PUBLISHED 08 March 2023
Saturday saw AKS host their annual Jean Torrance Hockey Tournament with local schools and clubs being joined by Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh who made the long journey south to take on AKS, Lytham High and two junior sides from local hockey club Preston.
On a chilly day it was fantastic to see over 110 young hockey players enjoying their sport and AKS was buzzing with activity all day with 4 AKS sides taking part in the A & B competitions.
The AKS U12A team started the tournament slowly against a determined Preston Hockey Club A team but we gradually started to pass the ball more accurately and prolific scorers Olivia W and Camilla W found the net to record our first win of the tournament 4 – 0. The second game against AKS U11A saw us start to play good passing hockey and prove too strong for the younger AKS side to win 5 -0. The third game was always going to be a tight one against the strong Mary Erskine A team. Both teams had chances but good defending from Lauren M, Victoria H, Isabelle and Esme M together with some great saves from Natalie H kept a clean sheet. The match was won with a moment of brilliance from Emily F who scored the only goal of the game with a fantastic reverse stick shot into the top of the goal. With three wins we went into the final game against a determined Lytham HS side with a semi-final place up for grabs and again good play saw us win 2 – 0 to take top spot in the group. In the semi-finals we met Preston A team and again proved too strong for them and rightly took our place in the final against Mary Erskine A team. Just like the pool game the final was a close game with both teams playing some superb passing hockey. Natalie H in goal made some crucial saves in the first half but we had scoring opportunities of our own but just could not find the net and the finals score was 0 – 0 and the teams shared the trophy and winners medals.
AKS U12 B teams took part in the B team tournament and improved with every match remaining unbeaten in all the group stage matches. Great wins against Preston HC B team ( 2 – 0) and AKS U11 B team ( 2 – 0 ) and draws against Mary Erskine B and C teams saw them progress in to the semi-finals against Mary Erskine B team which proved to be an exciting and nail-biting affair. With the teams closely matched neither could find the net in normal time so a period of extra time was played. Still no goals so a second period of extra time without goalkeepers was played but still no goals so it went to the dreaded penalty shoot out! Goal keeper Jenay G made two great saves but could not stop Mary Erskine from finding the net with the final penalty and so the AKS B team narrowly missed out on a place in the final. To their credit the B team raised their game for the 3rd/4th playoff match to finish in a superb 3rd place.
The AKS U11 A & B teams also took part in the tournament and did themselves proud playing against older opposition. The A team faced the challenge of playing in the A team tournament and after a understandably nervous start got stronger and stronger as the tournament progressed recording wins against Preston Hockey Club A team 3 – 0 and Lytham St Annes A team 4 – 0 to finish 3rd in the section and progress into the semi-finals where they met a strong Mary Erskine A team. Despite playing their best hockey of the day Mary Erskine proved just too strong and the U11A had to settle for a place in the 3rd/4th play off where they defeated Preston B to claim overall 3rd place, a fantastic achievement! The U11B team also learnt a lot and improved with every match drawing 1 – 1 with Preston B team to finish 4th overall.
Overall a fantastic day of hockey enjoyed by players and spectators alike!
Final Positions
U12A Cup Competition
1st= AKS A and Mary Erskine A
3rd AKS U11A
4th Preston HC A
5th Lytham St Annes HS
U12B Cup Competition
1st Mary Erskine B
2nd Mary Erskine C
3rd AKS U12 B
4th AKS U11B
5th Preston B