Thank you to all the coaches (David Cakebread, Sandra Earley, David Malthouse, George Masters, David Moseley, Gill Stringer) who provided the following reports. And to Andy Dolan who provided the majority of the photos in the gallery.

As the festive period approached the outdoor focus switched to indoor hockey, culminating in the National Indoor Hockey Tournament at the Copper Box Arena on the 28th, 29th and 30th December 2019. Beforehand all squads threw themselves into the indoor training and started to adapt to the pace of the indoor game and the different rules. They practiced their drills getting the ball into a wide position quickly and then swiftly passing into the D. Positions became fixed and the players knew their jobs.

Then the days of the tournament arrived and the teams made their way down to Stratford. It was great to see the giant mirrored RUN letters outside the venue and the size of the arena that they would be playing in. The boys and girls warmed up on the pitch before all the players were called to the changing areas, ready to be introduced to the crowd. The lights went down, the music played, and the team ran out onto the pitch.

This championship was a fantastic experience for every player from Blue Hornets across all age groups. But let’s not forget the parents who give up their time to support the team and their young hockey super-stars.

Match reports below by age group, but here’s looking forward to the second half of the season!

U10 Girls
Our first game was against Canterbury and followed immediately after the player parade. It proved to be a very tight game with both teams creating chances. The Hornets were ultimately frustrated as Canterbury held on to a one goal lead. Rebe R and Isla C shared midfield duties, covered every inch of the pitch and demonstrated their strong stick skills. Chelmsford was fortunate to draw our second game as the Hornets dominated play and had a goal disallowed. The defensive due of Sylvie G and Lucy C (Cpt) were superb throughout, evidence by the fact that we only conceded three goals in six games and kept three clean sheets. This is also a credit to our goalkeeper, Hannah B, whose positional sense and focus made it difficult for the opposition. The Hornets attacking line up of Amelie C, Josie B and Oliva A created lots of chances. An early goal by Amelie against Cambridge City brought a well-deserved victory. Hornets had to settle for a draw against Teddington, despite creating lots of chances. In the final game against Surbiton, the Hornets were awarded a penalty flick in the dying seconds of the game which would have levelled the score. The final buzzer sounded and a controversial decision to end the game before the flick was taken bemused all. All the games were very even, played in great spirit and the girls achieved a very creditable 8th place overall. Our Captain, Lucy, deserves special mention for her outstanding breaks from defence and great link up play. The coaches were impressed with the team’s performances on the pitch and their impeccable conduct off the pitch.

U10 boys
Some of the boys had been in the 2018 squad that notched up only a single goal and were understandably nervous about this year’s tournament. The boys started the indoor campaign with a low-key tournament hosted by Hertford Hockey Club, where the hosts dominated, beating all other teams (including Blue Hornets). Our boys played some good Hockey against Cambridge City and St Albans but recorded only a solitary win. There was a lot of work to do to be competitive at the tournament!

The 29th arrived and on a chilly morning we made the (very early) trip to Stratford, and the Copper Box. So far, so good! Now to play some hockey.

Game one – Herford
The boys had studied the fixture list and knew that the teams they had beaten previously (outside) were all in the other side of the draw. The only team we were familiar with were Hertford, and they had beaten us at every time of asking this season. That was until now! From the start the Blue Hornets Boys got into the game, they pressured Hertford, tackled brilliantly and gave them very few opportunities to score. We ended up drawing 0-0 but took this as a great sign. Hertford had been the best team we had played all year and we had locked them out!
Now into the unknown, all of the remaining games were against teams we knew very little about. (0-0)

Game two – Wimbledon
Wimbledon started well, but the defensive combination of Zach J and Austin H prevented them for putting any pressure on the Hornets goalkeeper, George N. As the game progresses the boys began to take a grip on the game, Alex M broke free of two defenders and played the ball into the D for James M to slot home past the keeper. The Hornets could have doubled their lead as Alex M and James M both had their shots well saved by the Wimbledon Keeper. The hooter sounded to call time on the game and the boys had won! (1-0)

Game three – Stone
Before the game the boys were muttering, that Stone must be good as they had travelled such a long way and they went onto the pitch prepared for a tough game.
The fears were to be short lived, the defensive paring of Austin H and Zach J dealt with everything that Stone tried and very soon it became the Zach show! First Zach J surged forward on the left wing, drove the ball inside the D and put the ball past the keeper. Then Zach FW confidently scored. James M had a great chance to score a third but narrowly shot wide. The game ended and they had won again. Now unbeaten in three (2-0)

Game four - Surbiton
Again there was a muttering before the game, “Loads of the England team play for Surbiton, so they must be good”
The game was so much better than the score line reflected; Surbiton offered very little in the way of attack as the Hornets defence locked them out. Zach J showed a real moment of class as he beat three players before confidently scoring. From then onwards it was all Hornets, Alex M and James M had shots brilliantly saved by the Surbiton Keeper. Zach J beat the keeper again only to have his shot cleared off the line. Four short corners in a row and still the Hornets couldn’t get another goal. This was our best performance so far. Only 1-0 but on another day it could have been 4! (1-0)

Game five - Teddington
Now the mutterings were different, the boys had seen the table. They knew they were in second place, but Canterbury were top. They had won every game. We had to play Canterbury last. But first it was Teddington! Their coaches kept stressing they needed to focus - one game at a time!
But there was no need to worry, the boys did their job! Aaron H was a rock on the left-hand side of the pitch, the ball just couldn’t get past him and Blue hornets really took advantage. First Zach J beat one player in the D, wrong-footed the goalkeeper and passed the ball to James M who coolly finished from close range. Then James M returned the favour from the second game playing the ball into the D from the left wing for Alex M to finish. Zach J on the right wing crossed the ball for James to slop home his second goal of the game from short range and in a matter of minutes it was three - nil! The dominance continued, Alex M thought he had a second goal of the game, but the whistle went a fraction before he scored, Harry C had an excellent shot and moment late set up Zach J for another chance. No more goals but a great performance (3-0)

Game six - Canterbury
On to the final game! Canterbury had won the tournament the previous year and had won every game this year. Hopes were high, but Canterbury were there to spoil the Braintree party. The equation was simple it had to be a Win. If we drew the Canterbury took first place.
Canterbury broke early and took a shot. Austin H made a goal saving challenge, but the danger wasn’t over, the ball fell to a Canterbury player who finished from short range. Hornets hopes were now on a knife-edge, they had to get goals! The boys pushed forward, and Alex M had two great shots that went narrowly went wide. They kept pushing and the goal felt closer, a short corner whistled wide but still no goal. It felt like the Hornets were about to score when Canterbury broke forwards and rifled in a fierce shot. Two goals down with minutes to play and the game was over. Hornets still fought for everything but couldn’t get through the Canterbury defence. (0-2)

That was it! The close of the indoor season for the Under 10’s and a Silver medal! A brilliant achievement from all the players. Every member of the squad played a valuable part in the success of the team.

U12 Girls
Despite being short of a few key players, the U12 Girls enjoyed the indoor experience at the Copper Box this year with a very high standard in the 16 teams from across the country.

With a tough initial draw against big clubs the girls worked hard and learnt a lot. Although it was slightly frustrating to draw 1-1 with local rivals Bishop’s Stortford having been 1-0 up, a particular highlight was seeing the girls fight back to draw 2-2 with Teddington in the plate competition.

Thanks to all the girls for the effort and engagement in training, whether or not they went on to represent the club in the competition itself, and we all look forward to further commitment, passion and progress in the coming months back outside on Astroturf.

U12 Boys
On the 28th December nine intrepid U12 boys and parents awoke at an ungodly hour to travel to the copper box for a day of indoor hockey.

There were 15 other teams in the competition ranging from our arch-rivals Chelmsford (who thanks to a Goal by Ollie D we beat 2-1 by the way) to the might of Teddington and Surbiton. The competition was fierce and the umpiring more so.

The first round was tight with all teams close on points going into the final games. They all played some great hockey, but unfortunately the hockey gods weren’t always smiling on us, resulting in us coming 4th in our group and going on to play in the plate competition.

We battled hard in the next three games to come 3rd in our group. There were lots of positives such as only once losing by more than one goal and only conceding a total of six goals in the entire competition!

The boys worked very hard giving 110% ever game. They never gave up and with lots of encouraging works to each other they kept smiling when it would have been easy to let their heads slip. By the end of the day we had some very tired players indeed.
I was proud to say that I was their coach.

I would like to say a big thank you to Oliver M for his help on the day and to our team Captain Hugh W for his positivity.

U12 Boys
On the 28th December nine intrepid U12 boys and parents awoke at an ungodly hour to travel to the copper box for a day of indoor hockey.

I would like to say a big thank you to Oliver M for his help on the day and to our team Captain Hugh W for his positivity.

U14 Girls
A super bunch of U14 Girls put up a fight and gave 100% versus some tough opposition at the Copper Box against teams like Canterbury an JK Allstars!

Three wins, two losses and two draws put us in a final battle for the plate vs local rivals Chelmsford.

Sadly, after a couple of short corners Chelmsford took the plate and we were runners up a magical fun day had by all.

U14 Boys
The U14 boys were again excited to compete at the Copper Box. The last-minute age group changes made by the organisers affected this squad (Charles, Toby, Henry, Harrison, Fraser, Oscar, Zac, Reggie) maybe more than others as it allowed the Selection teams such as the JK All Stars and Academy groups like UK Lions to enter their older boys (playing club U15 hockey) into this tournament.

Despite this the Braintree Blue Hornets were up for the challenge! Losing 4-0 to Wootton Under Edge was not an ideal start but Wootton were crowned champions at the end of the afternoon the result didn't look too bad!

A narrow loss to Wimbledon was unfortunate despite great attacks by Reggie and Fraser slotting home a penalty flick with calm assurance TWICE after his first effort was ruled to have been taken before the whistle.

The undoubted highlight of the day was a 1-0 victory over the JK All Stars. Incorporating outstanding defensive work from Harrison and Toby, sensational centre play from Henry and an awesome short corner move from Oscar and Fraser. Charles once again showed his class by stopping a penalty flick which would have enabled the All Stars to have equalised!

These results meant entry into the Trophy competition and play offs for 9th-12th places out of 16. In our group we had superstars Guildford who were gutted to be in the Trophy, but as we were already placed higher than local clubs Hertford and Chelmsford this just meant taking on Saffron Walden and Old Loughts for Champions of the East! Guildford were good and rightful winner of the Trophy but a clinical win with an excellent goal from Zac meant that Saffron Walden were beaten.

We couldn't believe that we had OL's to play in the last game of the day! In the end they had three big and strong strikers all well known to us and whilst we could always cover two of them the third invariably had chances on goal. We staunched their attack again and again (with Toby repeatedly beating players down the right boards!) but the penalty corner count went against us and they were worthy winners.

So 11th place it was, which playing a year young (or in some cases two!) and coming just one place behind Old Loughts was a position to celebrate. With national league clubs and selection teams now occupying the majority of the top half of the table, the Braintree boys can be very encouraged by their performance especially in the knowledge that all can play at the U14 level again next year!

Please take a look at the selection of the photos that were taken on the day. If you would like to submit some yourself, please get in touch.