Perse hockey team ready for national indoor finals

The Perse boys’ U18 indoor hockey team put in a strong display to be crowned East champions and book their spot in the England Hockey Schools Super 6s national finals.

In the round-robin regional qualifiers at Ipswich School, the team opened with a 2-0 victory over Felsted before overturning a two-goal half-time deficit to beat Norwich School 4-2.

They came from behind again to defeat Bedford School 2-1 before prevailing 3-0 against both Stamford and Ipswich. A 5-2 triumph over Merchant Taylors’ School in their final match sealed the East title and earned their place in the national finals at Whitgift on Thursday (5 December).

Assistant Director of Sport (Performance) Ravi Mahendra, who coached the side, said it would be the second time many of the group had played at the national indoor finals, having also achieved the feat as a team at U16 level.

He said: “It was a very professional and controlled performance from the boys. They saved some of their best hockey for the second half of the tournament.

“To only concede five goals across the whole tournament is a great achievement and a testament to how well the boys defended as a team.”

The Perse girls’ U18 indoor hockey team will also be in action in their national finals at Repton on Thursday (5 December) after winning the East title for the first time last month.