GIRLS from the Dales were crowned champions at the recent Derbyshire Hockey Festival.
The squad, made up of students from Anthony Gell, Highfields, Lady Manners and St Mary’s (Chesterfield) schools, played some excellent hockey throughout, beginning with the first game against Belper.
Frankie Price, Kerry Hallam and Alice Spencer w
ere on target in a 3-0 victory, but their meeting with Ashbourne proved a very tight game.
Fine defending from Becky Mead, Alix Rollason and Eliza Day, and Beth Worsey in goal, kept Ashbourne at bay for most of the game, while two more goals from Kerry Hallam ensured a 2-1 win.
Facing Woodlands next, good midfield play from Lottie Kearsey, Frankie Price and Alice Spencer resulted in a 4-0 victory, Frankie Price scoring a hat-trick and Becky Mead grabbing the other goal.
The highlights of another 4-0 win, this time against Ripley, were Meg Woods’ forward play, a second hat-trick for Frankie Price and another goal for Becky Mead.
After the last game against Staveley had resulted in a resounding 4-1 victory – thanks to goalscorers Alice Spencer, Kerry Hallam, Becky Mead and Frankie Price – the Dales team were confirmed champions.
It was an outstanding performance by all the girls including the four members of the squad who played for Ripley to ensure there was an extra team – which improved as the event progressed – for the tournament.
The festival was well officiated by its young umpires and organised fantastically by Laura Loeber and Sue Hickmore.
The full article contains 256 words and appears in Matlock Mercury newspaper.
