Fresh from their win at the In2 Hockey County Festival, the Prep School’s U11’s successfully competed in the IAPS regionals on Tuesday 20 February and secured their place in the National finals.
Their day started with their toughest match in the group stage against eventual champions, St. George’s. However, the boys were undeterred by this opening loss and went on to secure excellent results against Heath Mount, The Beacon and St. John’s to qualify for the afternoon cup competition.
The quarter final that followed was an incredibly tense affair with both sides threatening to win the game in normal time before a penalty shuffle competition commenced that saw both keepers make some scintillating saves to keep the scores level until the 11th round of sudden death and a passage to the semi-final for Bedford Prep.
With national qualification now secured, by making the final four, the pressure was off, and the boys played some free-flowing hockey to beat New Hall and progress to the final against St. Georges once more.
The final proved one game too far with the exertions of the earlier rounds taking their toll, but this did not take away from the enormity of their achievement to qualify for the national finals in March and is a massive boost before next week’s regional In2 Hockey Festival.
Sam Mee, Director of Hockey, commented, “To get through such a tense and hard-fought tournament is a fantastic achievement for the boys and an incredible experience for all of them. It is an exciting time in the prep school with both the U13 and U11 boys qualifying for the national finals! A huge well done to all the boys for their efforts so far!”
Congratulations to Arthur Procter, Edward Dagg, James Dagg, Will Hayward, Fred Dickson, Harmun Basra, Oscar Jewers, Sam Mullany, Zach Hone & Oliver Simmonds on their fantastic result.
Group stage
Lost 2-0 v St. George’s
Won 1-0 v Heath Mount
Won 3-0 v The Beacon
Drew 0-0 v St. John’s
Quarter-finals
Drew 0-0 v Aldwickbury (Won 4-3 on Penalties Shuffles after 11 rounds)
Semi-finals
Won 2-1 v New Hall
Final
Lost 4-0 v St. George’s