U-15s gun for stay-away Reading

GUERNSEY'S under-15 hockey team have been forced to play their next HA Trophy match in the UK. Under the guidance of coach Nick Mahy, the Sarnian juniors have made the last 16 of the national cup after overcoming Yate and Plymouth Marjons. The greens had then been drawn to play Reading at home but their opponents have refused to travel off the mainland to play the fixture.

The cup rules allows their opponents to do this so on Sunday 19 February, Mahy's team are instead flying to Gatwick and then on to Oxted Hockey Club in West Surrey to see who goes through to the quarter-finals.

Mahy has kept the same squad that has been so successful, with the attacking Hywel Robinson returning to the fold after being out with injury.

Mahy was not happy with Reading's refusal to travel over for the match.

'Its disappointing that they're not willing to travel,' said Mahy.

'We're going to do our best to get our revenge on the hockey pitch. We've got a fair chance of beating them. They are one of the top senior clubs in the country.

'We're training very hard and the guys are keen to get a result.'