NW Ladies O35s Retain Their National Masters Title

Summary of the North West O35 Ladies Area Tournament

On the weekend of the 13th and 14th of May a group of nervous and excited North West hockey players arrived at the Stourport Sports Centre. After setting up camp in the sun the players set off for their first team warm up. There was a buzz around the team as they entered the pitch for the first game against London. Chant done (loud and proud), positions set, start whistle blown – the NW team went on the charge, settling into a good team rhythm very quickly. This game saw the lively, ruthless, and unselfish Nicki Wilkinson and Nicky Kellet who was a play maker, shot taker and team player, link up and produce some amazing goals that resulted in 6 goals being put passed the London keeper:

· 3 x Nicki Wilkinson with assists from Kiery Horne and Nicky Kellett (x2).

· 2 x Nicky Kellett with assists from Cath Thompson and Nicki Wilkinson.

· Michelle Mortimer-Collier with an assist from Leanne Traynor.

The efforts of the stealthy, resilient, and precise Vicki Austin and Michelle Bury who was powerful, committed and a massive team player kept the London team at bay. However, despite the whole teams’ efforts the Londoners did manage to score a good short corner strike, but it turned out to be a consolation goal with the game finishing in a 6-1 win to the North West. This also turned out to be the only goal that the team conceded.

With this amazing start, the team did not have time to think about it too much as they had a quick turn around to play their next game against the East. This was a tougher game, with neither side able to break through the defence of the other, this was because the NW’s defence was led by their two goal keepers Leighan Bleasdale, who was a great communicator, fearless and formidable and Sarah Morrell that was focused, whippy and organised. With the sun getting hotter the North West side pushed forward and with an assist from Nicky Kellett, Nicki Wilkinson put the ball passed the East keeper scoring the only goal of the game, disappointing them, and giving the North West their second win at 1-0.

The team took a much-needed rest as the day got hotter and hotter but were back on the pitch for their third and final game of the day. The opposition for this game was North East and Yorkshire making this game a Clash of the North! With Rhiannon Byrne-Bowles being a wall at the back she brought power and snappiness to the play, this combined with the strong, powerful, and sassy play of Michelle Mortimer-Collier kept the sky-blue team out of the circle and did not give them many chances to score. The midfield that included the energetic, creative, and adaptable Fran McNeela and the steadfast, productive, and dynamic Nic Hartley worked tirelessly to give the attackers the opportunity to take the chances. Both teams played hard and neither one gave any easy chances away, but North West kept the pressure on and broke through with Nicky Kellett scoring from an assist by the lightning quick, weaving, and relentless Cath Thompson. The North West scored three more times:

· Nicky Kellet short corner.

· Cath Thompson with an assist from Nicky Kellett.

· Nicky Kellett completing a hattrick from a Hayley Standeven-Johns assist.

This made the final score 4-0.

The North West finished the day extremely proud and happy of their achievements but also looking forward to the target that they now set themselves for the next day. Defend the title, become champions, and win all 5 games!

After a lovely team meal and a good nights sleep the NW team woke up early to a cool, foggy Sunday morning, but with clear, determined heads for the task ahead. Unfortunately, the tenacious Nicki Wilkinson had sustained an injury to her ankle the day before and made

the hard decision not to play in the day’s games. However, she did become a very good DJ/supporter/photographer, on the bench with her team to the end.

Again, the team set up camp in high spirits and being one of the first games of the day they were able to utilise the pitch for an extended warm up to get those aching muscles going. The first opponent for the team in blue was the Midlands and despite dominating the possession, the ball did not want to go in the oppositions goal. Both vice captains played their part in defence with Sarah Chancellor being strong, composed and determined and Kelly Burdett showing her experience, tackling and distribution skills to hold off the advances of the other team.

Until the North West were awarded a flick, up stepped Nicky Kellett who force the ball over the goal-line to open the scoring. Bolstered by this goal the forward line of Jane Brown who did some amazing strong runs, had constant fight and was extremely determined played alongside Estelle McCoy who worked hard, was resolute and a real asset pushed forward which, through Nicky Kellett scored again to double the scoreline to 2-0, giving the NW their fourth win of the weekend.

With a little break before the next game the team reflected on what they had already achieved, if East were to lose or draw their next game, mathematically the NW would have won the tournament. However, they were not going to let anything be decided by ifs and other teams, the ladies from the North wanted all 5 wins!

With the supportive, knowledgeable, and passionate team manager, Ail Standeven-Johns, working closely with the ever confident, focused, and enthusiastic coach Mat Gotts the whole team came together for the last pre-game huddle. There was just one more game, just one more win, just one more team performance, they were going to leave everything on the pitch, with the captain Rhiannon Byrne-Bowles leading the chant, the roar of 1! 2! 3! NORTH WEST filled the air, and each player took their positions facing the team from the West, ready for the final battle. The first half was a game of back and forth with neither team gaining the upper hand, but the NW had Hayley Standeven-Johns who worked tirelessly and relentlessly and played amazingly through an injury. However, in the second half Leanne Traynor who had been industrious, skilful, and innovative linked up with Nic Hartley to open the scoring. From this moment the team in blue fought even harder with Kiery Horne’s rapid, sneaky, and effective play assisting the team to be rewarded with another Nicky Kellet goal, they stayed strong and closed off any chances that the West were trying to create. As the final whistle blow there were cheers and chats of ‘UP THE NORTH’ from the traveling supporters and the North West team celebrated 5 out of 5 wins and becoming Area Champions and defending their title in really style.

Player of the tournament:

The winner by a distance, thanks to her "tireless work through the weekend", "always calm under pressure" attitude and "multiple jaw-dropping moments throughout the tournament" is Nicky Kellet

Donkey of the Weekend:

For a while it looked like it was going to be a two-horse race between Kel Burdett's knowledge of starred messages and Cath Thompson's timekeeping.

However, ... A late flurry of votes seals the matter, and your official 2023 Donkey of the Weekend is...

Nicola Wilkinson's cankle.

Unsung Hero:

Absolutely no disputing this one: Rhi, you have been an absolute legend throughout the year, not just to your teammates but to Mat too. You're a true inspirational leader and the amount of work you do behind the scenes is phenomenal. Special mention also goes to Ali

Standeven-Johns for taking the time out of her schedule to come all the way to Stourport and provide excellent (and much needed!) support to Rhi and Mat.

Champagne Moment:

Lots of nominations for this:

· Michelle Collier's gammon finally arriving.

· Nicki's PC goal versus the East

· The two Nickis' goal versus London

· Nicky Kellet's penalty stroke vs East

· Plenty of votes for "the entire weekend"

· Seeing peoples' confidence grow through the weekend.

· Kiery Horne's aerial dribbling

· Leanne Traynor's first (and last!) goals for the 35s! #1anddone

But the winner, by some margin, is Nicki Wilkinson for her first half, tone-setting hat-trick to start the weekend.