Cumbria Ladies are National Champions

At the National County Championships in Chelmsford on 2nd and 3rd June, Cumbria drove back opposition from Durham, Dorset, Hertfordshire & the Combined Services to win the 2007 championship.

Cumbria ladies hockey has now secured three trophies this season: the under 21 squad snatched the North title earlier this year and the Cumbria women took the North Hockey Championship at Durham at the beginning of May.

Coach Tom Leach, who is also Managing Partner at Carlisle solicitors firm, Burnetts said, “This is fantastic news for Cumbrian hockey. We have a very fast and fluid style which is difficult for our opponents to keep up with and is great to watch! Three trophies is a massive achievement. A lot of good work has been done by coaches at junior level in raising standards - we have some excellent hockey players.”

The Cumbria Women’s Hockey team is sponsored by Burnetts Solicitors. To get involved with womens’ hockey in Cumbria, call Hockey Development Officer, Gillian Bland on 015242 76383.

Match Report

Cumbria opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Dorset. They took an early lead through Lisa Potter but had goalkeeper Danielle Tedford to thank for the preservation of a 1-0 half time lead. She pulled off a string of saves as Dorset piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

Minutes after half time Julie Hope extended Cumbria’s lead and a penalty flick from Captain Vicky Jones completed the scoring.

Cumbria’s next game was against the current championship holders and favourites Herfordshire.

Cumbria again scored an early goal, this time through Kath Sherlock but they were pegged back by a Hertfordshire equaliser. This made the half time score 1 – 1.

Within five minutes of the re-start Hertfordshire scored twice to make the score 1 – 3 but Cumbria battled hard. Danielle Tedford pulled off more heroics in goal and sweeper Hannah Sherlock marshalled the defence well to stem the tide.

Cumbria reduced the arrears to 3 – 2 with another goal from Kath Sherlock. The score remained the same until the last minute when a through ball from Hannah Sherlock found her sister un-marked in front of goal. Kath smashed the ball passed a bemused keeper to give Cumbria a deserved draw.

In the third game Cumbria defeated the Combined Services 4 – 0 with two goals from Julie Hope and goal each from Kath Sherlock and Vicky Jones.

This victory set up a final crunch game against the previously unbeaten Durham. Cumbria needed to win to be assured of the title.

The Cumbrians tore at the opposition from the start and scored in the first minute through Lisa Potter. They added a second through Kath Sherlock mid-way through the half and a third from Julie Hope five minutes before half time.

Although 3 – 0 down Durham were still creating problems for the Cumbrian defence and Danielle Tedford in the Cumbrian goal made several vital blocks to deny the Durham forwards.

Just after the interval Cumbria effectively killed off the game and when Kath Sherlock added a fourth.

As Durham tired Cumbria remained full of running and started to play exhibition hockey. Further goals from Vicky Jones, Nicola Conway and two more from Kath Sherlock completed the rout as Cumbria ran out 8 – 0 winners.

For further information about Burnetts Solicitors, visit www.burnetts.co.uk.