CONGRATULATIONS to the U16 boys who reached the final of the Northern Indoor Hockey Championships at KC Stadium in Hull on a very snowy Sunday. A detour from Driffield via Fridaythorpe for Ian Falkingham to collect a snowed in Aaron Gate, and a slow treacherous journey from Scarborough  for Tom and John Precious saw the boys arrive as the warm ups were commencing. Despite losing the first game 6-4 to Sheffield (coming back from 4-0 down) this showed the boys had the potential. After a two hour break they were back in action against Lancaster. 11 seconds later and we took the lead and never looked back, winning 15-0. A hard fought game against Bowden Hockey Club, Cheshire saw Driffield through to the semi-final as pool runners up with a 4-2 victory.

The semi-final against a very strong York side saw Driffield holding there own. Some great interchange play and a goal was inevitable. Leading 3-2 with one minute to go, Driffield conceded a late ‘disputed’ goal to take the game into penalty flicks! With ‘Super Sam’ between the sticks, Driffield were quietly confident.  York were up first and a super save up to his top right hand corner, advantage Driffield. Up stepped George Mason to slot the ball in to the bottom left corner. York then missed the goal with their second, whilst Guy Bristowe’s flick was saved by the York keeper. York needing to score, handed the game to Driffield as there flick went wide of the gal, much to a relieved Harry Bailey, who didn’t have to take his.......into the Final.

The final saw us playing against Doncaster + 2! A slow start and tiredness after only a 10 minute break saw Doncaster race to a 4-0 lead at half time. Two more goals from Driffield and two from Doncaster saw them run out worthy winners. BUT reaching the final meant Driffield had qualified for the trip to Portsmouth to represent “The North” at the National