Dazzling day of junior inter-insular hockey

Wednesday 31 January 2024

Guernsey’s junior hockey sides travelled to face Jersey for what proved to be a thrilling day of hockey at Les Quennevais.

Both U16 games ended in last-gasp draws, while the U14 Girls won their contest and U14 boys were defeated.

In the opening U14 boys game, early Guernsey pressure went unrewarded and Jersey took an early lead before the Sarnians responded strongly and equalised from a penalty corner.

The Caesareans enjoyed the lion's share of the second half.

It was not long before Jersey's pressure was rewarded from a well-worked penalty corner.

Jersey held firm to secure a 2-1 win.

The U14 Girls fixture was a tough and well-fought game.

Pictured: Action from the U14 girls hockey inter-insular.

Guernsey, who fielded some older age-group players, made their greater physicality and experience count, forcing the Jersey team onto the back foot for much of the game.

The Greens took the lead after 11 minutes and the Caesareans were mostly on the defensive for the majority of the first half.

Against the run of play in the second, Guernsey added a second, followed by a fabulous chance created by Jersey a little later. Two superb saves by the Sarnian goalkeeper kept Jersey at bay, as the visitors won 2-0.

The experience gained from playing a wiser team on such an occasion will be valuable.

Meanwhile the U16 Girls played out a classic inter-insular style game.

Both sides made a solid start, but it was the greens who broke the deadlock. Jersey had plenty of opportunities of their own early on and were finally rewarded after an incisive pass and simple tap-in.

The game was finely balanced as the two teams headed into the second period. Guernsey were awarded a series of penalty corners with both goalkeepers enjoying a superb game.

With just under 20 minutes to go, Jersey took the lead. The hosts continued to press but the Guernsey defence was solid.
Guernsey won a penalty corner as the final whistle blew.

Penalty corners have to be played out and Guernsey made the most of this rule, slotting home a last-gasp equaliser for a 2-2 tie to deny Jersey the outright win. As holders of the trophy, Jersey retained the crown for another year.

The day's finale far from disappointed, as the U16 Boys played out a 3-3 classic.

Guernsey came out of the blocks all guns blazing and showed they meant business, within minutes sending an aerial ball into the Jersey circle to open the scoring.

Not to be denied their own bit of theatre, Jersey struck on four minutes when a reverse stick shot beat three defenders and the goalkeeper with its power.

As the drama settled down slightly, an infringement from the Guernsey defence gave the home side a penalty flick, but the ball was put just wide.

As if to rub salt into the wound, Guernsey then took the lead from a penalty corner.

Jersey continued to attack with gusto but Guernsey's defence were playing well. However, a lapse in concentration saw a ball fired in and then fired emphatically into the Guernsey net.

After the break, the teams produced end-to-end entertainment.

Guernsey looked very dangerous on the counter-attack, but a lack of discipline saw several of the side given two-minute green-card warnings.

This unsettled the Sarnians and when Jersey were awarded another penalty corner, they were able to take advantage as they scored from a left-hand slip.

With just minutes to go, the visitors continued to press for an equaliser, which eventually came in the form of a last-gasp penalty corner conversion.

A competitive and enthralling match ended in stalemate and the Jersey boys retained the trophy for another year.

Pictured top: Guernsey celebrate scoring in the U14 Girls inter-insular.