Katharine Lady Berkeley’s Under-18 girls were crowned West Region champions after beating Redmaids 1-0 in the final at Clifton College.

And, after winning all seven of their matches – including a tense penalty flick shoot-out over Hereford Cathedral School – KLB will now head to the National Finals in Spring 2023.

Rock solid at the back, ruthless up front and with a quick-transitioning midfield, the Blues racked up 12 goals with just three conceded in a relentless day of hockey. KLB opened their account with a 1-0 win over Truro High School. With games lasting 18 one-way minutes, a good start was imperative and they got that with a high press that almost broke through the Cornish defence.
They weathered a Truro storm midway through the half before finding their rhythm and ending the stalemate in the 15th minute when Imogen Sparrow picked the ball up on the halfway line, dribbled her way into the D and found the top right corner.

St Mary’s from Calne felt the full force of KLB with Lena Brewer hitting four in the 5-0 victory. KLB were one up inside the first three minutes when Niamh Keane took the ball into the danger zone and Brewer finished off. Brewer added a second after defence was turned into attack and Francesca Barton stretched the lead when Eliza Reynolds brought the ball out of defence to set up the counter. With Rosie Brown, Lily Clarke, Ella Woolls Lewis and Bethan Payne taking no prisoners in defence all afternoon, KLB were able to snuff out any attacks and push forward, Brewer smashing in goals four and five for a comfortable win.
Eventual final opponents Redmaids proved the toughest test yet and it took KLB the first five minutes before they got going, Freya Wallace attacking the D and Brewer finishing off to secure a 1-0 victory.

Colyton Grammar School were easier to break down and a Brewer-Wallace-Barton combination, after good work from Lottie Magrath on the left, saw KLB up inside two minutes.
Ella King was called into action with a sprawling save and, though the Devon side levelled the scores from a short corner, Wallace’s goal from Anya Erasmus’ assist separated the sides.
Somerset’s number one team Richard Huish College found themselves down in the first 35 seconds when Sparrow set up Barton.

And with Jenny Keogh cutting out any counter-attacks and Freya Bartlett bolstering the attack it was only a matter of time before more goals would follow from Sparrow and Brewer.
KLB had a scare as Richard Huish responded with two goals but it was too late to deny KLB the win and top spot after the pool stages.
That win set up a semi-final against Hereford Cathedral School and a tight contest that almost saw Sparrow seal with a shot that the goalkeeper pushed high and wide of the top corner.
A 0-0 draw after regular time saw the game go to penalty flicks. Up stepped King, who saved two of HSC’s four flicks, while Sparrow, Brewer, Wallace and Erasmus made sure of their efforts to secure a final place.

And, as the rain poured down, the scene was set for a re-match with Redmaids which would be as close as the first game. It took a Brewer goal and some resolute defending of two short corners in the final minute to stop Redmaids equalising and seal a memorial day.

Team: Freya Bartlett, Francesca Barton, Lena Brewer, Rosie Brown, Lily Clarke, Anya Erasmus, Niamh Keane, Jenny Keogh, Lottie Magrath, Ella King, Ella Woolls Lewis, Bethan Payne, Eliza Reynolds, Imogen Sparrow, Freya Wallace ©.

Player of the match: Ella Woolls