BRISTOL & West men’s and women’s hockey sides have both finished their seasons as unbeaten champions.
B&W Men’s 1s took on joint leaders Bristol University in an epic clash of the league titans, dispatching the students with a thumping 4-0 victory.
Only two games remained, but a draw in their penultimate match meant the boys were only a point above Bristol Uni ahead of the last game against Swansea.
However before the final fixture captain Jonathan Wilson received word that the Swans couldn’t muster the courage to face our fearsome frontline.
He kept the news from the team and the lads arrived kitted, pumped up and ready to go before the captain announced the news as the squad huddled round in the changing room, ready for one last fight.
Half-stifled celebrations followed, as some feared a cruel April fool’s joke, but once the realisation had finally kicked in, rapturous celebrations began, with champagne showers!
An automatic 5-0 walkover wasn’t quite the ending the team had pictured or wanted – one last home game in front of a big crowd at Mangotsfield School would’ve been a sweeter note to end on, but the three points guaranteed the Men’s Division 1 North trophy and promotion to the Premiership, the highest the Men’s 1st Team have ever been in the club’s history.
The Ladies Jaspers 1st Team (pictured above), who had already secured promotion to Division 1 next season, wrapped up their league campaign with an impressive 4-0 win over Westberries on the final day to ensure that they also finished top of the pile.
Elsewhere, the men’s 2s secured an away win in Wales to secure a respectable 4th place finish in Division 2, with striker Dan Lusmore ending an incredible goal scoring season with 43 goals in 23 games.
The Ladies’ 2s & 3s both finished in 3rd place in their leagues, while the men’s 3s were unable to escape relegation despite a draw in their final match.
Harry Bryant, Picture: Simon Goodwin/Platinum Photography.