“Herne Bay United U13 team and parents travelled to Soham, Cambridgeshire last weekend to compete in the Eastern Counties Roller Hockey Association Jubilee Cup 2014.

The two-day event saw eight teams from the North, South and East of England competing against each other for the title.

HBU’s first game was against Northern team Grimsby who were unknown to them. However, it became very apparent soon that HBU were a much confident and stronger team and they won the game easily 4-0.

Their second was against Walpole from the East of England, this was a young side which allowed the more experienced HBU players to dominate the play early on in the first half. HBU were able to score at will and the game finished 11-0 to HBU with nearly all the players getting onto the score sheet.

HBU’s last game of the day was against a much more experienced team Peterborough who had already won their own Eastern Regional League. With some end to end hockey and both goalkeepers making good saves it remained tight for awhile. However, the HBU team continued to press hard and scored a well worked goal. A couple more came for HBU before a lack of concentration allowed Peterborough to claim one back just before half-time.

In the second half Peterborough came out determined and pushed hard for more goals. HBU’s defence held strong and they gradually began to dominate again scoring another goal before the final whistle. Winning the game 5-1 meant they had finished in first place in ‘Pool A’ at the end of the first day.

It had been a long day so players and parents enjoyed some good food in Ely before heading back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

On the Sunday Herne Bay United met an Eastern Counties select team in the first semi-final of the day. A good start by HBU with Luke Huckstepp scoring twice before the half-time whistle. However, lack of concentration at the start of the second half allowed EC Select to score a goal. This seemed to spur them on and HBU needed to quickly regain their composure under increasing pressure. The game was end to end hockey and very tight till within the last few minutes when EC Select equalised to make it 2-2. Time had run out for HBU to close the game off and they would have to play 5 mins each way extra time with a ‘Golden Goal’ to end the game or it would go to penalties. After a stern talking to from the HBU coaches the team came out for the first period of extra time very positive. They dominated the play in the first couple of minutes with at least four chances on goal. HBU continued to apply pressure and EC Select needed to defend hard but were not able to get out of their half. HBU’s Captain George Daly found himself with some space in front of EC Select’s defence and took a slapshot that cannoned into the top left corner of the goal securing the win to take the team into the final later in the day.

The final was against local rivals Kent Roller Hockey and Skating Academy who had beaten Peterborough in their own semi-final. This was always going to be a good game for the spectators. HBU started off well with an early goal from Harry Slack. The Kent Academy hit back and quickly scored two goals to put them ahead. The game was turning into a very physical game, which needed some firm refereeing.

HBU remained composed and began to apply some pressure with the team playing some good passing hockey, which enabled George Daly to score two good goals to regain the lead. A lapse of concentration by HBU’s defence allowed KRHA’s Josh Osborne to equalise just before half time. An exciting but very tense first half, which had the spectators, enthralled.