OXFORD TAKE THE NATIONALS

BY STORM!!

PeeWee National Championships 2004. Torbay.

We took the Lion out of Lionhearts, boxed the Boxers, swatted the Wasps, stormed the Stormers and then to finish it off we checked the Checkers.

Oxford Storm v Borehamwood Lionhearts

Paul’s prediction 5-3 Oxford Storm

Final Score 14-0 to Oxford

The morning started and everyone was apprehensive, we hadn’t seen any of the other teams play and we didn’t know what to expect. The game started slowly, but it soon came to light that we were the better team. The goals just kept going in. Chopper scored two lovely goals by calling Indians. We got in the position that we could start trying to help the younger players score goals. First it was Matthew, then Bernadette and finally William. We even scored two goals whilst on penalty kills.

Oxford Storm v Gloucester Boxers

Paul’s prediction 3-0 Oxford Storm

Final Score 10-1 to Oxford

It was clear from the start that this game was going to be harder, but once the lads got going we dominated the game. The first half finished with the score standing at 6-1 to us with Matthew scoring 1 of these goals. The second half didn’t start so well when Reece got sent off after going in to help Magic who was cornered, once again though we scored whilst on a penalty kill. We came back to full strength and then Josh was sent off for tripping. Once we were back to full strength Gwill went out and scored his first ever match goal. With less than 3 minutes to go, Paul fly changed the goalies and Jake went on to make 2 beautiful saves.

Oxford Storm v West Coast Wasps

Paul’s prediction – Not sure on the score, but a close game.

Final score 5-2 to Oxford

Sue gets the measure of Paul....

Firstly, let me give you a bit of history on the Wasps. Oxford has always lost to them and normally in the final stages of tournaments. Before the game the Wasps were telling our players, “We have never lost to you and we don’t intend to now”. We made sure the team knew this and the atmosphere in the changing room was electric. The team sang and chanted for nearly half an hour before the game, they were really up for this one and there was no way the Wasps were going to stop them. We were 4-0 up when they scored their first goal from a penalty shot. We then went 5-1 up with 4.37 minutes to go with the Wasps coming back with their final goal with 1.56 minutes to go. We managed to hold them off for the remainder of the game and really took the sting out of their tales!!

(Editors Note: We have often taken the lead from the wasps, but only once before have we won against them, in any age group. That was at the Derby tournament  2002  Click here to Read the review of THAT match...)

A couple of local tarts eye up the cameraman

Oxford Storm v Brighton Street Stormers

Paul’s prediction 4-2 to Oxford

Final score 4-2 to Oxford

This was to be our hardest game of the Nationals and in our view should have been the final. We scored our first goal in under 2 minutes. Our next goal came when we were awarded a penalty shot for tripping. The team agreed that Josh should take it. It would put us 2-0 up if he scored, Paul couldn’t watch. Josh scored using his ‘old faithful’. In the second half Stormers scored to bring the score to 2-1, but we came back with another goal. With 15 seconds to go Stormers scored their second goal, bringing the score to 3-2 to Oxford. But we weren’t happy with only having a 1 goal advantage and with 8 seconds to go Chopper scored with an amazing slap-shot into the bottom corner. His celebration was lying flat on the floor with his stick raised in the air and a grin going from cheek to cheek.

The National Anthem ...........we're a knock kneed chicken, a bow legged hen...

THE FINAL

Oxford Storm v Chelmsford Checkers

Paul’s ambition – To be able to get every team member to play a part in the final.

Final score 11-5 to Oxford

Chelmsford only had 4 outfield players, 1 of their players had gone off to play an ice match. They wanted to play 2 periods instead of 3, but we wanted the extra time so that all our players could get time on. At the end of the first period the score was 3-0 to Oxford. The game carried on with us having a comfortable lead all the way through. In the final period Jake went in goal and we managed to get all players to play in the BISHA NATIONAL FINALS 2004

We Are The Champions.....

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It was all just a blurr

When the team got back to the changing rooms, Paul was greeted with a shower of champagne from the players and the partying carried on to the early hours of Monday morning. The whole weekend was a great success with support from all the parents and families. Aldie was so proud of the team and congratulated them on the way they had pulled together all weekend and played as a team.

To top the weekend off Josh and Daniel (goalie) got dream team.

The lads (and lasses) where a bit chuffed that weekend

Jo Florey

The Results from the BISHA web page