IAPS National Finals for Bedford Prep School U11 Hockey Team

Published by Bedford Prep School on Wednesday 28th of February 2018

Fresh from their win at the In2 Hockey County Festival, Bedford Prep School’s U11s Hockey Team successfully competed in the IAPS regionals on Tuesday 20 February and secured their place in the National finals. Their day started with their toughest match in the group stage against the eventual champions, St. George’s. However, the boys were undeterred by this opening loss and went on to secure excellent results against Heath Mount, The Beacon and St. John’s to qualify for the afternoon cup competition. The quarter final against Aldwickbury that followed was an incredibly tense affair with both sides threating to win the game in normal time, before a penalty shuffle competition commenced that saw both keepers make some scintillating saves to keep the scores level until the 11th round of sudden death and ultimately a passage to the semi-final for Bedford Prep. With national qualification now secured by making the final four the pressure was off, and the Bedford Prep team played some free-flowing hockey to beat New Hall and progress to the final against St. Georges once more. The final proved one game too far with the exertions of the earlier rounds taking their toll, but this did not detract from the enormity of their achievement to qualify for the national finals in March, and is a massive boost before next week’s regional In2 Hockey Festival. Sam Mee, Director of Hockey at Bedford Prep School, commented, “To get through such a tense and hard-fought tournament is a fantastic achievement for the boys and an incredible experience for all of them. It is an exciting time at Bedford Prep School with both the U13 and U11 boys qualifying for the national finals!”