The Isle of Man Under 18 Boys travelled to Sedbergh on Sunday 13 September to take part in the Northwest Pre-Season Tournament, providing the squad with an excellent opportunity to test themselves ahead of the Junior Championships next month.
The tournament format saw four teams in the group, with each team playing one another twice. This gave the boys plenty of valuable game time and, importantly, the opportunity to adapt tactics, formations and playing strategies as the day progressed.
Isle of Man 2–0 Wigton
The boys got off to a winning start with a well-earned 2–0 victory over Wigton. Robbie Valerga opened the scoring, with Ross Grimley adding the second in his new role playing outfield. Goalkeeper Ethan Quirk, stepping up into the Under 18 age group in his first year, made an impressive start to the tournament, producing several magnificent saves.
Isle of Man 0–3 Liverpool Sefton
Next up was a stern test against an older and well-organised Liverpool Sefton side. The boys worked hard but found themselves beaten 3–0 by a strong team. The result provided plenty for the squad to reflect on as they regrouped for their remaining fixtures.
Isle of Man 2–0 Keswick
The response was excellent, with the boys securing a 2–0 victory over Keswick. Val Cosgrave got his name on the scoresheet, with Ross Grimley adding the second to complete a strong performance.
Isle of Man 2–0 Wigton
The second meeting with Wigton produced another 2–0 victory. Ross Grimley converted a penalty flick, while Robbie Valerga was once again on the scoresheet.
Isle of Man 1–1 Liverpool Sefton
The revised game plan introduced by coach Rhyse Williams paid dividends in the return fixture against Liverpool Sefton, with the Isle of Man earning a well-deserved 1–1 draw. The boys stuck to the game plan and played with discipline throughout. Oisin Dunne was the Isle of Man goalscorer.
Isle of Man 0–1 Keswick
The final game against Keswick was a closely fought encounter, with victory potentially putting the Isle of Man at the top of the group. Keswick came out strongly in the final match, making for a tough contest in hot and fast conditions. Ethan Quirk produced multiple saves to keep the Isle of Man in the game. At the other end, the Isle of Man forwards linked together particularly well and created numerous attacking opportunities, but unfortunately couldn’t find the final touch to convert them. With just 30 seconds remaining, Keswick broke the deadlock to take the win.
Despite the disappointment of the late defeat, it was an extremely productive day for the Under 18 boys. The tournament format allowed the squad to make adjustments throughout the day, experimenting with different formations, strategies and approaches and then putting those changes into practice in subsequent games.
With a mixture of strong performances, valuable lessons and plenty of competitive hockey under their belts, the tournament has provided excellent preparation for the opening rounds of the Junior Championships next month.
The squad can take plenty of positives from their performances at Sedbergh as they continue to build towards the season ahead.
Thank you to IOM Squad Coaches for their report.
