Eagles and Falcons don't shirk their challenges

The Horncstle Eagles competed in League One, while the Falcons team were in the B League.

And although most players in the two teams are still eligible for under 12s hockey, the teams gave good accounts of themselves against mostly older players.

The Eagles began with defeat to Lindum after leading for most of the game thanks to Sam Edwards but conceding two late goals.

This was followed by a 6-0 defeat to Long Sutton, who ended the day unbeaten.

But the youngsters learned from this loss and played their final two matches without conceding a single goal - a draw with Bourne Deeping Dragons and a 1-0 vitory over Sleaford Movers, the goal scored by Lewis Howden and assisted by Hollie McDonnell.

The last two games saw increasingly confident goalkeeping from Annabel Rinfret, and an especially good performance from Bridie Mason in the centre of the park against Sleaford.

Bea Spendlove and Lottie Hopwood, who not only played the role of senior team members exceptionally well, but also umpired a number of matches.

EAGLES: A. Rinfret, B. Spendlove, M. Spendlove, L. Howden, B. Mason, I. Norwood, S. Edwards, H. McDonnell, L. Hopwood.

The Falcons worked hard and played some very good hockey throughout the day.

They finished the day having lost four games and drawn one, which is very pleasing as the majority of opposition teams were a couple of years older.

Jonny Caswell who scored the only goal of the day, finishing a flowing passing move.

FALCONS: C. Helliwell, L. Shaw, S. Hopwood, J. Caswell, J. Bouchereau, M. Galbraith, H. Wilkinson, J. Dean.