Plymouth SSCO Primary School City Finals 2007
24th May 2007, Marjons, Plymouth

The Primary School City Hockey finals took place in blazing sunshine at the College of St Mark & St John with the standard of play as hot as the temperature. Winners from all the academic council festivals which have taken place over the past year met to battle it out to be crowned City Champions.

PHDG Chairman Jamie Oxley said “this years finals were the closest yet with the standard of play by far the best since the event start 3 years ago. Through all the work of the hockey development group coaches and school staff the standard of junior school hockey continues to rise. Nearly 60 primary schools have taken part in academic festivals so for a team to reach the finals it is a major achievement”

In the girls event Old Priory proved unstoppable winning all five matches to record maximum points to win their first hockey trophy. Former national league hockey player for Plymouth Marjon and Old Priory teacher Nick Clooke was delighted with his teams performance. Second were Hyde Park who piped St Josephs who finished third by virtue of 2 goals, Compton 4th, Whitleigh 5th and Prince Rock 6th.

In the boys event two pools were followed by semi finals and a final to decide the city champions. Group A winners Woodford defeated Group B runners up St Josephs to reach the final where they faced Group B winners who defeated Group A runners up Prince Rock in their semi final. In the third place play off Prince Rock defeated St Josephs 3-1 in an end to end game. In what proved to be the tightest game of the day Compton and Woodford play out a goalless yet end to end final. The winners were decided by a penalty shootout with Compton victorious 2-0 to secure their first major hockey silverware to the delight of school staff and parents.

Boys final placings 1st Compton C of E, 2nd Woodford Juniors, 3rd Prince Rock, 4th St Josephs, 5th Weston Mill, 6th Tamerton Vale, Joint 7th Keyham Barton & Hyde Park

PHDG Schools and community development officer Simon Fenwick organises the festivals and coaching which has taken place in a record number of schools. Coaches from Marjon work with Fenwick to enable nearly 4,000 young players to receive coaching each year which is a major achievement. The Marjon student have once again done a fantastic job in schools admits Oxley, without them hockey in schools would not be where it is.

Primary schools in the city now turn their attention to the major festival of the year the DML Primary Mixed Hockey festival which is taking place on the 7/8th June at Marjon.