Second tournament is big success as 13 schools take part

Some 19 teams from 13 local primary schools participated in the second Spalding Primary Schools Hockey Tournament of the year at Glen Park on Friday.
Although many of the youngsters had played in the earlier tournament, there were still many of the 150-plus making their first appearance for their respective schools.
Building on the first tournament last month, the teams were split into four graded leagues.
On pitch A, Monks House A team continued to impress with their progression since last season beating Ayscoughfee A (2-0) in their opening game.
They were held to a draw (1-1) by Boston-based Tower Road A in their second game, but bounced back to end their programme with a resounding win (6-0) over current trophy holders John Harrox A.
After their slow start, Ayscoughfee A drew their second game (1-1) with John Harrox A and pipped Tower Road A (3-2) in an exciting game to finish in second place.
Pitch B was dominated by Boston teams Tower Road B and St Thomas’s.
Tower Road were held to a draw (1-1) with promoted Gosberton Risegate in their opener, but recorded wins over St Thomas’s (1-0), Pinchbeck East (3-0) and Monks House B (1-0) to top the table.
A well-organised St Thomas’s team beat Monks House B (1-0) and Pinchbeck East (2-0) and drew with Gosberton Risegate to clinch second spot.
Spalding Parish lost their opening game in the Beginner league on pitch C to St Norbert’s but bounced back with three three straight wins over Surfleet Primary (2-0), Gosberton Academy A (2-0) and St John’s (1-0) to head the table. St Norbert’s showed great improvement from the first tournament and went through unbeaten, recording wins over Spalding Parish (1-0), and Gosberton Academy A (1-0) and draws with St John’s (0-0) and Surfleet Primary (1-1) to finish in second place.
Eye Primary started strongly in the Beginner B league on pitch D, with wins over John Harrox B (4-0) and Ayscoughfee B (3-0) but were held to goalless draws by Gosberton Academy B and Tower Road C.
Their early goals were enough to win them the league but a late surge from Gosberton Academy B meant that Eye Primary’s margin was only on goal difference.
The young Gosberton Academy B team beat John Harrox B (1-0) and Ayscoughfee B (3-1) and their goalless draws with Tower Road B and Eye Primary gave them eight points.
But, with their inferior goal difference, they had to settle for a very creditable second place.
Tournament Three is scheduled for Friday, February 3 at Spalding Hockey Club’s Glen Park base.