No mixed feelings for University of Bath hockey players as they win national England Hockey title in fine style after brilliant season
The University of Bath mixed hockey team produced a five-star performance to claim the England Hockey Mixed Tier 2 title when the national finals took place at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Saturday.
They got off to the perfect start on the Olympic pitch, captain Hannah Egerton (Biomedical Sciences) opening the scoring after just two minutes, before Hertfordshire-based opponents Blueharts levelled from a penalty corner midway through the first half.
James Smith replied in kind to restore Bath’s lead and he scored again during a dominant second half, adding to goals from Annie Wilson (Sports Performance) and Sam Mackenzie (Mathematics) to seal a 5-1 win and the title.
A large crowd of family, friends and fellow hockey players cheered on the winning squad that also included Ben McElroy, Scott Reed, Jack Smith, Lizzy Aronson, Alicia Fairman, Katie Partridge, Alex Haywood, Ewen MacDonald, Hamish Bell, Sarah Wiseman, Cailin Deary and Abi Green. Rory Brown was coach and team manager was Elliot Clarke.
The team had entered the national mixed competition in October and, after a tough 1-0 loss in the first round, continued into the Tier 2 Competition where they enjoyed a series of great wins against South Gloucestershire (8-1), Clifton Robinsons (2-0) and Swindon (5-1).
The semi-finals saw Bath entertain Eastbourne in the middle of exams but, despite all the revision going on, they were able to record a big 7-2 victory to reach the final, which took place before an England men’s team featuring Sports Performance graduate Tim Nurse beat Olympic and World Champions Belgium in the FIH Pro League.
Click here to find out more about the hockey programme at the University of Bath.
