8th January 2007
Wales U-18 Boys win tournament

The Welsh U18 boys’ team travelled to Millfield School, Somerset on January 5th & 6th to take part in the annual 6-team competition. Wales had previously not won a game at this tournament so were keen to break their duck and in our eyes were favourites to win the tournament. Wales fielded a young squad who after three training camps were ready to play a competitive game. After an early start for many of the players Wales played their first match against Millfield. Beaten 7-0 by them last season, the Welsh boys were determined to better that result. It took 20 minutes for the Welsh boys to find their feet and in the meantime Millfield scored 2 on the counter attack. When Wales did wake up, a passing move between Ben Carless and Nick Rees gave Nick the opportunity to open the scoring. The half time score was 1-2.

The 2nd half started again with Millfield pressure but the penalty corner defence did their job perfectly and in the 8th minute, on a counter attack, Chris Fido fed the ball to Mark Duxbury who in turn passed to Rees for him to score his 2nd. The play was end to end with both teams offering the spectators open flowing play. Fido scored Wales’ 3rd only to have it cancelled out by a Millfield counter 3 minutes later. With 15 minutes left, the score 3-3 and everything to play for, Wales put the set plays from training into action and Carless’ hit from outside the D was slotted home by Josh Williams on the right post. With less than 10 minutes to play Wales didn’t take their foot off the pedal but went out in search of a 5th and this duly arrived 4 minutes from time when Williams passed to Fido for him to score his 2nd. Final score 5-3 to Wales.

Game 2 saw Wales take the field again, 1 hour after their Millfield victory, against Langley Park. Having played so well against Millfield the players were not as disciplined against the fresh legs of the Langley players. Langley scored their 1st in the 17th minute followed by their 2nd in the 18th minute! Langley’s 3rd came from a penalty stroke in the 25th minute. Wales finished the half more strongly but a lack of communication and rash tackles left the Langley boys on top 3-0.

Langley score their 4th 12 minutes into the 2nd half before Wales eventually clawed one back through Rees. Wales’ 2nd came 5 minutes later when a flowing passing move and a driving run by Duxbury brought the score back to 4-2. Langley’s final goal came courtesy of a rebound from a short corner. Final score 5-2 to Langley. 2 games back to back told on the Welsh boys’ fitness and taking things for granted meant they had to work harder than they should have.
Day 2 game 3. As the final pool game between Langley Park and Millfield ended in a draw Wales went through in 2nd place and played the winners of pool B, Kent College. This game was hard fought throughout with both teams striving to get through to the final. Kent took first blood to open the scoring but Wales levelled the score through Duxbury. Duxbury doubled his tally with Wales 2nd only for it to be cancelled out by Kent’s 2nd. Half time with the score level meant there was everything to play for in the 2nd half. Wales were quick to take the initiative and good communication combined with players sticking to the plan meant that Wales scored their 3rd, Duxbury, and 4th, Carless to relieve a little pressure. Kent scored their 3rd to leave the last few minutes tight but Wales held out and took the victory 4-3.

As Langley Park had beaten Kingston Grammar, the final was a rematch between Wales and Langley. With this being the 2nd game in a day again Wales had to ensure that yesterday’s performance was a blip and that they were going to break their roller-coaster ride to come away victorious. Both teams started strongly and with chances at either end not converted Wales opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Jevan Lloyd converted the 2nd phase at a short corner. Wales continued to work for each other and their 2nd came from Rees attacking down the left and slotting the ball to Owain Dolan-Gray to double the lead. Half time score 2-0.

Wales had put themselves in the position to win the tournament and they didn’t disappoint. Rees scored his 4th for the weekend in the 1st minute of the 2nd half with a reverse strike from the top of the D. Score 3-0. Wales got their 4th 1 minute later when Duxbury collected a through ball and pushed it into the corner leaving the Langley keeper stranded. With the Langley players tiring and the Welsh boys growing in confidence, the play between Rees, Lloyd and Duxbury to score Wales’ 5th was straight off the training ground. Saving some pride the Langley players scored a striking half volley but immediately from the restart Wales attacked and Rees and Fido combined to give Lloyd the opportunity to score his second. Admittedly 6-1 up but a lapse in concentration allowed Langley to score a 2nd and the final score was 6-2.

Having never previously won a game at this tournament, to come away with the victory and to have really had to work for it made every player, parent and member of the management team very proud. The players surprised many of the onlookers and members of the opposition. These young players stood up to the test and have given themselves the deserved reward for all the hard work put in to the 3 training camps. Coach Mark Hopkins commented “having left seven players who played in last year’s Home Nations and who are still eligible for this year’s programme at home; a young and inexperienced team coped well with the demands of four games in two days. The squad have learnt many valuable lessons from the two days and we have highlighted areas that need real focus in our build-up to the Europeans in July. Overall I am happy with many aspects of the two days, however, the athletes are well aware of what needs to be done to ensure success in Milan.”

For these players on the road to European success in the summer, their next step is on tour to Holland in February. Selection is now tougher than it has ever been. Well done to all!

Squad for Millfield: Craig Simms, Adam Williams, James Hughes, David Bond, Tom Stoneham, Tim Fuller, Sean Whitehouse, Louis Jones, Ben Carless, Chris Fido, Owain Dolan-Gray, Adam Unitt, Nick Rees, Mark Duxbury, Jevan Lloyd, Josh Williams

For information regarding the Welsh Hockey Union, please contact
Chris Brewer on 02920 573940 or email [email protected]

Please note: Information published in news stories was correct at the time of publication. Information, circumstances and data may have chance since.

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