DML Sports & Social Primary Mixed 6-a-side festival 2007
Thursday June 7th (9:30-3:00) & Friday June 8th (9:30-5:00) at The College of St Mark & St John

Sponsored by
DML Sports & Social, Tony Pryce Sports, Sainsbury’s, TK Hockey, Red Rok, Marjon Sport & Leisure, Kelly College, Devon County Umpires Association, SSCO Partnerships

• Photos - can you find your team photo? (updated 25th June)
• Results & final group tables
• Skills scores
• Summary of results

"Festival proves best yet in record breaking year"
"The festival gets better and better" Hails Nigel Rowe MBE

This year's Primary Mixed Hockey Festival, now in its sixth, year organised by the Plymouth Hockey Development Group sponsored by DML Sports & Social, Marjon Sport & Leisure & Tony Pryce Sports was hailed as the best yet by PHDG chairman Jamie Oxley.

A record 48 teams from Plymouth and guest teams from East Cornwall and Devon, and over 450 players took part in the action packed two day event held at the College of St Mark & St John. Basked in glorious sunshine a team of 14 volunteers and 39 young umpires from city schools and 2 current England U21 stars Nick Page and Matt Woods ensured that everyone had a fantastic hockey experience.

Nigel Rowe (MBE) DML Sports & Social praised the Hockey Development Group for organising such a fantastic event. Rowe said “DML are delighted to be part of this event which gets better year on year praising all the volunteers, young officials, players, staff and parents. The investment at grass roots sport and development of these youngsters playing is very important to enable wider participation which can lead to international honours” Current U16 England international Rhys Hart is proof of this as Hart played in the first primary festival back in 2002.

Woods and Page were fantastic role models for the game coaching over 400 players over the two days. The young players really enjoyed the 25 minute sessions run during the morning group games. During the semi final and finals Woods and Page spent time selecting the most promising boy and girls players for the cup, shield and plate competitions. As ever the penalty flick goal or no goal game at lunch time proved a hit with two lucky players winning TK sticks through guessing whether Woods or Page would score past Plymouth Marjon keeper Steve Moran.

The level of play throughout the festival was the highest yet since the festival was first run in 2002. Stiff competition during the morning group stages on both days led to the knock out phase which produced some sparkling skills for the on looking spectators.

A record number of young umpires from 9 different schools aged 12-18 attended to officiate during the whole festival. It was great to see young umpires gain experience at an event in which many have competed at in previous years. For the first year the young umpires officiated all the games including the final which proved a major success admitted Oxley.

Simon Fenwick schools and community development coordinator for the group was over the moon with the success of the whole event Fenwick said “It was the best yet, the feed back from the players and staff was outstanding which was great. The standard of play was certainly the highest with the support from Woods and Page and all the volunteers the reason why the event is now regarded as the best primary schools sporting event in the City”

This year Sainsbury’s attended to support the event with the Marsh Mills store Food Advisor Adey Hutchins in attendance making fresh smoothies for the players and staff. The smoothies proved a great hit promoting the importance of eating healthily.

OPM Cup

This years competition produced a number of surprises with several new schools making it through to the later stages for the first time. Salisbury Road and Stoke Damerel progressed from Thursdays into the Friday semi finals. Stoke took on unbeaten Bovey Tracey who found it tough going against a determined opposition but Bovey scored twice to make their first final. In the other semi final Compton faced Salisbury Road and like Bovey found their opposition a tough side to beat eventually scoring twice to reach their first Cup final.

In an entertaining end to end final both sides had their chances in the first half but neither Bovey or Compton could score. In the second half Compton despite the efforts of the Cup boy player Michael Perrin were unable to stop Bovey who scored three goals to win the cup. In the 3rd place play off Salisbury road defeated Stoke Damerel 4-0.

Selected by Page and Woods:

Boys Cup Player – Michael Perrin – Compton C of E
Girl Cup Player – Darcy Kelly – Compton C of E

In the Mixed Hockey Shield Prince Rock faced Old Priory in the first semi final with Compton winning 2-1 in a very tight encounter. In the second semi final Kings scrapped past Hyde Park 1-0 after a penalty shoot out after a 0-0 draw. In the final Old Priory went on to lift the shield defeating Kings 1-0. In the 3rd place play off Prince Rock proved too strong for Hyde Park winning 3-0.

Aziz Ali was selected as the boys Shield player with Ellie Selley selected as the girls shield player by England U21 player Matt Woods.

In the PGSOB Plate Victoria Road defeated new comers St Martins 3-1 in their semi finals, while St Georges scored twice to defeat Pomphlett 2-0. In the final neither Victoria Road or St Georges could score resulting in a tense penalty shoot out. Victoria Road held their nerves to win 2-1 to lift the PGSOB Plate. Pomphlett secured 3rd place with a 1-0 win over St Martins.

Brandon Joy from Victoria Road and Kelsey Parsonage from Pomphlett were selected by Nick Page as the Boys and girls player players respectively.

Over the two days the annual skills competition was run with every pupil taking part at the same time. The four skills of passing, dribbling, juggling and ball lifts were tested. Ermington clocked up a record number of points, 1134 to win the skills cup, Tamerton Vale scored 1068 to finish second with Langley finishing 3rd with 995 points.

The Plymouth Hockey Development Group would like to thank lead sponsors DML Sports & Social, Tony Pryce & TK Hockey, and Marjon Sport & Leisure along with Kelly College – Certificate Sponsors, Red Rok, Sainsbury’s, Devon Umpires Association and the Sir John Hunt and Plymstock SSCO Partnerships for all their support. The final thank you goes to all the volunteers from Marjon and the city clubs and young umpires from local schools who made the event such a huge success.

This year a new award was presented on behalf of Devon Umpires. James Sinclair was selected as the most promising young umpire from the team of 39 who officiated over the two days.

Fair Play Award – Ermington Primary School Umpires from – Plymstock, Ivybridge, Sir John Hunt, Lipson, Eggbuckland, John Kitto, South Dartmoor, DHS for Boys, Saltash.

Summary of results

Players of the finals

Fair Play Award

Skills Competition

1. Ermington 1134
2. Tamerton Vale A 1068
3. Langley A 995