North Wales Hockey U16’s 0   - South Wales Hockey U16's 4

 
Played in Newtown on Sunday this the first of the annual two-match series between North Wales U16's and South Wales U16's saw the South come out on top to win the first of the series.
 
The North started strongly, putting the South under pressure with goalkeeper Rhys Payne being brought into action earlier than he would had wished and having to pull off a couple of saves in the first quarter.
 
As the game progressed the South started to dominate the midfield and came close to scoring from a short corner where Ollie Wheeler was denied by a fine save from the North keeper. 
 
With the South now pressing in the opposition half Rory Calderwood slotted the first goal from a Wheeler injection of pace into the circle.  This was followed shortly afterwards by a strike by Max Bowyer from a desperate defensive clearance to put the South two up at half time.
 
 

South still strong in second half

The South were strong throughout the team and rested Riley and Wheeler for five minutes each side of half time which saw the North capitalise, coming out strongly at the start of the second half determined to make it a difficult second half for the South.   
 
On their return to the pitch Wheeler and Riley immediately made their mark with some fine interplay through the middle which saw Will Riley give Ollie Wheeler a ball inside the 22 for Wheeler to blast home an unstoppable shot from the top of the circle. 
 
Continued pressure from the South had the North defending for a good deal of the half with the North goalkeeper making some fine saves. However, to seal the win another ball from Riley to Wheeler saw Wheeler "roof" the ball into the net with a reverse stick shot hit on the volley from an acute angle.
 
Local Pembrokeshire player Ollie Wheeler was voted by the Players as Man of the Match.
 
Team:
Rhys Payne (GK) (Cardiff HC), Ollie Wheeler (Swansea HC), Will Riley (Cardiff HC), Rory Calderwood (Monmouth College) Dan Mills (Abergaveny HC), Matt Pinney (Whitchurch HC), Connor Beardsmore (Whitchurch HC), Will Coulson (Whitchurch HC), Jossef Moyse (Swansea HC) Charlie Wilkins (Whitchurch HC) Jonny Fleck (Whitchurch HC), Matt Bowyer (Swansea HC), Nick Morgan (Swansea HC)