On a bright and sunny Wednesday afternoon, Hacton took two Hockey teams to the Quicksticks Hockey Festival at Coopers' Coburn school. This hockey tournament featured 15 teams from 11 different schools. Teams were 4 a side with 2 girls and 2 boys and a rolling sub.
From the onset of the tournament, both of our teams were keen to support one another. The A side were in a group alongside the following schools: Ardleigh Green, Hylands, Newtons, St Albans (1), Upminster and St Joseph's (1). The B side were joined in their group by the following schools: St Albans (2), Harold Wood, Oakfields, Parsonage Farm, St Joseph's (2), St Joseph's (3) and Whybridge. Games lasted 8 minutes and teams were awarded 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw.
Hacton 1 - 1 Ardleigh Green
Hacton 1 - 0 Hylands
Hacton 3 - 0 Newtons
Hacton 3 - 0 St Joseph's (1)
Hacton 1 - 1 Upminster
Hacton 6 - 0 St Albans (1)
Undefeated, the A side recorded 4 wins and 2 draws to top their group with 14 points. Could the B side match that winning performance? The results speak for themselves:
Hacton 1 - 0 St Albans (2)
Hacton 3 - 0 Harold Wood
Hacton 3 - 0 Oakfields
Hacton 2 - 1 Parsonage Farm
Hacton 0 - 0 St Joseph's (2)
Hacton 2 - 0 St Joseph's (3)
Hacton 2 - 0 Whybridge
Also undefeated, the B side recorded 6 wins and a draw to top their group with 19 points. Both teams scored plenty of goals with Taylor and JJ top scorers for their respective sides. This meant that the final would be an all Hacton affair as the A side took on the B side.
It was a difficult final for both sides who had willed each other to win all afternoon. The A side won the game but, in a heartwarming display of solidarity, both teams had agreed beforehand that the trophy would be shared. Hats off to Hacton for an absolutely fantastic performance.
