Herne Bay Roller Hockey Club’s strength in depth at U15s level was on view again this weekend as the club were first of all confirmed as Eastern Counties league champions and then followed up by securing the top two positions in their local South Eastern Counties league.

On Saturday Bay travelled to Sudbury to play their ‘home’ tournament needing just four points from their final four matches to clinch the title. The day began in comfortable style against Peterborough W with Bay running in 14 unanswered goals.

King’s Lynn, title winners in four of the previous six seasons, were next and proved much tougher opposition in a 2-2 contest that Bay were disappointed not to win. Following another routine 7-0 victory over Cottenham Y, Bay’s final game was against Cottenham O.

Despite controlling the game for large passages of play, Bay were only able to convert one first half goal which Cottenham equalised in the second period of play.

Overall, Bay have achieved what they set out to do in this Eastern Counties league by winning the title and finishing undefeated with 14 wins and 2 draws from 16 matches played, scoring over a hundred goals and conceding just 11 in the process.

Closer to home on Sunday at Maidstone YMCA centre, Bay’s two teams were looking to end the season strongly and finish in the top two positions against local rivals HBU, Maidstone and Invicta. HB1 began the day in third position, aware that only three wins from three would see them leapfrog Maidstone and move into second position, and the team duly delivered.

Wins against HBU (3-0) and Invicta (4-1) sandwiched a dominant 3-0 victory over Maidstone with goals shared across the team.

HB2, needing just one win to end the season as league winners, achieved their aim with comfortable wins over Invicta (11-0) and HBU (5-0).  A win against Maidstone would confirm HB1 in second place without the aid of goal difference and HB2 delivered the required performance, ending the season with a 4-2 win and overall 14 wins from 16 matches played.

Bay have little time to dwell on their successes as the season comes to a close and will now focus on fitness and strategy for their U15 National Cup final on July 2^nd.

Eastern Counties Squad

Lucas Crow (gk), Bailey Smith (gk), Nattie Hopper, Sian Emslie, Mason Albon, Herbie Hudson, Jake Rawlinson, Jamie Tritton, Charley Langford.

South Eastern Counties Squads

HB1

Bailey Smith (gk), Owen Laird-Archer, Nattie Hopper, Finlay Norton, Mason Albon, Herbie Hudson, Jake Rawlinson, Callum Read-Jones.

HB2

Edan Emery-Webber (gk), Sian Emslie, Jamie Tritton, Lewis Ing, Joe Witty, Charley Langford.