Primary schools tournament at Spalding Hockey Club

Spalding Hockey Club hosted the second of five planned primary school tournaments at Glen Park in Surfleet.

Nineteen teams from 13 primary schools participated in the tournament, giving more than 150 youngsters the chance to represent their schools and play competitive hockey.

The games were excellently controlled by teenage umpires from Spalding Hockey Club.

News of the success of these tournaments has reached the ears at England Hockey's headquarters and, as a result, the club has been invited to participate in a national forum on hockey development in this country.

The 19 teams were divided into four graded leagues for the event.

Four teams competed in league A, the most experienced, with five teams in each of the B, C and D leagues.

Boston-based Tower Road A got off to a flying start in League A, winning their first two matches, beating John Harrox A (3-1) and Ayscoughfee A (4-0).

They were on the way to a clean sweep, leading Monkssouse 2-0 at half-time, however the current champions bounced back and scored twice in an exciting finish to share the points.

Monkshouse were held to a goalless draw by Ayscoughfee A in their opening game but beat John Harrox A (2-0) to finish in second place behind Tower Road A.

Tower Road demonstrated the strength in depth at the school with their B team dominating the league B.

The team won all four of its matches, beating Eye Primary (3-1), St John's (1-0), St Norbert's (2-0) and St Thomas's (1-0).

St Norbert's started strongly with wins over St John's (2-0) and St Thomas's (1-0) but were held to a goalless draw by Eye Primary in their final game and had to settle for second place.

In League C, Gosberton Academy A were held to a goalless draw in their opening game against neighbours Risegate but went on to win their other three games beating Pinchbeck East (3-0), Tower Road C (3-0) and Surfleet Primary (2-0).

Gosberton Risegate were also on form with 1-0 wins over Surfleet Primary, Pinchbeck East and Tower Road C to finish in second place on goal difference.

Spalding Parish dominated the League D, winning all four games without conceding a goal.

They beat Ayscoughfee B (1-0), Gosberton Academy B (3-0), Tower Road D (1-0) and John Harrox B (4-0) to top the table.

Tower Road D did well on their debut to finish in runner-up spot, winning two games over John Harrox B (2-1) and Gosberton Academy B (2-0) and drawing with Ayscoughfee B (1-1).

Tournament three is scheduled for Friday, February 2.