PHDG Junior Hockey League 2006/07
Reports

29th May 2007 - Chairman's final report on 2006/07 season
by Jamie Oxley

The Plymouth Junior Hockey Leagues finished their third season after what proved the most successful yet with Ivybridge Juniors winning four out of the 6 leagues. 31 teams competed over the season in the six leagues the largest number of teams since the league started back in 2004.

Due to the popularity of the junior game U10, U12 and U14 age group leagues were run for both boys and girls. The U10 age group proved a major success especially for the boys which had 6 teams competing. The standard was extremely high for such a young age group with Ivybridge, Devonport and Plymouth Marjon all fighting it out for the title going into the final few games. Ivybridge secured the title with Devonport finishing second which was also replicated in the U10 girls league.

In the U12 boys league Ivybridge secured their third title but were pushed all the way by a talented young Eggbuckland Eagles side who lost out by only 3 points. In the U12 girls league a play off game decided the winner with Plymstock Panthers defeating Plymouth Marjon 2-1 to secure the title.

In the U14 boys league Ivybridge had to settle for second place unable to defend the top age boys league for the third season with Plymstock Panthers wining the all important final game. Plymstock secured 22 points only drawing once against Ivybridge and went the whole season without conceding a goal.

In the U14 girls league Ivybridge proved too strong for their opposition securing the title with Plymstock/Lipson finishing second.

The league run by the Plymouth Hockey development Group’s league coordinator Rob White was delighted by the success and praised all the teams at the annual awards held at Crownhill Fort. PHDG Chairman Jamie Oxley said ”the leagues continue to develop young stars of the future enabling hundreds of young players the chance to play the game in the City. Next season the league are set to expand using Brickfields, Lipson & Ivybridge pitches to enable more games and more teams to enter”

Alongside the games the league also enabled young umpires the chance to develop their skills with Ivybridge and Plymouth Marjon member Jackie Daw organising the young whistlers.

Oxley said "On behalf of the PHDG I would like to thank all the clubs, managers in particular Rob White, Jackie Daw and the young umpires for all their hard work to enable the league to run successfully and smoothly".

29th December 2006 - Update on 06/07 season
by Jamie Oxley

The Plymouth Junior Hockey League takes a break along with the senior league programme over the festive period after a successful start back in late September. Due to the continued development of the game the leagues were reorganised changing the age groups from U13 & U11 to U10, U12 and U14s with leagues for boys and girls in all three new age groups. The introduction of a new U10s league has allowed young players to start playing with the U14s allowing players from last years U13 age group to continue to play but at the 11 aside game. Now in its third year the junior leagues allow teams from all over the city and Ivybridge to play the game on a regular basis. Played on a Friday night at Lipson the league is already considering a second venue to enable more games and teams to compete with the potential of teams from Liskeard, Looe and Kingsbridge entering in future years.

Plymouth Hockey Development Group chairman Jamie Oxley said "I am delighted to see the continued growth and development of the leagues. This year Rob White from Plymouth Marjon has taken on the role of organising them which is a sign of progress with more volunteers supporting the game. Jackie Daw has ably supported White by arranging a pool of experienced and young umpires to officiate on a weekly basis. The progress of young umpires is a vital part to the overall development of the game".

On the pitch
Ivybridge continue to impress especially in the boys leagues with their U10s and U12s leading the way and their U14s equal on points with joint leaders Plymouth Marjon. The U10s boys league is especially tight with Devonport hot on the heals of Ivybridge who lead by just one point. The second half for all the leagues is always tighter as the developing teams show great progress through their weekly training sessions. For many of the U10 players it would have been their first experience of playing matches against other teams on the 7 aside pitches. For the U14s the development to the full pitch 11 aside game would have taken some players several weeks to adapt to. Continuing the trend from last year Plymouth Marjon and Ivybridge continue to be the stronger sides in the boys leagues with Plymstock hot on their heels in the boys U14s. In the U12 boys league Eggbuckland have made a strong start only trailing league leaders Ivybridge by 3 points. Eggbuckland has proved a big success with more young players attending the Tuesday night weekly training based at Eggbuckland school. Coached by Plymouth Marjon 1st XI keeper Dan Dukes and supported by a number of National League players the young players continue to enjoy the quality coaching and friendly atmosphere.

In the girls leagues Plymouth Marjon top the tables in the U12 and U10s age groups but like the boys league it is early days with some teams only playing a few games. In the U14s Ivybridge head Devonport who trail by 4 points. The move from 7 aside to 11 aside like for the boys will take time for the players to adapt. The benefit will be the players ability to move more easily up to play senior women’s hockey which normally takes place at around the age of 14.

The junior clubs which run on the following days:

Plymouth Marjon (Marjon) – Sunday mornings 10-12, Devonport Juniors (Brickfields) Sunday mornings 10-11.30, Eggbuckland Eagles (Eggbuckland Community College) Tuesdays 5.30-6.30, Lipson Lions (Lipson School) Wednesdays 6-7pm, Plymstock Panthers (Coombe Dean) Mondays 5-7pm, Ivybridge Juniors (Ivybridge Community College) Saturday 9-11am. Age groups for all the clubs vary.

13th October 2006 - Match report for U14 boys
Plymouth Marjons vs. Lipson
by David Grant

There were two matches played back to back, both finishing 4-0 to Marjons, but credit goes to Lipson who although fielding an under strength team and playing full size pitch hockey for the first time, battled bravely and never gave up.

In the first match, Marjons new boys Tim Orman and Jevon Rimmer (2) opened their accounts for the club and the way Tim played there will be plenty more to come this season. The next goal came from Jack Smith, the clubs only overseas player (from Cornwall) who after a good passing move, struck a sweet shot. Jevons second goal was a lovely strike from the edge of the circle following a short corner. The Marjons midfield bossed the game, holding the ball well and giving plenty of decent passes for the forwards to work with and but for a fine performance by the Lipson keeper, Jake, the score would have been much greater.

The second game started with a good early goal from Jo Johnson, but Lipson got back into the match with plenty of possession and putting pressure on Marjons, but the defence, solidly marshalled by Club Captain Rhys Griffiths, made sure the keeper had a quiet night. Rhys then topped off a good performance by getting on the score sheet and that doesn’t happen too often!! On the right wing Max Leach never stopped running and put in plenty of cracking crosses, which lead to a couple of the goals and also got his first of the season along with James Grant, who capped a great game by pouncing on a loose ball in the area and slipping it past the keeper.

In summary it was a great evening for Marjons, with the whole team playing well and showing signs of improvement, this is down to the excellent coaching they get from Mike Timson. Finally, a big thank you, to the parents for their support and making sure the boys turn up on time.