Captain Harry Simons had a lot to smile about having taken debutants Banbury HC to the England Hockey Indoor Tournament in London and grabbing a well-deserved bronze medal to end 2021 on a real high.
There were some tough opposition teams including The Allstars HC team who featured 2 Great Britain players Jack Waller and Rhys Smith. Banbury had some firepower too with Scotland international Kyle White in the team.
Banbury opened with an emphatic 4-0 win against Superstars HC with White getting a hat trick and Captain Harry Simons grabbing the fourth. They then faced JK Hockey and grabbed a tough 4-3 win with Pete Lamb scoring a great baseline goal and Captain Harry Simons scoring a final
second winner. Kit Lamb was on fire in goal saving a couple of flicks and the hard work of Ally Rose, Joe Allen, and Alfie Lawrence in these opening games paid dividends as Banbury took control.
They then faced the Great Britain Allstars team and lost 2-5 and then Ashmoor HC, losing 2-4, but they rallied in the final group stage match beating West Herts HC 5-2 to make it through to the bronze medal playoff against Ashmoor HC. They had to do it without Captain Harry Simons who sat out the bronze medal match with a head injury from a deflected ball.
Banbury got revenge against Ashmoor HC though after losing to them in the group matches with a great 2-1 win and Ady Simons grabbing the winner.
Banbury HC Manager said “This was a great achievement for Banbury Men’s
1s who had entered this competition for the first time. All credit to Harry
Simons for pulling this team together and bringing home the bronze medal for
Banbury”.
Photo (by Martha Simons): Captain Simons closes in with Joe Allen and Pete Lamb in support
Photo (by Martha Simons): BHC Indoor Team Photo. From left to right - Pete Lamb, Ally Rose, Kyle White, Ady Simons, Kit Lamb, Alfie Lawrence, Captain Harry Simons, and Joe Allen
Photo (by Martha Simons): Banbury celebrates the bronze!