After narrow losses against Yorkshire & North-East (2-1) and South-East (3-1) on Saturday, Sunday saw the team claim a 4-3 win over North-East and a 0-0 draw against West, losing the latter on penalty strokes to finish the competition in sixth position.

It has been something of a transition year, with well over half the side new to the O40s set-up. The core of this rebuilt squad, fiercely competitive all weekend and perhaps unfortunate not to claim at least a point from both of the opening matches, will go on to achieve great things in the years ahead. With only four of the eighteen players ‘ageing out’ - captain Rich Stainthorpe, player coach Shuhel Malique, goalkeeper Neal Hadgraft and defender Jon Card - hopefully the foundations have been laid for future successes.

Hosts London Hockey were the winners of the competition, producing a ruthless display to beat South-East 4-0 in the competition final. Congratulations to them.

We would like to offer sincere thanks to the competition organisers, including TD David Lloyd-Williams as well as to umpire manager Keith Boddy and his team of officials. Thanks also to physio Karl Khan for patching our ageing bodies up for the second day, and also to Matty Stainthorpe and Ian Dunnett - the former for being team manager and the latter for stepping in at the last minute when Matty had to withdraw from the playing squad due to injury. Further thanks to non travelling reserves Ali Gordon (Cambridge City HC), Luciano da Silva (Waltham Forest HC) and all players who put themselves up for trials this year.

Our results:
Vs Yorks & North-East: lost 2-1
Vs South East: Lost 3-1
Vs North West: won 4-3
Vs West: drew 0-0 (lost 4-2 on penalty strokes)

Photo
Back row: Matt Stainthorpe (Manager), Karl Khan (Physio), Neal Hadgraft (GK - Maldon HC), Ian Dunnett - (Hertford HC), Ben Hudson (Cambridge City HC), Carl Daniels (City of Peterborough HC), James Ward (Ipswich HC), Matt Sutterby (City of Peterborough HC), Rich Stainthorpe (Captain - Dereham HC), Mark Hoefield (Harpenden HC), Stuart Wardle (Norwich City HC), Chris Flatt (GK - Harleston Magpies HC).

Front row: Shuhel Malique (player coach, Tower Hamlets HC), Sanjay Dhanani (City of Peterborough HC), Sean Park (Saffron Walden HC), Mark Moffat (Cambridge City HC), Jon Card (Ipswich HC), Alex Scott (Norwich City HC), Richard Hamilton (Braintree HC).

Not pictured: Chris Fell (Shefford & Sandy HC)

Report by Richard Stainthorpe