WYCOMBE HOCKEY CLUB U18 Girls are enjoying a hugely successful season in both versions of the game.

Outdoors, the team currently sit top of the Home Counties Premier League three points clear of Reading with National League high flyers Surbiton one place further back.

In their last fixture the side were missing a few players due to injury and other commitments. Fortunately the clubs U16 side were also playing at home and three of the team stayed on as squad member allowing a bit more flexibility with rolling substitution. Bea Knight, Lavinia Champion and Charlie Adams all made contributions.

In a storming performance against a very well drilled Reading U18 side Wycombe came back from 0-1 down to win the match 2-1 with goals from Bella Festa and Caroline Spence.

Great keeping from Daisy Hacking supported by a tight defence of captain Abby Wagge, Sophia Fallan, Eloise Dunne and Jenna Wyllie soaked up lots of pressure and kept Wycombe in the game.

With two more fixtures to go Wycombe will be looking to make a serious attempt to take the title.

In the England Hockey Plate competition Wycombe are through to the second round and will need to overcome Woking for a place in the quarter-finals.

The entire U18 squad play their senior hockey in either the Ladies first or second XIs with the first team currently sitting in fourth place after a 3 – 0 win over Oxford Hawks on Saturday with goals from Fallan and Festa.

In indoor hockey, four of the first XI were away representing Beaconsfield High School at the Schools National Indoor Finals where they reached the semi-finals

The indoor season is now reaching its climax with Wycombe U18s topping the local indoor league winning every match.

Their unbeaten run continued through the England Hockey Regional as they qualified for the National Super 6’s Finals this weekend at Whitgift School.

To open the New Year and in preparation for the National Indoor Super 6’s Finals, Wycombe U18 returned to the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park to defend the Indoor Hockey UK title they won last year.

They remained unbeaten but had to settle for the silver medal this year losing a penalty shuttle contest after drawing the final against Surbiton 2-2.

In preparation, the indoor team continued to train through all the way through the Christmas and New Year period under Lead Coach Kat McGonigle.

Team Manager Jeremy Wagge said: “The core of Wycombe’s Indoor U18 squad have now qualified for the National Indoor Finals for the fourth year in succession.

“They are all talented players but it is their teamwork, work rate and resilience that gives them a real chance to go further this year.”