"If only..." Bunnies and Bees get close at Kent Club In2Hockey championships

BOE Girls U12s travelled with high expectations to the Kent Club In2Hockey tournament at Tonbridge School. The Bunnies have been holding their own against the traditional Kent superpowers in their triangulars this year, while we knew from training that the Bees weren't far behind.
A dozen clubs were represented. Of these, Sevenoaks, Canterbury, Marden, Tunbridge Wells (our hosts) and BOE sent 2 teams.
The Bunnies found themselves in a group with Tunbridge Wells A, Marden B, Burnt Ash and Herne Bay, while the Bees faced an even tougher selection in Brombecks, Marden A and Holcombe.
The first game went according to plan for the Bunnies with a 1-0 win over Herne Bay secured by the first of 4 tournament goals (from right midfield!) for captain Emma Huxley. It was also a relief to coach Jeanette Grabham that the occasional visitors to the first aid tent Amelie Brooks (back) and Kent superstar Betrys Galloni (skiing wrist!) came through unscathed.
Bees first opponents were Brombecks - a tough test who have troubled the Bunnies in previous friendlies. The Bees adapted well to a new formation, with Sophie Walker putting in the first of several sterling shifts in defence. Phoebe Hambling ran the ball intelligently from right back - as ever a coaching model for playing with your head up! With Evie Camp her usual industrious self, the Brombecks midfield didn't get a second's peace, while fellow forward Fiona Windsor's strong ball carrying meant that Brombecks were often pegged back deep in their own half. The game was end-to-end, although without clear chances until finally Brombecks made the breakthrough. 1-0 the final score, and the first of a few very close misses for the BOE girls that left a little sense of what might have been over the tournament. Brombecks went on to win the group.
"If only" continued in the Bunnies next game against Tunbridge Wells 1. They took the lead through Freya Williams, whose speed and determination terrorised defences all afternoon, but conceded twice later in the game to lose narrowly to the eventual losing finalists. However they bounced back next up against Marden B, with another 1-0 win secured by another Emma Huxley goal. The defence was looking secure, with the steady partnership of the determined Paige Daish and classy Jasmine Lewis complemented by Amelie Brooks' increasingly assured distribution. Anneke Outen and Grace Grabham grafted hard in midfield alongside Betrys and Emma, to ensure that there was never an easy route to goal for the Bunnies opponents. Alternating up front with Freya was the fastest Bunny of them all, the even more frighteningly fast Robyn Steel. The Bunnies were dominating possession, but were they putting away enough chances to take their opponents out of the game?
Meanwhile the Bees were back up against Marden A. Another tough assignment against a team with a friendly victory over the Bunnies this season. This turned in to a heroic defensive performance from the whole team. Marden looked the more likely to score throughout, with the Bees limited to breakaway opportunities, carrying the ball to the corners to lift the siege occasionally. Ria Bennett-Lee at centre midfield covered more miles than anyone else, screening her defence and tracking runners ceaselessly. Fiona and Phoebe harassed at the front. Ellie Kinch was commanding in goal. Sophie Walker literally put her body on the line, ably deputised by Dulcie Rhodes, when she briefly left the field to check her bruises. Sophie provided the skill highlight of the game, when trapped in the left corner by two Marden players and facing her own baseline she calmly kept her stick on the ball, manoeuvered a little space and drew a foul which relieved the pressure. However, the stars of the show were Evie Camp and Nell Williams at left and right back respectively who were almost impassable for the whole game. The large Marden support and coach were starting to lose their cool and it appeared that an unlikely draw was on the cards. Unfortunately it was not to be: finally a loose ball in the D hit through a crowd and deflected, 1-0 Marden almost on the final whistle. So close again! Marden went on to win the 5th/6th playoff against Sevenoaks B, which shows the standard that the Bees had reached.
Perhaps the disappointment of that loss affected the team - they weren't themselves in their final game against Holcombe. It didn't help either that Holcombe got off to a flier with an incredible reverse stick tomahawk shot. After that the Bees gave them far too much respect, and although Holcombe finished below Brombecks and Marden A in the group, they were able to put 6 unanswered goals past the Bees, which meant that the Bees finished 4th in the group and would go into the plate competition.
But what of the Bunnies? Two wins and a loss in their first three group games meant that a draw against Burnt Ash would see them into the quarter finals. Unfortunately, despite doing all the attacking, they got no goals to show for it, while Burnt Ash scored ("from their only attack! - J. Grabham). "IF ONLY!". AGAIN! So it was third in the group and the plate for the Bunnies too.
The Bees came up against Canterbury B in their first plate match. The Bees had recovered from the disappointment of their previous game and put in an excellent performance. The Bees had plenty of possession in and around the Canterbury D, with Fiona Windsor looking dangerous up front and Nell Williams trying her hand at centre midfield for the first time to good effect. Ellie Kinch had probably her best game in goal for the Bunnies, keeping everything out in open play. Sophie Walker however, sealed Bees player of the tournament with not only another assured defensive display, but now also some fantastic raking passes to turn attack onto defence. What gave Canterbury the edge in the game was their exocet short corner striker however. Two huge strikes from the top of the D meant that the Bees tournament was over. No wins but plenty of positives.
Meanwhile the Bunnies had again beaten Herne Bay 1-0 (any guesses on the scorer? Yep - Emma again) to progress to the plate semi-final, where their opponents were the Bees conqueror's Holcombe. Again the usual pattern: Bunnies dominant in possession. A comeback goal for Betrys: 1-0 BOE. Would the floodgates open? No. Plenty of chances, near misses but no more goals. And as so often happens when you don't take your chances, right on the full-time whistle Holcombe breakaway and equaliser! IF ONLY! (part 5). Both teams prepared for shuffles, only to be reminded that draws in the plate were to be decided by a coin toss! Up stepped captain Emma, dispatching the heads/tails conundrum with aplomb: Bunnies in the plate final! Cue not too much cheering and politely shaking Holcombe hands (it was a funny way to win).
Next up Canterbury B for the plate. Armed with the inside track from the Bees earlier efforts, Jeanette urged the Bunnies defenders to run down the dangerous short corner striker. "Out quickly Anneke!" Errr.. Not that quickly. Bunnies now defending the short corner with three, Anneke sent to the other D for starting too soon. "Boom!" Big short corner 1-0 Canterbury. Anything Canterbury can do, the Bunnies can do too though, and with a little more finesse it should be said. Short corner to the Bunnies: ball injected to Emma; slipped left to Anneke; all the Canterbury defenders go to Anneke; Anneke gives it back to Emma, who tucks it neatly in the corner! 1-1. More chances for both sides. Lots of laughing on the side with a very friendly Canterbury coach. No more goals. Both sides want to do shuffles to decide it. But rules is rules, and unfortunately after 4 goals and one coin toss won, captain Emma's luck finally runs out and Canterbury B are officially the plate winners. The Bunnies end with a very creditable 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats from their afternoon.
Very fine margins between both teams and even greater success. "If only" though eh?
Well played all. Thanks to all the parent supporters and Phil for helping out with our umpiring contribution. Great day all round.
Sevenoaks A were the winners, featuring two ex-BOE stars (well played Amelie and Alex). "If only....."