Southgate Hockey Club’s U18 girls were crowned national indoor hockey champions on January 20th after a gruelling two-day tournament at the England Hockey 2019 Junior Club Super 6s hosted by Whitgift School in Croydon.

The 12-strong squad, who qualified for the weekend as East regional champions last month, topped their pool with a maximum 12 points despatching Team Bath, Surbiton,  Bowdon Hightown and reigning champions Repton before overcoming Marlow by 2-1 in the semi-final. The north-London girls, who only came together as a team this season, then played out a thrilling final against the experienced Repton side which ended 2-2 in ordinary time. The resulting penalty shoot-out saw goalkeeper Zara Rose who had been outstanding all tournament save a crucial Repton stroke while all three Southgate strikers – Jordan Homann, Lucy Leel and Charlotte James-Pajwani converted to bring the trophy back to Southgate.

Coach Grant Homann said: “From start to finish the girls were amazing, professional throughout, with a team spirit that will never be broken. We asked for more from them all weekend and they stepped up a level every game, frantic at times but with a will to win for the player, the friend next to them. This is our first year playing indoor and we are national champions, no. 1 in the country!”

Squad: Milly Davies (v-c), Gaby Greenwood, Jenny Hammond, Jordan Homann, Charlotte James-Pajwani, Claudia Joarder, Charlotte Kelly (c), Lucy Leel, Gabby Murray-Panayiotou, Imo Prior, Ami Robinson, Zara Rose (GK).