Doncaster Hockey Club's under 18 boys narrowly failed to lift the Super 6's National Club Championship for 2018 when they went down 7 - 4 in the final to Guildford in Telford last weekend. The result does however mark the club's most successful finish at a national indoor junior competition.

The tournament saw the top 10 club sides in the country battling out for the national title having already come through regional qualifying competitions. Doncaster's pool contained Beeston (Midlands), Surbiton (South), Old Merchant Taylors (East) and Ashmoor (West).

In their opening game Doncaster faced Nottingham side Beeston. They quickly went 2 goals up through strikes from under 18 internationals Daniel West and Matthew White, before Beeston drew level with 2 goals of their own. In a topsy-turvy first half Zak Jolly and Haris Davenport re-established Doncaster's advantage making the half time score 4 - 2. The second half saw Doncaster pull further clear showing the depth of their squad with all 12 players making telling contributions and goals from Tom Downs, Tayyab Rehman and a second from Jolly saw the final score at 7 - 3 in Doncaster's favour.

After victory in their opening match, Doncaster faced up to last year's champions, Surbiton in their second game of the day. Surbiton took an early lead before 2 quick-fire goals from Harry Goodall and captain West put Doncaster 2 - 1 ahead only for Surbiton to draw level on the stroke of half-time. In a high quality second-half a brace from White seemed to have put the result beyond Surbiton, but a goal in the last minute gave Doncaster a few nervous moments as they held on for a 4 - 3 win.

With 2 victories on the opening day, confidence was high as Doncaster went into the final day of competition. In their morning fixture they played Old Merchant Taylors, who had lost both of their first 2 games. However, they were determined to spoil Doncaster's party and with goalkeeper Toby Bruce in inspirational form OMT took the lead with their only shot of the first half. A goal from White appeared to have restored order but 2 goals in a minute put the game beyond Doncaster, despite another goal from White as OMT ran out 3 - 2 winners.

Doncaster's final game was against group leaders Ashmoor and they knew only a heavy defeat would stop them going through to the semi-finals, and a high scoring win could see them overtake their opponents to top the group. From the start it was all Ashmoor and only brilliant goalkeeping from Martin Rose kept Doncaster being any more than 2 goals down at the break. After some calming words from coach Ali West a different Doncaster came out in the second half and goals from Jolly and White drew them level. In a highly charged finale 2 goals in the final minute gave Ashmoor a 4 - 2 victory, but Doncaster had done enough to earn a semi-final against the other group winners, Repton.

With Doncaster having already put Repton out of the national outdoor competition the match was always going to be fiercely contested and so it proved. First half goals from Jolly and White put Doncaster in control and despite a sensational individual goal from Stuart Kentwell, Dan West goal with 4 minutes remaining was enough to win 3 - 1 and put Doncaster in the final.

With Guildford defeating Ashmoor in the other semi-final it would be both group runners up that would contest the final. It was Guildford who took command from the beginning and they quickly established a 3 - 0 lead. Try as they might to get back into the game, Doncaster just could not quite get back to their opponents and even second half goals from Alex Rudkin, West and 2 more from White, making him the joint leading goalscorer for the tournament with 9, were not enough as Guildford ran out deserved winners by 7 goals to 4.

Coach Ali West said afterwards, "I am delighted that the lads have been rewarded for their hard work and application over the last 2 months by winning a medal at this prestigious national competition. This has set the standard for our younger groups in the coming years."

Despite not quite taking the title the squad of Martin Rose, Tom Downs, Harry Goodall, Ben Stoves, Joe Tomlinson, Haris Davenport, Daniel West, Ethan Kensett, Alex Rudkin, Zak Jolly, Matthew White and Tayyab Rehman can be justifiably proud of their achievements and they now turn their attention back to the national outdoor competition where they have a last 16 fixture away at Leek on the 4th February.

MEN'S 1st TEAM SUPER 6's INDOOR FINALS WEEKEND

Doncaster men's 1st team travelled to Bristol to compete in the Jaffa Super 6's Division 2 indoor hockey finals weekend.

A small squad of 9 players, led by ex-1st team coach Leigh Hodgson, who came out of retirement for this tournament, represented the Club. They built on a successful weekend in Manchester where they qualified for the finals weekend. They performed really well, narrowly missing out on promotion when they lost their final game to Olton.

The results are:-

-v- Sheffield W5-2
-v- Bedford W7-2
-v- Ashmoor L3-8
-v- Bournville - W6-3
-v- Olton - L4-6