blazing at the start of the season and to be honest we appear to have caught other teams out as to how far on we are at this early stage – must have been the pre-season work last month paying off.  We’ll keep at it as I’m sure the other teams will continue to progress – but the girls, both in terms of the experienced and the new ones, have been working hard and who knows where we’ll end up?  Thanks also must go to Mrs Heather Camblin for her arrangements – top notch as usual.”