Saturday was an amazing day for Thames Valley hockey, with Marlow Boys both being crowned U18 national champions at Lee Valley hockey stadium in the Olympic Park.

Marlow boys had beaten off Surbiton and Harleston Magpies in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively and now met Bournemouth in their final.

They were trailing to an early goal for much of the match despite having most of the possession, however they scored from a penalty flick with five minutes to go to take the tie to penalty shuffles.

Max Ellis, the Marlow goalkeeper, was the hero saving three of four Bournemouth attempts whilst Marlow strikers confidently converted all theirs. Coach Kate Porter has coached this cohort of boys for five years and they threw her up in the air to celebrate.

Thirteen of the Marlow boys attend Sir William Borlase's Grammar School and no doubt the young colts at both clubs will be training with renewed purpose next season.