ASA Inter Regional Youth Ladies Championships 2012

23/24 June 2012 - Bristol

The South West Youth Ladies Team made a stalwart effort at the Inter-Regional Youth Championship. The team of 13 players, representing 7 different clubs, met for the first time less than an hour before the start of the competition. Under the direction of GB coach Phil Whiting (Newton Abbott), the team came together and made steady progress over the weekend, resulting in a win in the play-offs for 7th & 8th places.

The tournament was a steep learning curve for many of the players, some having played polo for less than a year. With Leah Clarke (Exeter) as Captain, the girls were up against stiff competition from sides that play together on a regular basis. Over the course of 5 games, the competition allowed the team to be exposed to a higher level of play than most had seen before. The team’s defensive play came together as they prevented an increasing number of goals. Eight of the players contributed to a goal tally of 28, with Rachel Ward (Devonport) the team’s highest scorer.

As the weekend progressed, the team gelled and the girls displayed more team work leading to a better overall performance. This progress did not go unnoticed by those involved in running the championship who complimented the Coach after the tournament on the definite improvements in the standard of play of both the team and its individual players.

Team:

Leah Clarke (Exeter)

Connie McGregor (Devonport)

Rachel Ward (Devonport)

Yazmin Newman (Bristol Harlequins)

Bethany Hughes (Devonport)

Nicole Thomas (Cheltenham)

Beth Kingsley (Christchurch)

Katie Davies (Weston Super Mare)

Paris James (Newton Abbot)

Charlotte Bradley (Weston Super Mare)

Chloe Roxburgh (Christchurch)