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U16/18 Boys tournament round up provided by Neil Couston & Bob Fleck:

U18 boys travelled to Glasgow for 3 test matches against Scotland. Friday night game transferred from the National Hockey Centre to Clydesdale HC starting at 19.30 when the pitch watering sprays were becoming virtual snow makers as the water turned to snow – well the supporters thought so even though it did not – it was freezing!!

The U16s with Alf & Will C had previously battled hard in their game finally losing 5-1 but with 10 players making debuts at this level. A closer game than the score suggests, probably down to the 5:30am start for most of the team and the long Journey. Score was 3-1 with a few minutes to go but Scotland scored a couple of late goals.

U18 were slow to get the coach trip out of their legs and ended the 3^rd quarter 4-1 down. Welsh grit & commitment appeared in the 4^th quarter to bring it back to 4-4 with a Welsh shot hitting the bar to win it with 1 second to go.

Saturday morning provided fresh oppo as Scotland used the matches to look at many players but this time U16 won 1-0. Wales scored early on and then defended really well with Will playing Defensive Centre Midfield, Scotland took their keeper off with 5 minutes to go and played with 11 outfield players but Wales managed to wind down the clock for a well deserved victory (The only squad to win a game)

Unfortunately the U18 boys lost 4-0. Supporters equally cold but anticipation for the final Sunday day matches were underpinned by the superb performances of the U16 girls getting a draw in the first game supported with ‘tidy’ coaching from our own Nick Fackrell.

Sunday saw the U18 boys lose 5-2 but in reality at 3-2 two big chances were missed to close the game out – the more they play together the better they get – ‘shimple’ says Sergei the meerkat.

Game 3 for the U16's resulted in Wales 2-6 Scotland Another close game which at half time was 2-3 but Scotlands larger squad allowed them to have fresher legs towards the end and run in 3 unanswered goals when Wales ran out of gas, all round learning and progression was awesome.

Alf and Will should be proud of their contributions as both played a big part in all of these games especially the 1-0 win, both boys were fantastic WHC role models as was Jonny F in the U18.

Supporters as normal had fab time, managed not to get carded on the side line, warmed up by the time they got back to Wales and sampled the delights of down town Glasgow in true WHC ‘stylee’.

WHC boys u16 representatives in Glasgow - Easter 2018 Alana Jonny Fleck Easter Wales U16 2018